IBT 2022

A world-class, skills-based diagnostic assessment designed by a global expert to help improve learning in your school.

IBT is skill-based and does not follow any single national curriculum, allowing students from all countries to be compared fairly.

Suitable for 9–16 year-olds
Online or paper tests
60 minutes per test
40-45 multiple-choice questions per test

High quality diagnostic testing for students in Grades 3–10

The IBT is not tied to a specific curriculum, allowing for fair comparisons between students across schools and around the world, and content is updated every year. How do your students compare?

The IBT solution

  • Compare your students' performance to an international cohort
  • Diagnostic testing designed to challenge students across a broad range of ability levels
  • Assess deep conceptual understanding rather than simple recall of facts
  • Recognise learning achievement, and monitor progress over time

IBT: improving learning since 2007

1.07 million
students assessed
2.6 million
global assessments
700+
schools worldwide

IBT countries

  • Australia
  • Bahrain
  • Egypt
  • India
  • Japan
  • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Kuwait
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Oman
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • South Africa
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Turkey
  • UAE
  • Yemen

Contact us today

IBT tests

The IBT is skill-based and does not follow any single national curriculum, allowing students from all countries to be compared fairly.

In English the skills assessed are: locating information, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions and reasoning. Students are not asked merely to retrieve information from a passage; they are asked to make inferences, form judgements and reflect on the texts. Questions addressing higher-order thinking skills are used to ascertain whether a student can 'read between the lines' and understand subtlety and nuance in the English language.

Assessed English strands

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Spelling
  • Punctuation
  • Grammar
  • Vocabulary

In Mathematics the skills assessed include interpreting data, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions, reasoning and problem solving. For Mathematics questions, students are asked to make sense of mathematical concepts in everyday situations. IBT Mathematics is not about simply remembering rules and procedures; it requires students to use higher-order thinking skills to apply their mathematical skills to solve problems.

Assessed Mathematics strands

  • Number
  • Measurement
  • Space
  • Chance and Data

In Science the skills assessed include: observing and measuring, interpreting data, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions, reasoning and problem solving. Students are asked to apply scientific principles to particular problems. IBT Science not only assesses students' knowledge of science, it assesses whether students are capable of applying this knowledge to given contexts. Many of the questions are based on scientific enquiry.

Assessed Science strands

  • Earth Science
  • Physical Science
  • Life Science

In Reasoning, the skills assessed require students to think critically, make logical deductions, identify connections and spot patterns. The questions asked do not require any prior knowledge from any particular content area. Instead, students must demonstrate their abilities to think outside the box and use their higher-order thinks skills to solve non-routine problems. The content of these test papers is based on questions that have been successfully used to identify high-achieving students for scholarship placements. However, students who do not perform so well on ‘traditional’ academic tests may excel on IBT Reasoning as it is their general capabilities that are being assessed here.

Assessed Reasoning strands

  • Abstract Reasoning
  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Numerical Reasoning
  • Spatial Reasoning
  • Kinetic Reasoning

The IBT Arabic Language tests are designed to assess proficiency in Arabic Reading, Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary through multiple-choice questions in response to a variety of texts and situations. The tests offer students and schools the opportunity to participate in a standardised Arabic assessment which can provide comprehensive diagnostic feedback and benchmark performance against other schools in the region.

The tests are divided into two distinct categories to cater for both native and non-native speakers within the school community.

Arabic A tests (Native Arabic speakers)

  • Designed for native Arabic speakers who are following the Arabic A option provided by private English schools
  • Suitable for Grades 3–10

Arabic B tests (non-native Arabic speakers)

  • Developed for non-native Arabic speakers
  • Designed in levels corresponding to the number of years the students have studied Arabic B

Level Years of Arabic Suggested grade Explanation
Level P 1 - 2 years Grade 2 - 4 Students have only up to 2 years of Arabic - they are beginning Arabic and have very limited exposure and can identify most letters, some simple objects and actions
Level 1 3 - 4 years Grade 5 - 7 Students have only up to 4 years of Arabic. Students have limited proficiency and can join letters and make simple sentences, identify basic grammar, identify simple objects and understand actions by matching texts to pictures etc.
Level 2 5 - 6 years Grade 6 - 8 Students have only up to 6 years of Arabic. They can identify the appropriate responses and questions in a range of simple, personal conversational exchanges. Answer comprehension questions about short, simple descriptive texts, locate information in simple texts etc.
Level 3 More than 6 years Grade 8 - 10 Students have more than 6 years of Arabic. They can identify correct grammar, match sentences to pictures, identify appropriate responses in a range of simple, personal conversational exchanges. Answer comprehension questions about short, simple descriptive texts and fables. Make inferences about information stated in a narrative text.

Hindi Language Assessments are designed specifically for students opting to study Hindi as a second language within the school community.

The Hindi skills assessed are: locating information, inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions and reasoning in Hindi Language.

Assessed Hindi strands

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Vocabulary

School leaders and teachers worldwide use IBT to improve learning for every student.

IBT reporting

Detailed, insightful reporting for schools

The IBT provides many different reports on student performance to help teachers and schools better understand where their students are positioned on the learning continuum.

Reports provide

  • student performance on each question and subject strand
  • subject scale scores to monitor student performance over time
  • described achievement bands to outline each student's current skill set
  • comparisons of students within the school, grade and class
  • compare your students' performance nationally and internationally

Available as

Printable pdf reports
and
Interactive Excel reports

Suitable for

  • School leaders
  • Classroom teachers
  • Students
  • Parents

About IBT reporting Sample reports

Easy-to-understand reports for students

Every student that sits the IBT receives a personalised report
Every student that sits the IBT is eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement.

Individual student reports contain:

  • subject-specific feedback on every question
  • a summary of strengths and areas for improvement
  • comparison to other students at their school
  • comparison to students participating in the IBT internationally
Sample report

International comparisons

IBT reports allow teachers to compare the academic performance of students with other students in their school, their country and in schools around the globe.

International comparisons contained in IBT reports are based on a large sample of schools - predominantly international schools or national schools with an international focus, teaching at least 50 per cent of the curriculum in English - around the world.

Pricing

1 subject RM 15
2 subjects RM 30
3 subjects RM 45
4 subjects RM 55
5 subjects RM 60

Malaysia

The IBT test windows for 2022 are:

1st October 2022 - 30th November 2022  

1st January 2023 - 17 February 2023 

English
English
Science
Science
Mathematics
Mathematics
Reasoning
Reasoning
Arabic B
Arabic B

IBT@Home: online, on demand testing now available for parents to purchase.