Create a Standards-Based Integrated Performance Assessment Unit Step-by-Step

Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA)

ACTFL has developed a prototype for assessing the progress language students are making in building their proficiency through the World-Readiness Standards. The Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) is a cluster assessment featuring three tasks, each of which reflects one of the three modes of communication--Interpretive, Interpersonal and Presentational. The three tasks are aligned within a single theme or content area, reflecting the manner in which students naturally acquire and use the language in the real world or the classroom. Each task provides the information and elicits the linguistic interaction that is necessary for students to complete the subsequent task. IPAs are designed for students at the novice, intermediate, and advanced levels of proficiency. They are standards-based, performance-based, developmental in nature, integrative. IPAs are designed to be used with scoring rubrics that rate performance in terms of whether the performance meets expectations, exceeds expectations, or does not meet expectations for the task.

Design of the model IPAs, development of the rubrics, and research on test feasibility, reliability, and validity were supported by U.S. Department of Education International Research and Studies Program Award #PO17A970028. The project involved hundreds of world language educators and language students across the country.

The IPA serves as a model in exemplifying not only how research and practice can be more closely aligned, but also how standards-based classroom instruction and assessment practices can meet to form a seamless connection. It holds much promise for the future as our profession continues to advance in standards-based instruction and assessment.