National Council of Educational Research and Training
     National Achievement Survey: Class VIII
     Bihar
      How to use this report
      This report shows results from the National Achievement Surveys (NAS) for Class VIII 
      students in Bihar for reading comprehension, mathematics, science and  
      social science.
      The contents are as follows:
      Page 3 … Schools and students: Bihar-National in %
      Page 4 … Bihar Results
      Page 5 … Results by gender and urban/rural students
      Page 6 … Results by social category
      The NAS provides information about the knowledge and abilities of students in government 
      and government-aided elementary schools. These are based on tests of students 
      of Classes III, V and VIII. The NAS are conducted under the Government’s flagship 
      programme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which has been successful in ensuring greater 
      access, equity and quality in elementary education.
      Test scores in the report are presented on a scale from 0 and 500. The national average 
      was set to 250 and the standard deviation was set to 50. This means about 70% of 
      students could potentially score between 200 and 300, and 95% of students could score 
      between 150 and 350. 
      NAS is not a test for each individual student or school. NAS results are based on carefully 
      selected samples of students, further weighted by population to be generalised to the 
      individual state. The ‘Standard Error’ is an estimate of the likely variation that may 
      occur. For example if the average language score for students in a State was 247 with 
      an estimated standard error of about 2.1 scale point, then the ‘true’ value of the State’s 
      average language score lies on the range of 244.9 to 249.1. 
      If you want to look into these results in more depth please refer to the individual state 
      report produced separately or the national report.
      2
                   Schools and students: Bihar-National  
                   in %
                   Participation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Social category
                                                      Gender                                                                                  Area                                                     5 17 53 24                                 13 23 38 26                                                                                     Parental education                                                                                                                Books at home                                                                                   Private tuition
                                                   Boys Girls                                                                          Urban Rural                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Have Do not have
                            48              52                        47              53                                                                                                                                                                                                   36 42* 18*                                   2            2                    26 36 26                                    8             5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 e                                           e                           Illiterate    Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                                Illiterate    Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                                           *       *
                                                                                                                                                                                                          ibe                                         ibe                                                                         Secondary and                                                                  Secondary and                              15 71 7 8                                     20 64 7 9
                                                                                                                 9                91                       22                78                           Tr                                          Tr                                                                                           above                                                                          above                                    11                                           11                                       29*             71*                       35              65
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 r                                           r                                                                                                                                                                                   No book1 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 25     No book1 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 25
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Scheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOtheScheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOthe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               s      s    s                               s      s     s
                                  Bihar                            National average                                    Bihar                             National average                                       Bihar                            National average                                                                         Karnataka                       National average                                                                         Karnataka                            National average                                            Karnataka                          National average
                                         Assigned homework                                                                                                                                                              School management
                   Home Factors                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Pupil-teacher ratio
Social category                                     every day                                                                                                                                                     e                                              e
GenderArea14 26 35 2513 23 38 26                                    Parental education                                                                                     Books at home                                                   Private tuition                                              7               3                 8                   82                            29               26                16                   29
Boys GirlsUrban Rural656457               50                            63                    65                  54                     51                                                                              t               Have Do not have                t
45554753           29 33 22                                9           7             26 36 26                               8            5                                                         t                              d               t                              d                              Social category
                                                                                                                                         Gender                                                                                  Area                                                     5 17 53 24                                 13 23 38 26                                                                                      Parental education                                                                                                               Books at home                                                                                   Private tuition
 e e              Illiterate  Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                    Illiterate  Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                                                                                                  Aide                                           Aide
                                                                                                                                      Boys Girls                                                                          Urban Rural                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Have Do not have
ibeibe                                                Secondary and                                                     Secondary and                  14 60 9 17                      20 64 7 9
22782278TrTr                                                         above                                     48              52above                   47 11            53                        11                      72           28                 35           65                                                                                                   36 42* 18*                                   2             2                   26 36 26                                    8             5
ReadingMathematics Science               Social                      Reading            Mathematics             Science                Social                 1 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 251 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 25ibal Social Departmen                    ibal Social Departmen      e                                           e                           Illiterate    Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                                Illiterate    Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree 
Comprehension                           Science                 Comprehension                                                         Science             No book                          No book State GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment State GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment Fewer 20 to 30 30 to 40More               Fewer           20 to 30          30 to 40              More                                                                                                *       *
r      r                                                                                                                                                                                             *      *             *       *                                                          ibe   than 20                               ibe               than 40                      than 20                      Secondary and  than 40                                                         Secondary and                              15 71 7 8                                     20 64 7 9
