On Minnesota's MCA, Grade 5 Science is reported on a scale from 501 to 599, and each score falls into one of 4 performance levels. Reaching Meets (at 550 or above) is the state's grade-level, on-track benchmark.
| Level | Score range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning | 501–539 | The lowest level, well below grade-level expectations |
| Intermediate | 540–549 | Approaching grade-level expectations |
| Meets | 550–560 | Meeting grade-level expectations (the state proficiency line) |
| Advanced | 561–599 | The highest level, above grade-level expectations |
Statewide in 2025, about 27% of Grade 5 students reached Meets or Advanced in Science. The bar above shows the share at each level (left = lowest).
A score's meaning depends on where it lands in the ranges above, and on how it compares to other students. Our free tool turns a score into an estimated percentile versus the child's school, district and the whole state, so you can see exactly where a score stands, not just its level.
Look up your child's percentile →