ITBS Test Prep
January 16th, 2013

The ITBS, or Iowa Test of Basic Skills, is an annual test given to students across the country. Commonly taught subjects are tested, including reading, math and vocabulary. The scores obtained from the ITBS are used for many purposes. The ITBS test scores are helpful for both individual students and schools and school districts. On an individual level, they give you and your child’s teachers insight into any potential areas for improvement. On a larger scale, ITBS scores are used to assess the academic quality of grades, schools and even entire states.

ITBS test prep is an essential part of the Iowa testing process. As mentioned, the test covers areas that your child has probably encountered in school, so he won’t be caught totally blindsided by the content and format of the test. Even if your child has been doing very well in school, though, running through a few practice questions is a great way to avoid anxiety. It also ensures that your child isn’t caught unprepared by a question they weren’t expecting.

The best first step is to familiarize yourself and your child with the content and format of the test. You can see the subjects, and the number of questions regarding each one, at http://www.riverpub.com/products/itbs/details.html. These charts are a great tool for your ITBS test prep.

Keeping your practice relevant is crucial. Many parents waste time by focusing equally on each subject. In most cases, this is unnecessary. Briefly touch on subjects your child is comfortable with, and then spend more time on subjects in which they’ve been having difficulty. It can be a good idea to start with your child’s strong areas, to build his confidence, and then slowly work up to his problematic areas, so that he uses that confidence to break through the areas of the Iowa where he needs practice.