                                                                                                                                                                                                11 73 358                                      74 64213                                      Tr                                          Tr                                                                                           above                                                                          above                                                                                                                                *              *
                                         Bihar                     National average                                                                                                                 9                91                       22                 78                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           11                                           11                                       29              71                        35              65
Scheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOtheScheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOthe                                                        s     s    s                     s     s    s Andhra Pradesh                             National average                                                                                             Bihar                       National average                                                                                                                                          No book1 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 25     No book1 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 25
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     r                                          r
KarnatakaNational averageKarnatakaNational averageKarnatakaNational averageBihar     National average                                                          Bihar                  National average                           Bihar                  National average                     Scheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOtheScheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOthe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  s      s    s                                s      s    s
School management                                                                                                     Bihar                           National average                                     Bihar                            National average                                       Bihar                            National average                                                                          Karnataka                      National average                                                                         Karnataka                            National average                                            Karnataka                          National average
Assigned homework Social category
GenderArea         School Factors                                                 Pupil-teacher ratioParental education                                                                                                                             Books at home                                                                                      Private tuition
every day5 17 53 2413 23 38 26
Boys GirlsUrban Ruralee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    School management Have Do not have
***                               *        42*                 *                  *                                          Assigned homework                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Pupil-teacher ratio
7076595963655451             44                             9              * 4            *              29             26              16                29
48524753tt                                                                                                                             every day
                                                      36 42 18                                      2             2                    26 36 26                                      8             5                                                                                                 e                                              e
e                      e                            Illiterate     Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                                 Illiterate    Primary Secondary  Higher  Degree                                              *       *                                                                                                                                                7                3                8                    82                           29               26                16                   29
tdt       d                                                                                    Secondary and                                                                   Secondary and                                15 71 7 8                                      20 64 7 9
ibe             ibe                                           65                    64                  57                   50                            63                    65                  54                     51                                                                               t                                              t
9912278AideTrAideTr                                                                                             above                                                                            above                                     11                                             11                                        29*             71*                        35              65
r                                       r                                                                                                                                                                                        No book1 - 10 book - 25 bookMore than 25      No book1 - 10 bookt - 25 bookMore than 25d             t                             d
ibal Social Departmenibal Social Departmen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Aide                                           Aide
Language Mathematics ScienceSocial Language Mathematics ScienceSocial State GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment Scheduled Scheduled CastState GovernmenOther Backward ClassZila ParishadOtheLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment Scheduled Scheduled CastOther Backward ClassOthe
ScienceScience             Fewer 20 to 30 30 to 40                           More                      Fewer        20 to 30        30 to 40            More                                                                   s      s    s                                 s      s     s
****                      than 20                                          than 40                    than 20                                          than 40
11 73 35874 64213                                         Reading             Mathematics             Science               Social                      Reading            Mathematics             Science                Social                                                                             ibal Social Departmen                          ibal Social Departmen
Andhra PradeshNational average                       Comprehension                                                         Science                 Comprehension                                                         Science                                                      State GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment State GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment Fewer 20 to 30 30 to 40More                Fewer          20 to 30          30 to 40               More 
Andhra PradeshNational average                                   Andhra Pradesh                        National average                                                                                                                                                                 *       *            *       *
BiharNational averageBiharNational averageBiharNational average                                        Karnataka                        National average                                                                           Karnataka                             National average                                             Karnataka                            National average
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   11 73 358                                      74 64213                                            than 20                                                 than 40                      than 20                                                 than 40
                                                                                                                            Bihar                     National average                                                                                                                   Andhra Pradesh                             National average                                                                                             Bihar                       National average
Assigned homework School management
                                                                                                                                Pupil-teacher ratio
every daye                  e
6564575063655451t                  t                                7                3                 8                    82                            29                26                16                   29
td           t                              d
Aide                                        Aide
ReadingMathematicsScienceSocial ReadingMathematicsScienceSocial ibal Social Departmenibal Social Departmen
ComprehensionScienceComprehensionScienceState GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment State GovernmenZila ParishadLocal Body Municipal CommitteTrGovernment Fewer 20 to 30 30 to 40More Fewer20 to 3030 to 40More 
****                                                          than 20                                                   than 40                       than 20                                                  than 40
11 73 35874 64213
BiharNational averageAndhra PradeshNational average                                                                        Bihar                        National average
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   0
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Boys and Girls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                25
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        National average 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            250                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              268                                                    249                                                   243                                                    241
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             253                                                    235                                                   241                                                    241
