State School Superintendent Brad Bryant earlier this month announced that Georgia’s students, across all categories, made positive gains on the 2010 Georgia High School Writing Test. Ninety-four percent of all students met or exceeded the standard for the test, a five percentage point increase from 89 percent in 2009.

"Good writing skills are critical to the future success of our students," Bryant said. "I am very pleased to see this improvement. Our students, teachers and administrators should be very proud of these results because they are getting the job done under the Georgia Performance Standards."

The results of the Georgia High School Writing Test are used to identify students who may need additional instruction in academic content and skills considered essential for a high school diploma.

The main administration of the GHSWT is for 11th- or 12th-grade students who are testing for the first time. Students who previously attempted the test but did not pass may retest during this administration as well.

The scale score range for the GHSWT is 100 to 350. A scale score of 200 is required for passing and is one criterion for diploma eligibility.

Writing scores are also reported in the following performance levels: Does not meet (100-199), meets (200-249) and exceeds (250-350). Fall 2010 marks the fourth main administration of the GHSWT based on the Georgia Performance Standards.