Fees and Ordering Information
Please see the testing registration form.

General Information
CHESS provides standardized testing for Colorado home school families using the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) form A for grades 3 through 8 and the Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED) form A for grades 9 through 12. Group testing is offered annually in three locations: Greeley, Fort Collins, and Loveland. Private test sessions are available year round by appointment.

Test Format Information
The Core Battery fulfills CHESS’s testing requirements as well as the state home school law requirements. The core battery includes tests in reading comprehension, language skills (spelling, vocabulary, capitalization, punctuation, usage and expression), and mathematics.

The Complete Battery is not required and is an additional set of sub-tests to the Core Battery. This additional battery tests students in science, social studies, and study skills. Students must take the Core Battery in addition to this portion of the test.

Scoring – All tests administered during the spring test session will be sent to Riverside Publishing for scoring. CHESS orders the achievement and ability assessments to provide parents with the most detailed breakdown of each sub-test. Scores are mailed by the first week of June. Private test sessions are hand-scored.

Personal Evaluations – CHESS makes personal evaluations available at a reduced price during the Greeley, Fort Collins, and Loveland test sessions for those who would like to utilize that option instead of the standardized test. A personal evaluation consists of a certified evaluator looking at work samples in reading, writing, and mathematics from the beginning and ending of the academic year to assess progress. A few un-timed work-tasks are given in those three areas at the evaluation. Personal evaluations are available year round by appointment.

Test Schedule – Group testing is offered each year in April. The testing schedule details are made available in January. Private test sessions and personal evaluations are available year round. To schedule a private test session or personal evaluation contact the CHESS office to make an appointment.