Comprehensive academic achievement tests are routinely used by school psychologists in psycho-educational assessment batteries to identify learning disabled students. A variety of assessment measures are used across age groups to determine if a discrepancy exists between academic achievement and intellectual functioning; however, among the most commonly used tests there are limitations as to how well they can accurately detect this discrepancy. This failure is due, in part, to test construction problems such as item gradient steepness that negatively impacts floor and ceiling effects. These construction problems are particularly salient with certain age ranges, indicating that the accuracy of these tests will vary depending on the age of the child being tested. This dissertation will review test construction issues for the most predominant comprehensive academic achievement tests, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Second Edition (WIAT-II), the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ-III ACH), and the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement-Second Edition (KTEA-II), to determine the test most suitable for a particular age group. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]