Improve Student Learning

International Benchmarking Tests (IBT)

Information Booklet

TeacherSITY and ACER, Australian Council for Educational Research welcomes Students, Parents, Teachers, Principals and Schools to I S L, Improve Student learning program that extends beyond the conventional learning by rote and into building skills and competencies. In doing so;

  • International Benchmarking Tests student skills that underpin learning of English, Mathematics and Sciences.
  • Assessment Counselors use test results and data to support schools in identifying gaps in teaching/learning.
  • They specifically pinpoint students’ areas of strengths and weakness in all of these subjects.
  • It helps teachers to design content & curriculum and transact their teaching that addresses the specific areas within the subject learning.
  • Together with schools, they assess institutional, teacher and student needs.
  • TeacherSITY would provide Interventions way of revisiting academic processes, sourcing new teaching/learning resources and training empowering teachers – leading to I S L.
  • Schools and teachers can plan remedial teaching for their areas of weakness and enrichment classes in their areas of strengths.
  • It is designed to help students to grow to their potential.

International Benchmarking Test

is designed by ACER, a not for profit independent organization, working in the area of educational research to improve learning.

ACER, established in 1930, as a specialist assessment body offers a wide range of 130 types of tests in various fields of human activity namely, Work Skills, Ability, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, (EQ) Psychological Tests, Personality Type, Career Planning, Scholarship Programs, University Tests, Medical School Entry Tests, Organizational Development to Achievement Tests at different levels.

ACER is one of the world’s leading Research and Assessment Services organization also leads the consortium of testing services for the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) ofthe OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) in more than 50 countries. It also conducts tests in Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and ISA (International Schools Assessments) in 40 different countries.

ACER has developed a National Assessment for entry into Universities in the UK, in conjunction with the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). A number of UK universities now use ACERdesigned tests such as the GAMSAT and UMAT for entry into medical schools.

The International Benchmark Testsare diagnostic tests to assess measure and recognize a student’s performance in a range of skills that underpin learning of English, Mathematics and Science.

IBT Features

For the Year 2008-09, tests shall be conducted in English Language and Mathematics for classes 3 to 10 and in Science for class 3 to 8.

The tests are designed to assess skills that underpin the learning of English, Mathematics and Science.

Each test caters for a range of ability levels within a class group.

Monitors class progress so as teachers can address every student’s learning needs.

Shifts focus from comparing performances to monitoring what students' can know and do.

Student’s progress in the subject is monitored along a linear continuum that is referred to as a developmental continuum – over the school years.

IBT Content

English

Questions in the IBT are based on reasoning and thinking skills which focus on locating information, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions and reasoning.

The strands in English are:

  • Reading Comprehension;
  • Spelling;
  • Punctuation;
  • Grammar;
  • Vocabulary

Science

Questions in the Science component of IBT are based on problem solving and thinking skills which focus onobserving,measuring, interpreting data, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions, reasoning and problem solving.

The strands in Science are:

  • Earth Science (atmosphere, structure of earth and universe);
  • Physical Science (properties of matter, energy, motion);
  • Life Science (cells and organisms, environment of organisms, biological evolution)

Mathematics

Questions in the Mathematics component of IBT are based on problem solving and thinking skills which focus interpreting data, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions, reasoning and problem solving.

The strands in Mathematics are:

  • Number;
  • Measurement;
  • Space;
  • Chance and Data

Since IBT is about testing skills and competencies, and not information and knowledge, serious preparation in a conventional sense is not required.

Students only need to familiarize themselves with the pattern of questions and how to answer those, instead of knowing the correct answers.

* Sample tests enclosed

Test Details

SUBJECTS / CLASS GROUP / QUESTIONS / TIME
English / 3, 4, 5, 6
7, 8, 9, 10 / 40
45 / 50 minutes
50 minutes
Mathematics / 3, 4, 5, 6
7, 8, 9, 10 / 40
45 / 50 minutes
50 minutes
Science / 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8 / 40 / 50 minutes

Who Benefits?

Student

IBT provides detailed feedback to students. The individual student report helps students to see their intrinsic abilities and potential for learning and to recognize their strengths and weaknesses in key concepts and skills.

Benchmark their progress against other students in their School, Nationally and Internationally. It enables students to monitor their own progress over time.

Their performance can serve a good guide in choice of subjects in senior secondary classes.

