What types of English language proficiency assessments and screeners does Ballard & Tighe provide?

Updated

Ballard & Tighe offers English language proficiency assessments and screeners for three main uses: screening students for program eligibility, placing them at the right instructional level, and monitoring progress over time. The product family includes IPT (in both paper and OnlineIPT formats), ELTiS for secondary students, and dual-language English/Spanish tests for young learners. All are presented as data-driven tools that generate diagnostic reports with instructional recommendations. The right choice depends on the student's age band and whether you need a screener, a placement test, or ongoing progress monitoring.

Assessment categories and what each is for

The site groups its assessment offerings around three decision types:

  • Proficiency screeners — initial identification of English learners who may need services.
  • Program placement — determining the appropriate instructional level once a student is identified.
  • Progress monitoring — tracking growth over time to inform instruction.

The same tests are described as serving multiple purposes across these categories, so a single instrument may cover screening and placement depending on how your program uses it.

Product lines mentioned on the site

Product Age/grade focus Notes from the site
IPT Early childhood through K-12 Core language proficiency assessment family; also offered as OnlineIPT
OnlineIPT K-12 online Online delivery of the IPT assessments
IPT Early Childhood English Test Early childhood / TK Selected as an approved screener for TK in California
ELTiS Secondary Listed among secondary assessment products
Online Reading & Writing Tests K-1, English and Spanish Available to pilot

The site also lists targeted assessments for young learners and dual-language (English and Spanish) options alongside the main proficiency assessments.

Features that affect the decision

A few details from the site are worth weighing when choosing:

  • Diagnostic reports with instructional recommendations — results are framed as feeding directly into teaching decisions, not just classification.
  • Flexible purchasing — the site describes using credits across tests, languages, and grades, with no yearly license fee commitment. Confirm current terms with the vendor before budgeting.
  • Support and training — unlimited support and free training/insertion are mentioned; IPT training and webinars are listed under services.
  • Approved screener status — the IPT Early Childhood English Test is described as an approved screener for TK in California, which matters if you operate in that context.

How to narrow it down

  1. Identify the decision you need to make — screening, placement, or progress monitoring — since the site positions its tests as multi-use.
  2. Match by age band — early childhood/TK, K-1, K-12, or secondary (ELTiS).
  3. Decide on delivery — paper IPT versus OnlineIPT, and whether the K-1 online reading/writing pilot fits your program.
  4. Check language coverage — dual English/Spanish options exist for younger learners if you serve bilingual populations.
  5. Confirm logistics — request a demo or contact the help desk to verify pricing, credit terms, and training availability for your specific tests.

The site's Call/Demo/E-mail and Order/Contact sections are the practical entry points for confirming details that aren't published, such as exact per-test costs and current pilot eligibility.