stanine

a method of grouping test scores on a nine-point standardized scale having a standard deviation of two and a mean of five, and representing a bell curve divided into nine sections (often used attributively): Stanine scores provide a quick and convenient way of making direct comparisons.

a score on this scale, expressed as a whole number from one to nine, with one being the lowest: Raw test scores can be converted to stanines, standard scores, percentiles, or grade equivalencies.A student scoring below the 50th percentile, or in stanines 1–4, is likely to have some reading difficulties.