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 K to grade 12. The five tests are scaled vertically and horizontally, thereby providing a standardized scale for reporting scores from K to 12.

The IPT testing system has five grade spans:
• IPT K
• IPT 1-2
• IPT 3-5
• IPT 6-8
• IPT 9-12.

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 grade K. The Speaking section is always individually administered.

The kindergarten test consists of two sections, a reading and writing section and a listening and speaking section. The items are presented in themed groups and often embedded in scenarios. The student interacts with the examiner to give answers through pointing, acting, gesturing, speaking, or writing. There are 16 listening, 17 speaking, 24 early reading and 8 early writing items in one test form, yielding a total of 88 raw score points. The number of raw score points is higher than the number of items, because extended production items are scored on rubrics. The selected response items and short production 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 K
Test sections   Tasks (number of items)
Reading & Writing  

Letters and Sounds
Name Letters (3)
Copy Letters (4)
Recognize Same and Different Words (3)
Group Words by letter (2)
Put Letters in Alphabetical Order (2)
Recognize Beginning Letters (3)
Recognize Ending Letters (2)
Early Reading
Read Words (3)
Read Sentences (2)
Read a Story Aloud (1*)
Comprehend a Written Story (3)
Early Writing
Copy a Word (1*)
Write a Word (1*)
Copy a Sentence (1*)
Write a Sentence (1*)
Listening & Speaking  

Answer Questions About Yourself (4)
Follow Directions (4)
Give Directions (3)
Understand and Provide Words in Context (12)
Listen Actively (6)
Listen to a Story (3)
Retell a Story (1*)
*Items marked with an asterisk are scored on a rubric.

IPT 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 & Sentences (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 Differences (4*)
Describe differences between pairs of objects in a scene

Use Mathematical Language (2*)
Read simple math operations

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

*Items marked with an asterisk are scored on a rubric.


IPT 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 (8)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (8)
Choose an answer that completes a sentence grammatically

Descriptive Writing (1*)
Write at least 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*)
Read 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
*Items marked with an asterisk are scored on a rubric.


IPT 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 (8)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (8)
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*)
Read 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

*Items marked with an asterisk are scored on a rubric.


IPT 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 (8)
Choose correct spelling or punctuation that completes a sentence

Grammar (8)
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*)
Read 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
*Items marked with an asterisk are scored on a rubric.