The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is an information-gathering project that surveys the educational attainments of 9-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 17-year-olds, and adults (ages 26-35) in various learning areas. All areas are assessed by a group of educators who design objectives for each area and create measurement tools appropriate to the objectives. When the exercises prepared by the test developers have passed extensive reviews by subject-matter specialists and measurement experts, they are administered to probability samples of various populations. Approximately 100,000 persons participate annually in these exercises. This report includes information on the ability of American youth to utilize the inquiry skills stressed in the new science curricula. The students participated in eight individualized activities which included the use of scientific apparatus to conduct testing procedures and simple experiments, the application of knowledge to the observation of materials in order to make generalizations, and the demonstration of principles by using models. Descriptions are given of the eight activities which were designed for students of ages 9, 13, and 17, and specifications are included for the sample populations which took part in the study. The results of the assessment are reported for each activity and include a breakdown according to geographical region, sex, color, parental education, and size and type of community. (MLH) Primary type of information provided by report: Results (Selective).