Teacher

The detailed group reports provide teachers with rich diagnostic information, highlighting students' strengths and weaknesses.

Teachers are provided with a descriptor of each question, students' responses at the question level and the pattern of responses grouped by strands.

Teachers are able to look for trends in their students' responses and use this information to inform their teaching.

School

Establish where each and every pupil’s attainment lies in relation to their class, the average for the Class, Nationally and Internationally.

Track a student's academic growth between years. Measure and compare the progress of individual students, classes and school over time.

Identify strengths and weaknesses in students’ learning and provide remedial support in case of specific subject weaknesses and build further on strengths through enrichment support.

Set concrete and realistic attainment targets for students.

Receive a free set of tests for their library and teacher resource.

In view of national trends of the IBT results, schools access resources on-line to support teaching.

Parents

IBT helps parents monitor their child's performance and progress on a learning continuum through an independent and internationally adopted assessment tool.

By monitoring their child's progress each year parents are able to ensure that any areas of concern are dealt with in a timely manner.

Sample Questions

Students can access previous years’ papers for practice. They can be accessed at

Reports

IBT provides high quality feedback to both schools and students. The incorporation of standardized scores enables students' performance to be compared from year to year.

Diagnostic reportsare provided to studentsfor subjects in which theyparticipate in IBT. Each report provides:

  • A descriptor of every question and the answer status
  • The student’s responses
  • Thecorrect responses

The total number of questions answered correctly by the student.

  • Abreakdown of questions answered correctly by strand.
  • Thepercentage of questions answered correctly by strand .

A comparison against all participating students

  • The percentile rank of the student when compared to the performance of other students from the same school.
  • The percentile rank of the student when compared to the performance of other students from the same country.
  • The percentile rank of the student when compared to the performance of other students from other participating countries.

School Report (TIMMS)- Science

This sample report enables a school to compare the performance of their students to countries who participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This style of report is provided to schools for years 4, 5, 7 and 8 IBT Maths and years 4, 5 and 7 IBT Science.

Individual Report (TIMMS) - Science

This sample report enables a student to compare their performance against students from countries who participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This style of report is provided to students who complete either a year 4, 5, 7 or 8 IBT Maths and a year 4, 5 or 7 IBT Science.

*Sample reportis enclosed

Become a Partner

A school upon becoming a partner school may communicate with the parents and share with them the benefits of the ISL program.

It is recommended that the schools enter all their students to be able take full advantage of the program offerings. Nominal participation in the test may not serve any meaningful purpose.

Only those schools that enter at least 60% of their students in classes for which IBT is offered will be eligible for free services of assessment counseling for identification of gaps and assessment of institutional, teachers and student needs.

As a special offer, partner schools shall be offered free membership of TeacherSITY web portal to avail of recruitment and IT enabled academic processes to track class room teaching/learning.

The school may collect the IBT charges along with the monthly/quarterly fee and no separate collection of test charges is recommended.

Test Registration Dates

Test Date / Last Date of Registration
December 9th , 2009 / December, 2009
December 18th,2009 / December ,2009
January 15th,2010 / December ,2009

Pricing

English / Mathematics / Science / All Three Subjects
Rs. 135 / Rs. 135 / Rs. 135 / Rs. 405

Payments

Schools will be registered on signing the registration form and accompanying amount of 25% of the total calculated Test Fee.

School has to pay the balance 75% atleast 21 days before chosen test date.

Test Fees are non-refundable.

All payments shall be received by cheque or draft drawn in favor of TeacherSITY payable at New Delhi.

Test Administration Fee

Upon conclusion of tests, Schools will be reimbursed a Test Administration Fee by TeacherSITY towards all operational costs and expenses incurred in conducting the TeacherSITY-ACER IBT Tests.

Tests / Upto 600 / 601 - 1500 / 1501-3000 / > 3000
Admin Fee as % of Test Fee / 5.00% / 6.50% / 8.00% / 10.00%

Contact Details

Sangita Thukral

DirectorIBT-ISL

TeacherSITY- ACER

315/275, Westend Marg,

M.B. Road, Saidulajab,

Near ITDC Delhi Haat,

New Delhi – 110068, INDIA

T: + 91 11 4734 2000

F: + 91 11 4734 2099

Email:

Copyright © 2008 TeacherSITY

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