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                National average                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             251                                                    234                                                   239                                                    236
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             245                                                    233                                                   237                                                    236
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             237                                                    229                                                   234                                                    228
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             242 246                                         234 231                                           236 238                                               234 231
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Illiterate                             Primary                                 Secondary                              Higher Secondary                        Degree and above
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Language                                     MathematicsScience                                                                                    Social Science
                                                                         Bihar in comparison                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Boys and Girls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Urban and Rural                                                                                                                                                                                                                Tribe, Caste and Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Parental education
                     Bihar Results
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         268
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     251          253        e                                       249
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              237          245                                                           e                  241 239 237 243                                           241 241
                  0      250                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            244                                                                                                                                                                                                                   250                                                                                                                                                                                                e                                       229 235 233 234                              234                           e            228 236 236                    e
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    243                                                                   233                         237                  237                                              233                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   250                   Primary                              e                                           e                                           e
                  25                                                                                                                                                                                                                   250                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        250                                                                231                                                                                               230                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                        242                                       261                                      241                                       250                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           National average                                                                                                                                                                              Illiterat     Secondary                     IlliteratPrimary                            IlliteratPrimarySecondary                   IlliteratPrimarySecondary
                                  Significantly below                       Significantly above                       Significantly below                   Not significantly different                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Degree and abov               Secondary
                                  national average of                       national average of                       national average of                     to national average of                                                                              242                  246                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              National average             Higher secondary                                    Degree and abov
                                         247                                       245                                       251                                      247                                                                     National average                                                                     234 231                                                         236                  238                                       234 231                                                                National average                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ibe 236                         ibe 228                         ibe 234                         ibe 227                                                                                                                                            Higher secondary                            Higher secondaryDegree and abov            Higher secondaryDegree and abov
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Tr                              Tr                              Tr                              Tr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Scheduled Scheduled Caste 242Other Backward Class 246Other 249Scheduled Scheduled Caste 230Other Backward Class 235Other 233Scheduled Scheduled Caste 237Other Backward Class 239Other 238Scheduled Scheduled Caste 233Other Backward Class 234Other 235
                                   Reading                              Mathematics                                    Science                           Social Science                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Language Mathematics                                              Science                  Social Science                                                                             Language                               MathematicsScience                                                                  Social Science
                           comprehension
                                    Lowest and Highest Student Achievement (percentile score)
                                           Reading comprehension                                                                        Mathematics                                                                                                                Language                                                    Mathematics                                                            Science                                              Social Science                                                                             Language                                      MathematicsScience                                                                              Social Science
                                        Lowest                                 Highest                                    Lowest                                 Highest
                                     scoring students:                       scoring students:                          scoring students:                      scoring students:
                                         181                                     311                                        201                                    344
                                            Bihar                                   Bihar                                     Bihar                                   Bihar
                                                                                                                            201                                    304
                                         190                                     310                                        National average                       National average
                                       National average                        National average
                                     10th       25th            50th            75th       90th                        10th       25th            50th            75th       90th
                                                          Science                                                                     Social Science
                                        Lowest                                 Highest                                    Lowest                                  Highest
                                     scoring students:                       scoring students:                          scoring students:                       scoring students:
                                   Language                               MathematicsScience                                                                Social Science
                                         182                                      314                                       183                                     324
                                           Bihar                                    Bihar                                                                             Bihar
                                                                                                                              Bihar
                                         199                                      316                                       194                                     309
                                        National average                        National average                           National average                        National average
                                     10th       25th            50th            75th       90th                        10th       25th            50th            75th       90th
                                               ‘Low-scoring students’ are those that scored at and lesser than 10% percentile score. 
                                               ‘High-scoring students’ are those that scored at and better than 90% percentile score.
                   4