Iowa Tests of Basic Skills

Designed in 1935 as a service project by researchers at the University of Iowa to enhance and improve educational instruction in the state, the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) is a widely known and used standardized achievement test. The Iowa Tests, recently renamed the Iowa Assessments, were originally designed to measure students’ content knowledge of academic subjects. The ITBS measures academic achievement in 15 areas for students in kindergarten through Grade 8. The Iowa Tests of Educational Development measure academic achievement in nine separate content areas across Grades 9–12. The Next Generation of Iowa Assessments, released in 2016–2017, focuses on using assessment to inform instructional decisions by teachers, alignment with Common Core Standards, and an emphasis on student growth. The Iowa Tests are designed ...