The principal goal of graphic display is to ease access to complex inf
ormation. Simple univariate displays are easy to understand but usuall
y do not have the capability to transmit accurately the often complex
structure of multivariate data. Multivariate displays were specially d
esigned for exactly this purpose. The National Assessment of Education
al Progress (NAEP) generates data of a multivariate richness and compl
exity that defies accurate univariate transmission. The broad use and
understanding of the information NAEP provides can be aided through th
e use of more suitable and evocative data displays. In this article, w
e demonstrate the limitations of univariate displays and suggest some
multivariate displays that may enable us to understand, and thence com
municate, what is contained in NAEP more fully.