In 1983-84, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered a 15-task writing assessment in grades 4, 8, and 11. The tasks involved informative, persuasive, and imaginative writing, and were evaluated at one of four levels of success: unsatisfactory; rudimentary or minimal performance; satisfactory; or detailed and controlled performance. In the informative or explanatory task, one-fourth of the fourth and over half of the eighth and eleventh graders were rated as satisfactory or higher. In another explanatory writing task, over half of the fourth graders were unable to perform the task, but 80-85 percent of the eighth and eleventh graders achieved satisfactory or better results. In a persuasive writing task, four percent of the fourth, 14 percent of the eighth, and 21 percent of the eleventh graders wrote adequately and extensively supported essays. In an imaginative writing exercise about ghosts, 86 percent of the fourth, 91 percent of the eighth, and 95 percent of the eleventh graders achieved satisfactory or better results. Ratings on another imaginative exercise were lower. The 1986 NAEP will include reading, mathematics, science, computers, United States history, and literature. (GDC)