For decades, educators have used the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) to measure adults’ skills in reading, mathematics, and language to meet National Reporting System (NRS) requirements set by the US Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE).
Since it was first released in 1967, the assessment has been periodically revised to adapt to changes in curriculum and technology over the years. Recently, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) released a new update with TABE 13&14. The new assessment, which was put into use July 1, 2025, underwent some notable changes to increase accessibility, relevance, and test efficiency for adult learners.
What you need to know about TABE 13&14:
- The updated assessment incorporates universal design requirements. What is universal design? The principles of universal design are meant to increase readability, simplify instructions, be more inclusive, among others. Universal design is meant to make the test more accessible for all students regardless of whether they need any of the available testing accommodations. In its redesign, TABE 13&14 evaluated every question for accessibility, clarity, equity, and relevance to an adult learner.
- Reading passages have been shortened to make the assessment less daunting while also speeding up the overall testing times for students. Additionally, reading passages no longer use a page-turning format and instead now require scrolling, meaning all the information is presented on one page for easier navigation.
- Throughout the updating process, DRC paid careful attention to making test items and questions relevant to adults today. Skills are tested in the context of everyday tasks that adults will encounter in daily life and at work.
- On the math assessment, the previously used DRC INSIGHTS calculator has been replaced with the more widely used DESMOS calculator that is available free online.
New TABE 13&14 Prep Materials
With TABE 13&14’s updated curriculum blueprints, we have been working diligently to revise our trusted TABE materials at every level to build the skills today’s adults need to make gains and thrive in daily life and at work.
We pored over our existing TABE Mastery and Scoreboost for TABE books to do full content revisions that incorporate:
- new standards, data, and scenarios;
- new question types;
- additional practice;
- shorter reading passages;
- increased diversity;
- and more.
The updates were meticulously designed to present every TABE standard and substandard in a clear way that builds on students’ prior knowledge. Content is meant to make students think and build those deeper level skills.
We’ve also created new TABE Mastery Teacher’s Manuals for every level across subjects to guide teachers through the new subject matter, offering strategies for differentiated instruction using the release of responsibility methodology our materials are built on.
As your program begins using the TABE 13&14 assessments, our materials will build the foundational skills that ensure students will see meaningful gains that allow them to meet their goals.