Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

Question:  My class is doing reserch on the IGAP Tests. Do you know 
anything about them?
Thank You
 ryan j goes

Answer 1:  I've never heard of an "IGAP test."
Sorry,
topper
 
Answer 2:
It is the Illinois Goal Assesment P??? test. It is a standardized
test given to students in Illinois public schools at certain grade
levels. It is used as a way of measuring how schools compare to
each other. Each year a school "report card" is issued based on
the IGAP scores. A young couple looking to buy a house in a community
might want to know how good the schools are in a particular area.
The IGAP report card is a quick way to see how the school measures
up. That's about all I know about it. When I was in grade school in
Illinois (many moons ago) we didn't take IGAPs but we took Iowa
Basics.
 allsopp

Answer 3:
Yes.  The tests are flawed, and do not really measure very much.
Some of the test questions have either multiple answers or no answers.
One member of the Illinois State Board of Education even stated that
the tests were essentially worthless (Chicago Tribune).
---unterman---