The following shows the types of tasks students at each of three grade levels will be asked to complete in the 1998 National Assessment of Educational Progress in writing:
| Grade 4 | Grade 8 | Grade 12 | |
| Narrative | A letter to a grandparent about an interesting personal experience related to a season of the year depicted in an illustration. | An article for a sports magazine about a time the writer participated in a hobby or skill he enjoyed. | A letter to a friend about a time when the student had to make an important decision. |
| Informative | An essay to an English teacher explaining how a person, such as a parent, teacher, or friend, influenced the writer in an important way. | Based on a series of brief journal entries from another historical time, write an essay on what is revealed about the person who wrote the journal. | Choose one of several quotations from political campaigns and tell a social studies teacher what it means in the context of the campaign. |
| Persuasive | An essay that aims to convince a parent or guardian that a particular animal would make the best pet. | A review for the school newspaper that aims to persuade other students to watch a favorite film or TV program or read a favorite book. | A letter to the editor of the local newspaper that takes a position on some aspect of education and supports it from personal experience. |
Source: National Assessment Governing Board
