How long is the ITBS test?

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - October 16th, 2011

As there are many subjects covered at different levels in the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), the testing times vary according to subjects as well as grade level.  The Complete Battery tests for third right till eight grade students take roughly five and a half hours to administer, whereby five hours and 10 minutes is actual working time for the student. Moreover, it takes 20 minutes to administer Level 9 word analysis tests and 25 minutes for Level 9 listening tests.

It is highly recommended that the Complete Battery tests are administered in either six or eleven sessions held across a span of six various days. Also, the school district can make decisions regarding the test schedule as well as the number of test sessions held daily. However, it is not recommended that all tests are held back to back for three consecutive days. This is because; such a tiring schedule of consecutive testing may exhaust students as well as result in certain students not taking the test seriously. It is also important to note that under any circumstance can the ITBS Complete Battery tests be administered at one go in a day.