North Carolina EOG: Reading
End-of-grade reading assessment for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
- When given:
- end of school year
- Frequency:
- annual
What does a student learn in
North Carolina writes its own Standard Course of Study and uses it across every subject from kindergarten through high school. The state revises each subject on a rolling cycle, so reading, math, science, and social studies each get their own refresh rather than moving together. Math gets the most distinctive treatment in high school, where the state runs an integrated NC Math 1, 2, and 3 sequence instead of the older Algebra-Geometry path.
- NC Standard Course of Study
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
- What students learn
- Math in elementary and middle school builds the usual ground of number sense, fractions, and early algebra, then shifts in high school to the integrated NC Math sequence that blends algebra and geometry year by year. English language arts asks students to read a mix of stories and informational pieces, write about what they read with evidence from the page, and build vocabulary and grammar alongside it. Science and social studies follow the same state course of study, with biology singled out for its own end-of-course test.
- How students are measured
- The main state tests are the End-of-Grade exams in reading and math every spring from third through eighth grade, plus science in fifth and eighth. High school students take End-of-Course tests when they finish English II, NC Math 1, NC Math 3, and Biology. Every eleventh grader sits for the ACT on a statewide testing day in the spring. NAEP samples some fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders for national comparison, and NCEXTEND1 covers students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Assessments
The tests students take across K-12, grouped by purpose.
Other
Tests that do not fit the buckets above.
North Carolina EOG: Mathematics
End-of-grade mathematics assessment for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
- When given:
- end of school year
- Frequency:
- annual
North Carolina EOG: Science
End-of-grade science assessment in grades 5 and 8, aligned to North Carolina science standards.
- When given:
- end of school year
- Frequency:
- annual
North Carolina EOC: English II
End-of-course assessment for English II, administered when students complete the course.
- When given:
- end-of-course
- Frequency:
- by course completion
North Carolina EOC: NC Math 1
End-of-course assessment for NC Math 1, administered when students complete the course.
- When given:
- end-of-course
- Frequency:
- by course completion
North Carolina EOC: NC Math 3
End-of-course assessment for NC Math 3, administered when students complete the course.
- When given:
- end-of-course
- Frequency:
- by course completion
North Carolina EOC: Biology
End-of-course assessment for Biology, administered when students complete the course.
- When given:
- end-of-course
- Frequency:
- by course completion
ACT
College-readiness assessment administered statewide to grade 11 students, covering English, mathematics, reading, and science.
- When given:
- spring
- Frequency:
- annual
NCEXTEND1 Alternate Assessments
Alternate assessment for eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities, covering state-tested grades and subjects.
- When given:
- state testing window
- Frequency:
- annual
NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, writing, and other subjects. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.
- When given:
- biennial in winter
- Frequency:
- every two years
Browse by grade and subject
Pick a cell to see exactly what students learn that year.
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
- Subjects covered
- 4
- Grade levels
- 11
- Standards on file
- 1,971
- Assessments tracked
- 10
Common questions
Does the state use Common Core?
Not anymore. The state pulled out of Common Core and now uses its own Standard Course of Study for reading, math, science, and social studies. The math and reading standards share some DNA with Common Core but have been rewritten and reorganized by state educators.
What tests do students take in the spring?
Students in grades 3 through 8 take end-of-grade tests in reading and math, plus science in grades 5 and 8. High schoolers take end-of-course tests in English II, NC Math 1, NC Math 3, and Biology when they finish those classes. Juniors also sit for the ACT.
Which subjects have official state standards?
Four core subjects have a full Standard Course of Study: English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Other areas like arts, healthful living, and world languages have separate state guidance but are not part of the end-of-grade testing program.
How often do the standards get updated?
The state reviews each subject on a rolling cycle, usually every five to seven years. Math was revised most recently, followed by science and social studies. Reviews are run by the Department of Public Instruction with input from classroom teachers and content experts.
Where can a parent see what students should learn this year?
The grade-level pages on this site list every standard for that grade and subject in plain language. Pick a grade and subject from the menu above to see the full list with short explanations of what students are expected to know and do.
Sources
Every page link goes back to the state's own document.