The old test might have been flawed and resulted in showing students doing poorly. More likely due to the teachers and schools rather than the test itself. The new test, probably to see if they can spell their name correctly, their school name, city name, and state name. Open book, of course.
Due to NM’s chronic poverty rate and students lack of English skills, many schools are little more than daycare centers. There are exceptions where there are high paying jobs for parents like Los Alamos and also out in the oil patch like Hobbs where one elementary school this year won an award for academic achievement (received National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education).