AUGUSTA — A new batch of test scores released Monday by the Maine Department of Education shows little change in reading and math, but some improvement in writing.

The scores are from the New England Common Assessment Program tests, which were administered in October 2012.

In reading, 71 percent of students tested were proficient, compared to 72 percent the previous year. In math, 62 percent scored proficient, compared to 63 percent last year. In those two areas, the tests are given to children in grades 3 through 8.

In writing, where only grades 5 and 8 are tested, scores have gone from 48 percent in 2010, to 46 percent in 2011 to 51 percent in 2012.

“This continues a multi-year flat lining of our math and reading scores,” Dan Hupp, director of standards and assessment for the department, said in a news release. “In writing, we are hopeful that it is the start of a trend, but it’s too early to say. The writing portion of our test has always had greater variations from year to year than in the other sections.”