What is new about the renormed IPT Tests?

Only the norms are new in the renormed IPT Tests. The test forms themselves have not changed since last year. The new norms mean that the interpretation of the scores is more accurate compared with the current U.S. student population. The renormed tests are still the easy-to-use, valid, and reliable language proficiency tests that educators across the U.S. have relied upon for many years. The IPT Tests provide reliable placement information, but if required, they can also provide five scores (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension).

Can I use my old IPT test materials with the renormed IPT Tests?

To avoid confusion between old and new norms, we recommend using the new materials only from the summer of 2006 onwards. In principle, the test items themselves haven’t changed in IPT Spanish or the Oral IPT English tests, so the test questions in the old test booklets are valid. However, the norms printed in the test booklets are old, so the test administrators would have to be sure to use the new norms when scoring instead of the ones printed in the booklets. Moreover, the old forms (A and B) of the English Reading and Writing Tests cannot be used with the renormed materials. You need the new Forms C and D. For future use of the Oral, Reading, and Writing tests in English and Spanish, we recommend updating your whole test package. This way, you will have tests and Examiner’s Manuals that include the new norms, as well as revised Technical Manuals and Inservice Training Guides.

What do I need to administer the IPT Oral?

What test do I order?
It depends on the grade level of your students:
• For preschool children ages 3, 4, and 5, order the Pre-IPT
• For students in grades K–6*, order the IPT I
• For students in grades 7–12*, order the IPT II
  *Sixth-grade students may be assessed using either the IPT I or the IPT II–Oral English.

We recommend that you order a complete set, which will give one examiner enough materials to test 50 students. All test booklets are sold 50 to a package.

If you have several testers/examiners conducting testing at the same time, each examiner needs:
1 Examiner’s Manual and 1 Picture Book for the IPT I and II and 1 Examiner’s Manual, 1 Story Board, and 1 set of Story Pieces for the Pre-IPT.

What form should I order?
We offer alternate forms of our English tests for pre- and post-testing. Either form may be used for initial identification or redesignation. There is only one form of the Spanish tests and Pre-IPT English.

Do I have to buy a whole new set of the alternate form for post-testing?
No. Simply order the needed components of the alternate form: 1 Picture Book for each examiner and Test Booklets for each student (50 to a package).

What do I need to score the tests?
All the IPT Oral Tests are designed to be scored as you administer the test for immediate score results, but you may choose to record student responses in one of three ways:

• The vast majority of schools purchase TEST BOOKLETS. Correct/incorrect responses are recorded on the test booklet itself.
• Some schools like to keep track of the skills students possess at each test level for diagnostic purposes. They purchase DIAGNOSTIC ANSWER SHEETS.
• Large districts interested in saving test data-entry time use the SCANNABLE ANSWER SHEETS* or the Continuous Scannable Answer Sheets to meet their needs. The Continuous Scannable Answer Sheets are available by special order only. (Consult with your technology department for proper database implementation.)
  *The IPT II Scannable Answer Sheet is designed for use with grades 7–12 only.

What do I need to administer the IPT Reading & Writing?

What tests do I order?
It depends on the grade level of your students:
• For grades K–1, order the IPT Early Literacy
• For grades 2–3, order the IPT 1
• For grades 4–6, order the IPT 2
• For grades 7–12, order the IPT 3

We recommend you order a complete set, which will give one examiner enough materials to test 50 students. All test booklets are sold 50 to a package.

If you have several testers/examiners conducting testing at the same time, each examiner needs:
1 Examiner’s Manual.

What do I need for each student?
Each student will need a Reading and a Writing Test Booklet. Some students will also need answer sheets for the Reading Test. Here’s what you need for each student:

Grades K–1 and 2–3	Grades 4–6 and 7–12
Reading Test Booklet	Reading Test Booklet (Non-consumable)
Writing Test Booklet	Reading Test Answer Sheet
	Writing Test Booklet

What form should I order?
We offer alternate forms of our English tests for pre- and post-testing. Either form may be used for initial identification or redesignation. There is only one form of the Spanish tests and the IPT Early Literacy Test.

Do I have to buy a whole new set of the alternate form for post-testing?
No, but it is highly recommended. Although components can be purchased separately, all the components of the Reading and Writing Tests are needed for post-testing, and it is more economical to purchase a complete set. Simply order an additional set of the alternate form.

What do I need to score the tests?
Student writing samples from the IPT Writing Tests are scored holistically using a rubric. The IPT Early Literacy Reading Test is hand scored only; however, the IPT 1–, 2–, and 3–Reading Tests, and the Conventions section of the Writing Tests may be scored in one of three ways:

• Hand scoring: Use the scoring template provided in the test sets to score each test answer sheet quickly and accurately. An answer key is also provided in the Examiner’s Manuals. The template is not available for the IPT 1 (grades 2–3) or the IPT Early Literacy (K–1), which do not require answer sheets because students mark their answers directly in the test booklets.
• Machine scoring: Answer sheets and machine-scored test booklets may be scored on most scanners.
• Test scoring service: You may contract with an independent scoring service company to score your tests.

What do I need if I use the IPT Manager 4 software?

If you want to use the IPT to derive five separate scores (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension), we strongly recommend machine scoring the tests and using the IPT Manager 4 software. The IPT Manager 4 software can calculate separate scores automatically if used in conjunction with the IPT 2004 Scannable Answer Sheets. You need to purchase IPT Scannable Answer Sheets for the IPT I– and II–Oral, and the IPT 2– and 3–Reading Tests, as well as IPT Reading Test Booklets for the IPT 1 Reading Test.