Test Description

The IPT is a comprehensive, NCLB-compliant language assessment system. The system is specially designed to show reasonably small incremental growth over the whole range of ability, from the lowest level of English ability to full, grade-level performance in all the grades from Pre-K to grade 12. The four tests are being scaled vertically and horizontally, thereby providing a standardized scale for reporting scores from Pre-K to 12.

The IPT testing system has five test levels or grade spans:
• Level 1 (Pre-K – K)
• Level 2 (Grades 1-2)
• Level 3 (Grades 3-5)
• Level 4 (Grades 6-8)
• Level 5 (Grades 9-12).

Sixth graders may take either the Level 3 or Level 4 test; the test designers have allowed for an overlap in these two levels to accommodate different school/district configurations. Each test level includes four test sections--Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing--designed to provide an overall score and five section scores: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Comprehension. The comprehension score is a combination of the Listening and Reading scores. The Listening, Reading and Writing sections are group administered except at Level 1 (Pre-K – K). The Speaking section is always individually administered.

The Pre-K and K test consists of two sections, an Early Literacy section that encompasses reading and writing, and an Oral section that encompasses listening and speaking. The items are embedded in scenarios, and the student interacts with the examiner to give answers through pointing, acting, gesturing, speaking, or writing. There is an optional observation-based assessment instrument that can be used to evaluate the student’s communication during regular classroom activities. There are 20 listening, 15 speaking, 46 early reading and 6 early writing items in one test form. Many of the items are scaffolded, and students who complete the items without examiner support earn higher scores than students who require higher levels of support. The selected response items are scored 0/1. The students do not have test booklets. The examiner scores their performances on a scannable scoring sheet during the test.

The other test levels are more traditional in their format. The 1-2 test booklet is scannable, while the three highest grade spans use a test booklet and a scannable answer booklet. The following tables summarize the content of each test level.

 IPT Level 1 test, grades Pre-K & K
Test sections   Tasks (number of items)
Early Literacy (Reading & Writing)  

Playing with Sounds (phonemic awareness and phonics) (24)
Identify the beginning/ending sound of a word
Distinguish different phonemes
Choose the letter or combination that corresponds to a beginning/ending sound
Sound out unfamiliar words

Knowledge of Print (12)
Recognize parts of a book
Name and order alphabet letters and group words by letters

Reading aloud (10)
Read high frequency words and simple sentences for understanding
Read aloud a story and answer comprehension questions

Writing (4+1+1)
Copy letters from a story
Copy a sentence from a story
Write your own story in response to a picture
Oral
(Listening & Speaking)		  

Active Listening & Participation (6 listening + 6 speaking)
Give a physical response to a rhyming pattern
Repeat a rhyming pattern

Understanding & Providing Words in Context (6 listening + 6 speaking)
Choose a picture that corresponds to a high-frequency/sight word
Describe objects with high-frequency/sight words

Understanding & Giving Directions (4 listening + 2 speaking)
Follow directions
Give directions

Listening to & Re-telling a Story (4 listening + 1 speaking)
Listen to a story and answer questions
Retell a story

IPT Level 2 test, grades 1-2

Test sections   Tasks (number of items)
Reading  

Demonstrate Word Recognition (5)
Identify a word that describes a picture

Comprehend Descriptive Sentences (6)
Identify a sentence that describes a picture

Read a Graph (3)
Answer comprehension questions about a graph

Read & Respond to Extended Texts (12)
Answer comprehension questions about extended texts
Writing  

Conventions (6)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (6)
Choose an answer that completes a sentence grammatically

Descriptive Writing (4)
Write a word in the blank in a sentence that describes a picture

Narrative Writing (1)
Write a narrative story about a common school activity/event presented in a series of pictures
Listening   Comprehend Words & Phrases (6)
Identify a picture that corresponds to a word or sentence

Recognize Beginning Sounds (4)
Identify letters that correspond to the beginning sounds of words

Recognize Ending Sounds (4)
Identify letters that correspond to the ending sounds of words

Follow Classroom Directions (4)
Identify picture of students who have followed the directions

Listen and Identify Ideas & Details (8)
Answer picture-based comprehension questions about the extended texts
Speaking  

Identify Objects & Actions (12)
Identify common objects and actions using high-frequency words

