Progress monitoring calculates the grade level score based on the percentage of standards a student has mastered for each grade level. For instance, if a student knows 80% of the kindergarten standards, they have an 80% grade proficiency for that level. When a student passes 80% of the standards in a grade level, it is equivalent to being 8 months into that level. The overall grade level score for a student is calculated by adding up the percentage of standards mastered for each grade level. For example, if a student has an 80% grade proficiency in kindergarten and 50% in first grade, their overall grade-level score would be 1.3 (80% + 50%).

It is important to note that even though a student may have a grade level score of 1.3, it does not necessarily mean that they have mastered all math topics covered in kindergarten and grade 1. Due to the nature of learning, it is common for students to have gaps in their knowledge, and it is important to identify these gaps in order to help them progress in their learning. Therefore, while grade level scores are a useful metric for comparing students, it is crucial to review a student's grade proficiencies and identify their missing skills to gain a comprehensive understanding of their abilities.