Newly released CRCT results show Georgia students made strides on some areas of the standardized test. But state officials believe it may be a few years before they do as well.

Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 improved in 24 of the 30 areas on this latest test, but Superintendent John Barge says stakes will be higher next year as the state prepares for a more rigorous test beginning in 2014 based on national guidelines.

"The states are working on an assessment that all of them would give so you could see comparability across states," says Barge who adds the work has been more challenging than anticipated.

The national guidelines require states to raise the thresholds or "cut scores" for whether students meet the standards in a particular subject.

Next year two sets of scores will be issued to students who take the CRCT, one based on the current cuts scores and the second based on the new standards.

As for which test Georgia schools will begin using in 2014, Barge says the jury is still out.

"Our test, even if it is the CRCT, it will look different with a more rigorous cut score," he says

Barge says a decision should be made on which test will be used by the end of this year.