Vocabulary
This is a test of general vocabulary development. The words tested represent a cross-section of vocabulary encountered in general communication: reading, writing, and listening. Words are presented in context and students choose the best synonym from among five alternatives. The context does not provide "clues"; each of the answer choices is plausible within the context provided for the word.
Reading Comprehension
The five passages comprising each level of the Reading Comprehension test are all from previously published materials and encompass a diversity of genres, styles, and topics. Each level includes one fiction or narrative passage, one poem, nonfiction pieces from the social studies and science domains, and one general interest selection. The questions associated with the passages require students to demonstrate understanding at each of the three process levels usually associated with reading comprehension: factual understanding, inference and interpretation, and analysis and generalization—reading skills that students continue to develop as they proceed through high school.
Language: Revising Written Materials
This test provides information about students' skills in recognizing correct and effective use of standard American English in writing. In the context of complete articles and reports resembling the kinds of written tasks commonly undertaken by high school students, the questions ask students to make revision choices concerning organization, expression, sentence structure, usage, spelling, and mechanics, similar to those they make in editing of near-final drafts of their own peers' writing.
Spelling
This test is a ten-minute, thirty-question test. Each question presents four words, one of which may be misspelled, and a fifth option, "No mistakes," which allows students to indicate that they believe all four words are spelled correctly. Thus, each level of the Spelling test evaluates students' knowledge of the correct spelling of 120 words.
Mathematics: Concepts and Problem Solving
Just as the focus of the NCTM Principles and Standards is problem solving, the primary intent of the Mathematics: Concepts and Problem Solving test is to measure students' ability to solve quantitative problems. The questions in this test present practical problems that require basic arithmetic and measurement, estimation, data interpretation, and logical thinking. Since this is a test of the students' ability to use appropriate mathematical reasoning, the number of items requiring computation is minimal.
Computation
In this test, questions were selected to represent the skills that are most directly related to the computational manipulations needed throughout the secondary school mathematics curriculum. Thus, the computation test includes not only questions that measure the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and percents, but also questions that measure the ability to manipulate variables and to evaluate expressions with exponents or with square roots.
Analysis of Social Studies Materials
This test provides evidence of students' ability to analyze and evaluate various kinds of social studies information. The test passages and questions use materials from a variety of content areas: history, political science, psychology, sociology, geography, and economics. The skills measured by the majority of questions are reinforced in a variety of social studies classes.
Analysis of Science Materials
The Analysis of Science Materials test provides information about students' abilities to interpret and evaluate information in the sciences, to recognize basic principles of scientific inquiry and measurement, and to analyze experimental procedures. The questions relate to physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, health and medicine, and astronomy. The questions require students to think critically about diverse kinds of scientific information.
Sources of Information
This test evaluates students' abilities to use important information sources. The skills a student needs in order to find and use data efficiently include familiarity with the resources of a well-equipped media center. The long-term goals of this test are reflected in two main skill categories: the mechanics of using common sources and the evaluation of sources for various purposes.
Levels
ITED includes three articulated levels for Grades 9 through 12. The ITED levels are vertically equated with the ITBS, providing a continuous scale of achievement across the levels of the two batteries. The table below indicates the recommended levels by grade as well as test length and working time information. For students or classes whose developmental level is markedly different from the average for their grade, schools may designate a more appropriate test level. Out-of-level testing is possible within a group since directions and sample questions are the same for all levels of ITED.
Administration
Working times for ITED
|
| |
Number of Questions |
| Test Level: |
|
15 |
16 |
17/18 |
| Grade: |
|
9 |
10 |
11–12 |
| Test |
Working Time |
|
|
|
| Vocabulary |
15 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Reading Comprehension |
40 |
44 |
44 |
44 |
| Language: Revising Written Materials |
40 |
56 |
56 |
56 |
| Spelling |
10 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Mathematics: Concepts and Problem Solving |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Computation |
15 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Core Total |
160 |
240 |
240 |
240 |
| Analysis of Social Studies Materials |
40 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Analysis of Science Materials |
40 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
| Sources of Information |
20 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Complete Total |
260 |
378 |
378 |
378 |
Technical Qualities
The ITED consist of a variety of educational achievement instruments developed by the faculty and professional staff at Iowa Testing Programs at The University of Iowa. They enjoy a history of development that has been an integral part of the research program in educational measurement at The University of Iowa for the past 70 years.
Detailed technical information on the ITED can be found in the Guide to Research and Development for the ITED, which is available for purchase. Click here for ordering and pricing information.