The development and initial standardization of a two-part geography assessment test designed to measure student knowledge and understanding at the secondary level is the focus of this study. Intended to provide information about groups of students rather than to assess individual students, Part 1 of the test measures geographic skills and a knowledge of cultural geography, while Part 2 measures a knowledge of physical geography and location recall skills and knowledge. In order to establish baseline data for the geography assessment test, 1,560 students were tested on Part 1 and 1,617 students were tested on Part 2 during March 1985. Each of 18 specific geography objectives were measured by having students respond to 4-17 questions related to the specific content objectives. The results of the test suggest that the test questions were on the whole somewhat difficult in that the overall student average on Part 1 was 69 percent and on Part 2 the average was 57 percent. Student performance was highest on questions related to cultural geography and, except for using scales to measure distance area, overall test score percentages were fairly consistent with other available national research data measuring geography knowledge. Objectives selected to measure geographic understanding are presented, along with a performance analysis report, recommendations, and content specifications and sample questions for each objective. A student questionnaire concludes the paper. (LH)