Measures the development of basic skills needed for academic success.

The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills is one of the most widely administered standardized tests measuring the development of basic skills needed for academic success. It can be used to identify individual strengths and weaknesses, monitor a student's progress from year to year, and aid in evaluating the effectiveness of classroom instruction. ITBS is available in several alternate forms on 10 levels covering grades K-9. It is one of the tests often chosen to fulfill state or locally mandated testing requirements. Areas covered include vocabulary, reading, language, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage, work and study skills, use of visual and reference materials, mathematical concepts, problem solving, computation, and, in some cases, listening, work analysis, science, and social studies. Test scores are reported in a number of different forms, including grade equivalents, standard scores, local and national norms, and even specially normed scores for Catholic or private schools or certain socioeconomic brackets. Some forms of the ITBS include tests of the ability to read maps and interpret graphs. There is also a version of the Iowa test for students in grades 9-12, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED). These emphasize more complex material and more advanced skills, including critical analysis, comprehension of scientific material, distinguishing between different literary styles, and using common informational tools.

For Further Study

Books

Hart, Diane. Authentic Assessment: A Handbook for Educators. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., 1994.

McCullough, Virginia. Testing and Your Child: What You Should Know About 150 of the Most Common Medical, Educational, and Psychological Tests. New York: Plume, 1992.