PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT
 Testing dates
 Purpose, Importance, and Benefits of the CogAT –
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Cognitive Abilities Test & Iowa Test of
Basic Skills (ITBS)
STAAR vs. ITBS
How is St. Theresa preparing the students?
Tips for parents
Test Results
Q&A
CogAT – Cognitive Abilities Test
March 11th-13th
Kindergarten – 7th grade
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
March 16th-20th
Kindergarten – 8th grade
CogAT – COGNITIVE ABILITIES TEST
CogAT
 Tests student ability
 Assesses the level of understanding, reasoning, and
problem-solving skills of students in three different
areas:
1. Verbal
2. Quantitative
3. Non-verbal
http://www.riversidepublishing.com/products/cogAT7/lea
rnmore.html
CogAT - (Cont’d)
 The results of CogAT are generally used to predict
the success of students in school. Reasoning abilities
develop throughout a person’s lifetime and develops
at different rates.
 The results are also useful to help teachers
understand and adapt to their student’s needs, which
will help the student learn more effectively.
 However, CogAT does not gauge other factors like
motivation, effort and work habits that are also vital
for school achievement.
IOWA TESTS OF BASIC SKILLS (ITBS)
IOWA
 Test measures basic skills
 Assesses student achievement and educational
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development
Iowa assessments help determine how students are
performing on nationwide standards
Iowa assessments help teachers identify a student’s
strengths and areas that may need additional emphasis.
Iowa assessments also measure student growth and
progress in the content areas assessed from year to year.
The assessments help teachers guide and evaluate
instruction.
ITBS – Content Area
 Kindergarten: Reading, Language, Vocabulary, Word Analysis,
Listening, and Mathematics
 Grades First-Second: Reading, Language, Vocabulary, Word
Analysis, Listening, Mathematics, Computation, Social Studies, and
Science
 Third Grade: Reading, Written Expression, Conventions of
Writing, Vocabulary, Word Analysis, Listening, Mathematics,
Computation, Social Studies, and Science
 Grades Fourth-Eighth: Reading, Written Expression,
Conventions of Writing, Vocabulary, Mathematics, Computation,
Social Studies, and Science
http://riversidepublishing.com/products/ia/learnmore.html
USING CogAT & ITBS TOGETHER
Together:
 Comparing the CogAT and the ITBS can help identify
if a student is working to ability level, identify
strengthens and weaknesses, and adapting
instruction.
 This enables teachers to provide every opportunity
for each child’s success.
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) vs. STAAR
 Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is a norm-referenced
test.
 A norm-referenced test compares how a particular
student’s performance on a skill compares with every
other student of his/her age and grade in the country.
 In norm-referenced tests such as the Iowa Test of Basic
Skills (ITBS), the objectives on which the children are
tested are aligned with the National Teachers of
Mathematics (NTCM) standards, the national science
standards, national reading standards, etc., that students
across the country should learn.
ITBS vs. STAAR (cont’d)
 Not all standardized tests are norm-referenced tests.
Public schools administer the STARR, a criterion
referenced test, exam that covers the basic
knowledge and skills that should be learned by
students in Texas public schools; that is, the
minimum standards expected of children in Texas
public schools.
 The STARR test scores are compared to test scores of
Texas children only.
 In addition, passing scores on the STARR are not
comparable to a standardized test, such as the ITBS.
Example of STAAR - Criterion Referenced Tests
STAAR - As an example, a math test might have 60
questions with a cut score of 33. This would mean that
a student who gets 33 out of 60 questions correct
would “Meet” standards while a student who correctly
answers 32 out of 60 questions would be classified as
“Does Not Meet.” For Criterion Referenced Tests the
State of Texas commissions committees each year to
set the cut scores for each assessment. The cut score
for a given test might be different depending on the
subject, grade, and year.
Example of ITBS Norm-Referenced Tests
ITBS- Norm-Referenced Tests do not have cut scores
and students do not “pass” or “fail” a NormReferenced Test. A NRT compares how a particular
student’s performance on a skill compares with every
other student of his/her age and grade in the country.
For example, a particular student might be found to
have skills in reading that are superior to 57% of
students in the U.S. of his same age and grade.
ITBS
STAAR
Given at the discretion of the school district
with results returned within weeks. The
tests can be given early enough in the school
year such that students can use the results to
improve their learning and teachers can use
the results to improve their instruction
Given in April or May and results
are returned after the students are
released for the summer; in the
first year, results have still not been
returned nine months later
Comparative
Data
Provides scores that indicate how a student
performed against his/her peers in the
nation
Does not provide any comparative
data against peers in the state or
nation
Grade-level
Performance
Provides data to indicate if a student
performed at/below/above his or her grade
level
Does not provide any data to
indicate grade-level performance
Provides some diagnostic data by subject
area and concept
Does not provide any diagnostic
data
Timing of Tests
and Results
Diagnostic
Information by
Subject Area
PREPARING STUDENTS
 Students have been practicing test-taking strategies
throughout the year as part of the educational
program offered at STCS
 Students take practice CogAT and ITBS tests in the
classrooms
 Teachers talk to their students about the upcoming
tests
 Teachers and students discuss coping with anxiety
and tips for being good test takers
Tips for Parents
The best thing you as a parent can do to help
your child do their best on standardized tests
is to provide positive support by expressing
confidence in your child’s ability to do their
best. Let that be your expectation, as well.
Children should know that test scores are
important, but are not the measure of your
love and acceptance of them.
Encourage your child to…
 Get plenty of rest each night
 Eat a good breakfast
 Have a positive attitude
 Relax… don’t fret
 Try hard… do your best
 Listen carefully and follow directions
 Think before you answer
 Read directions and questions carefully
 Don’t rush… but be aware of how much time you have
 Check over your work when finished
 Don’t expect to know every answer
TEST RESULTS
Test results will be available in April. Teachers will
distribute and discuss student test results at the
parent/teacher conferences.
Q&A
Thank you for your time and
continued support.