Our Iowa Assessment Practice Tests
Prepare for your Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) or Iowa Assessment with our practice exams below.
You will find grade specific exams below. Each exam includes 30 total questions and has detailed answer explanations at the end. Make sure to review the explanations to help learn key concepts.
What is the Iowa Test?
The Iowa Test is an exam given to students in K-12. It is a standardized exam used to assess a student’s learning. It covers the following 5 subjects:
- Language Arts
- Reading
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Though they are called Iowa tests, other public and private schools utilize this test even if they aren’t in the state of Iowa. The name comes from the fact that the University of Iowa created this test in 1935 and called it the “Iowa Every Pupil Test of Basic Skills”.
ITBS Test vs. Iowa Test
The Iowa Test used to be known as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). In 2011, the ITBS was rebranded to be called the Iowa Test or Iowa Assessment (same thing, used interchangeably).
The current version of the exam (Iowa Assessment) now covers all of the core curriculum developed by the University of Iowa’s Board of Educators.
What is the Iowa Test Used For?
Iowa testing can be used for a wide variety of things. Some different use cases include:
- Student Placement: The results can be used to place students in the appropriate programs within their school.
- Benchmarking: The results can be used to see where a certain students stands in comparison to others.
- Monitoring Progress: The results can be used to monitor a student’s progress over time.
Remember, this exam is used by numerous private and public schools across the country, not just schools located in Iowa.
Iowa Testing Levels
There are various testing levels that correlate with grade levels. Review the chart below to learn more.
| Age | Grade | Test Level |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | K.1-1.5 | 5 |
| 6 | K.7-1.9 | 6 |
| 7 | 1.7-2.4 | 7 |
| 8 | 2.5-3.5 | 8 |
| 9 | 3 | 9 |
| 10 | 4 | 10 |
| 11 | 5 | 11 |
| 12 | 6 | 12 |
| 13 | 7 | 13 |
| 14 | 8 | 14 |
| 15 | 9 | 15 |
| 16 | 10 | 16 |
| 17 | 11 | 17 |
| 18 | 12 | 18 |
Iowa Assessment Subjects Tests
There are 5 subjects tested:
- Language Arts
- Reading
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
The topics tested on each subject vary depending on the level of the exam you are taking. Review the table below for specifics for each level.
| Area of Study | Subtests | Levels |
| Language Arts | -Listening | Level 9 |
| Language Arts | -Conventions of Writing (Capitalization, -Punctuation, Spelling) | Levels 9 to 14 |
| Mathematics | -Algebraic Patterns and Connections | All levels |
| Mathematics | -Data Analysis | Levels 7+ |
| Mathematics | -Computation of Algebraic Manipulations, Decimals, and Fractions | Levels 9 to 14 |
| Reading | -Comprehension | Levels 5 and 6 |
| Reading | -Author’s Craft | Levels 7+ |
| Science | -No testing | Levels 5 and 6 |
| Science | -Earth and Space Science | Levels 7+ |
| Social Studies | -No testing | Levels 5 and 6 |
| Social Studies | -Civics and Government | Levels 7+ |
How Many Items are on the Iowa Assessment?
Each level has a different number of items given. We broke down each level in the tables below.
Level 5 Assessment
| Subject | Number of Items | Time Given (minutes) |
| Language | 27 | 25 |
| Listening | 13 | 30 |
| Math | 27 | 25 |
| Reading | 17 | 30 |
| Vocabulary | 23 | 20 |
| Word Analysis | 29 | 20 |
| Total | 146 | 150 |
Level 6 Assessment
| Subject | Number of Items | Time Given (minutes) |
| Language | 31 | 25 |
| Listening | 27 | 30 |
| Math | 35 | 25 |
| Reading (part 1) | 17 | 20 |
| Reading (part 2) | 17 | 20 |
| Vocabulary | 27 | 20 |
| Word Analysis | 33 | 20 |
| Total | 187 | 160 |
Level 7 Assessment
| Subject | Number of Items | Time Given (minutes) |
| Computation | 25 | 25 |
| Language | 34 | 25 |
| Listening | 27 | 25 |
| Math (part 1) | 26 | 25 |
| Math (part 2) | 15 | 25 |
| Science | 29 | 25 |
| Social Studies | 29 | 25 |
| Reading (part 1) | 17 | 20 |
| Reading (part 2) | 18 | 25 |
| Vocabulary | 26 | 15 |
| Word Analysis | 32 | 15 |
| Total | 278 | 250 |
Level 8+ Assessments
| Subject | Number of Items | Time Given (minutes) |
| Computation | 27 | 25 |
| Language | 42 | 25 |
| Listening | 27 | 25 |
| Math (part 1) | 26 | 25 |
| Math (part 2) | 20 | 25 |
| Science | 29 | 25 |
| Social Studies | 29 | 25 |
| Reading (part 1) | 18 | 20 |
| Reading (part 2) | 20 | 25 |
| Vocabulary | 26 | 15 |
| Word Analysis | 33 | 15 |
| Total | 297 | 250 |
When is the Iowa Test Administered?
Testing is typically given three times a year (for baseline and progress tracking) with the only exception being twice a year in kindergarten. You can typically expect the exam to be administered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Spring
How is the Iowa Assessment Scored?
The Iowa Assessment is scored on a scale of 1 to 99 in percentiles. So, if your child scores at the 60th percentile, that means they are ahead of 60% of their peers.
The United States average for the Iowa Assessment is the 50th percentile. However, a score in the 90th percentile or higher is likely gifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Iowa test cost?
The Iowa test is distributed to all schools in Iowa for the cost of $3.50 per student. If you are taking it elsewhere, prices may vary.
Is the Iowa test an IQ test?
No, the Iowa test is not an IQ test, but it can check to see if your child deserves gifted student accommodations.
How do I prepare for an Iowa assessment?
You can prepare your child or yourself by using an Iowa practice test (like the ones listed above).