Describe Events in a Sequence (1)
Describe a classroom activity presented in a series of pictures ture

Use Mathematical Language (2)
Explain simple math operations

Talk about School Activities (1)
Describe a common school activity presented in a series of pictures

IPT Level 3 test, grades 3-5

Test sections   Tasks (number of items)
Reading  

Demonstrate Vocabulary Knowledge (7)
Identify a word that describes a picture

Read a Graph (4)
Answer comprehension questions about a graph

Read & Respond to Academic Texts (15)
Answer comprehension questions about extended texts
Writing  

Conventions (6)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (6)
Choose an answer that completes a sentence grammatically

Descriptive Writing (1)
Write two sentences to describe a picture

Narrative Writing (1)
Write a narrative story about a common school activity/event presented in a series of pictures

Extended Narrative Writing (1)
Write a narrative essay in response to a topic
Listening   Follow Classroom Directions (4)
Identify picture of students who have followed the directions

Comprehend Mathematical Language (3)
Choose a math expression that corresponds to a math word problem

Understand Classroom Dialogue (9)
Answer comprehension questions about classroom dialogue

Listen and respond to Academic Lectures (8)
Answer comprehension questions about the academic texts
Speaking  

Identify Objects & Actions (14)
Identify common objects and actions using high-frequency words

Describe Events in a Sequence (1)
Describe a classroom activity presented in a series of pictures

Use Mathematical Language (2)
Explain simple math operations

Explain a Graph (1)
Describe and compare information in a graph

Express Opinions (1)
Express an opinion on one of the three topics

IPT Level 4 test, grades 6-8

Test sections   Tasks (number of items)
Reading  

Demonstrate Vocabulary Knowledge (7)
Identify a word that describes a picture

Read a Graph (4)
Answer comprehension questions about a graph

Read & Respond to Academic Texts (15)
Answer comprehension questions about extended texts
Writing  

Conventions (6)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (6)
Choose an answer that completes a sentence grammatically

Descriptive Writing (1)
Write a paragraph to describe a picture or graph related to content areas

Expository Writing (1)
Write a paragraph to explain a process shown in a series of pictures

Persuasive/Expository Writing (1)
Write a persuasive essay in response to a written prompt
Listening   Follow Classroom Directions (4)
Identify picture of students who have followed the directions

Comprehend Mathematical Language (3)
Choose a math expression that corresponds to a math word problem

Understand Classroom Dialogue (9)
Answer comprehension questions about classroom dialogue

Listen and respond to Academic Lectures (8)
Answer comprehension questions about the academic texts
Speaking  

Identify Objects & Actions (14)
Identify common objects and actions using high-frequency words

Describe Events in a Sequence (1)
Describe a classroom activity presented in a series of pictures

Use Mathematical Language (2)
Explain simple math operations

Explain a Graph (1)
Describe and compare information in a graph

Express Opinions (1)
Express an opinion on one of the three topics

IPT Level 5 test, grades 9-12

Test sections   Tasks (number of items)
Reading  

Demonstrate Vocabulary Knowledge (7)
Identify a word that describes a picture

Read a Graph (4)
Answer comprehension questions about a graph

Read & Respond to Academic Texts (15)
Answer comprehension questions about extended texts
Writing  

Conventions (6)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (6)
Choose an answer that completes a sentence grammatically

Descriptive Writing (1)
Write a paragraph to describe a picture or graph related to content areas

Expository Writing (1)
Write a paragraph to explain a process shown in a series of pictures

Persuasive/Expository Writing (1)
Write a persuasive essay in response to a written prompt
Listening   Follow Classroom Directions (4)
Identify picture of students who have followed the directions

Comprehend Mathematical Language (3)
Choose a math expression that corresponds to a math word problem

Understand Classroom Dialogue (9)
Answer comprehension questions about classroom dialogue

Listen and respond to Academic Lectures (8)
Answer comprehension questions about the academic texts
Speaking  

Identify Objects & Actions (14)
Identify common objects and actions using high-frequency words

Describe Events in a Sequence (1)
Describe a classroom activity presented in a series of pictures

Use Mathematical Language (2)
Explain simple math operations

Explain a Graph (1)
Describe and compare information in a graph

Express Opinions (1)
Express an opinion on one of the three topics