What do I need to know about critical thinking to do better on the IPT?
- There are two elements of critical thinking on the IPT. They are called Critical Thinking 1, or CT1, and Critical Thinking 2, or CT2.
- CT1 has to do with whether the information in one of the IPT documents is correct and believable. Prompt 1 asks you to find examples of incorrect, unbelievable, or misleading information in one of the documents in the booklet. For each example, you must also explain why the information is incorrect, unbelievable, or misleading.
- If you find many examples of incorrect, unbelievable, or misleading information and explain why each example is incorrect, unbelievable, or misleading, you should be scored at Level 3 or Level 4. Responses are scored at Level 1 for CT1 when students say they believe everything in the document that Prompt 1 tells them to look at.
- CT2 has to do with being able to see a need for important information that isnot in the IPT booklet. Prompt 2 asks you to describe any information that was not in the booklet or not clearly explained in the booklet to help you make your choice. You should explain why you need the missing or incomplete informationand how the information could help you make a wise choice.
- If you clearly describe in detail an example of missing or incomplete information that is important for making your choice, give important reasons why the information is needed, and explain how the missing information could affect your choice, you should be scored at Level 3 or Level 4 for CT2. Responses that do not include any missing or incomplete information that would help with the choice are scored at Level 1.
What do I need to know about problem solving to do better on the IPT?
- On the IPT, Problem Solving, called PS, has to do with making a choice and giving reasons for the choice. Prompt 3 asks you to write a letter or a recommendation explaining your choice and supporting your choice with important reasons.
- To be scored at Level 3 or Level 4 for PS, you need to:
- Recommend only one of the choices - do not recommend more than one choice.
- Give many reasons for why you recommended your choice - look at your answers to Prompt 1 and Prompt 2 to help you think of some of the reasons for your choice.
- Explain why each reason supports your choice.
- Use information from the IPT booklet in one or more of your reasons - you can also give reasons that were not in the booklet that you thought of.
- Responses that do not clearly recommend one of the choices or do not include any important reasons that support one choice are scored at Level 1.
What do I need to know about written communication to do better on the IPT?
- Written Communication, or WC, has to do with how well you write the information and your ideas in your response to Prompt 3.
- Do not worry about spelling or how well you type - these are not scored on the IPT.
- To be scored at Level 3 or Level 4 for WC, you need to:
- Organize the information in your response and use details to support one choice with many reasons.
- Use transition words so that ideas and sentences flow in your response.
- Use complete ideas and do not repeat any information except when summarizing.
- Use a variety of appropriate words to support your choice and write for the intended audience.
- Responses that are unclear and disorganized, use few or no details and transition words, have incomplete ideas and no variety, and are not written for the intended audience are scored at Level 1.
