The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey has been conducted since 2005. Driven by concerns about low levels of attainment in reading and mathematics across the elementary school years and beyond, ASER tools were designed to capture basic learning outcomes using a common assessment for all children irrespective of age or grade.

ASER assesses children’s foundational reading, arithmetic, and, in some years, English skills. The ASER tool is a progressive tool that has different levels. Each child is evaluated based on the highest level they can comfortably achieve. For reading, levels range from recognizing letters to reading a Grade 2-level story. Arithmetic assessment levels range from recognizing numbers to performing basic 3-digit by 1-digit division. English assessment, when included, ranges from recognizing alphabets to reading short passages. The detailed assessment allows an accurate understanding of each child’s proficiency in these areas.