The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was the fourth  Texas state standardized test previously used in grade 3-8 and grade 9-11  to assess students' attainment of reading, writing, math, science, and social studies skills required under Texas education standards. It is developed and scored by Pearson Educational Measurement with close supervision by the Texas Education Agency. Though created before the No Child Left Behind Act was passed, it complied with the law. It replaced the previous test, called the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), in 2003.