Iowa is currently developing an assessment curriculum
and state standards. The state recommends using the ITBS (Iowa
Test of Basic Skills) and the ITED (Iowa Tests of Educational
Development) to assess student performance. Each district
in the state may choose which test to administer.
ITBS
The ITBS consists of 13 different tests that are administered
to students in grades 3-8. The tests include: vocabulary,
reading comprehension, capitalization, punctuation, spelling,
language usage and expression, mathematics concepts and estimation,
social studies, maps and diagrams, science, and reference
materials.
ITED
The ITED consists of 7 different tests that are administered
to students in grades 9-12. These tests include science, social
studies, vocabulary, literary materials, expression, sources
of information, and quantitative thinking.
Merit’s language arts and math software programs address
the skills covered in the ITBS and ITED and can help students
prepare for the tests. The content and format of Merit’s
programs can help students develop and strengthen their test-taking
skills as well as their reading, writing and math skills.
Merit reading software has been proven -- through rigorous,
scientifically based research -- to increase both student
reading comprehension and standardized test scores. Merit
research study findings reveal that education software is
an effective tool to improve test scores and academic performance.
Published: March 2005 |
