ITB-START
Modular test battery for apprenticeships, dual study programmes and starting a career
Find the talents
with the best chances of success
With ITB-START, you assess the cognitive abilities and fundamental knowledge relevant to successful apprenticeships, dual study programmes or starting a career – scientifically grounded, realistically designed and tailored to your individual needs.
- Target groups: apprentices · students · people starting their careers
- Scope: 20 freely combinable modules
- Content: cognitive abilities and job-relevant knowledge
- High face validity: tasks that are realistic in their setting
- Difficulty level: easier and more challenging versions available
- Delivery: fully digital via IONA
- Result: automated evaluation and clear reports
ITB-START at a glance
Tailored to every position
Select from 20 proven modules exactly the abilities and knowledge relevant to each apprenticeship, dual study programme or entry-level position.
Scientifically grounded decisions
Cognitive abilities provide particularly meaningful insights into learning ability and performance capacity. ITB-START makes this potential objectively measurable, thereby supporting well-founded selection decisions.
Suitable for different occupational fields
The test battery can be tailored to your individual requirements. Alternatively, proven standard combinations are available for commercial, scientific and technical courses.
Realistic tasks with a clear purpose
The tasks are designed to be easy to understand and embedded in typical work situations. This makes it easier for applicants to see what is being assessed and why the task is relevant to the position they are applying for.
Appropriate level of difficulty
The modules are available in easier and more demanding versions. This allows the test level to be selected to suit the target group and requirements profile.
A focus on abilities and knowledge
ITB-START considers more than just cognitive potential. Additional knowledge modules show whether candidates have basic knowledge in occupationally relevant areas.
What does ITB-START measure?
ITB-START combines skills and knowledge modules. This gives you a nuanced picture of how candidates process information, solve problems and apply knowledge relevant to the job.
Cognitive abilities
-
How well will someone be able to learn?
What is their potential?
13 skill modules available:
- Practical maths (Economics/STEM)
- Charts and tables (Economics/STEM)
- Analysing technical relationships
- Spatial thinking
- Analysing processes
- Text comprehension
- Understanding information
- Understanding the meaning of words
- Finding analogies
- Continue number sequences
- Recognising rules
Job-related knowledge
-
What has the person learnt so far?
What is their level of achievement?
7 knowledge modules available:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Information Technology
- Biology
- English
- Writing without mistakes
The individual modules can be combined as required. This results in a test that is precisely tailored to the requirements profile of the relevant role.
Which target groups is ITB-START suitable for?
Apprentices
- tailored selection for different apprenticeship occupations
- objective comparison, even with a high volume of applications
- assessment of potential and relevant basic knowledge
- realistic tasks with a clear occupational relevance
Students on dual study programmes
- assessment of cognitive requirements and subject-specific foundations
- adaptation to the field of study and study model
- a well-founded addition to school grades, interviews and application documents
- support in selecting high-performing early-career talent
People starting their careers and trainees
- reliable assessment of skills relevant to success
- flexible adaptation to the specific role profile
- a standardised and transparent basis for decision-making
- easy to combine with other assessment methods
How ITB-START works
Define requirements
Together, we determine which skills and knowledge are relevant to success in the respective role. You can choose a proven standard combination or receive an individual test battery.
Invite
Create candidate profiles in IONA or via your connected applicant tracking system, then invite them to take the test using a link.
Conduct the test
Participants complete the selected modules online. The realistic design provides a clear connection to their future field of work.
Evaluate
Once completed, the results are evaluated automatically and presented clearly – providing a reliable and transparent basis for decision-making.
View sample items
Get an idea of the question format, how the system works and the level of difficulty:
Quality & psychological standards
Using the standard science curriculum for ITB-START as an example:
Reliability:
Spearman-Brown-corrected split-half reliability of .92
Construct validity:
Correlation with general cognitive abilities: .49
Predictive validity:
Predicting Training Performance
• Correlation with theoretical grades: -.53
• Correlation with practical grades: -.50
Manual & Documentation
We are happy to provide the detailed manual upon request.
Module:
- Practical maths
- Charts and tables
- Analysing technical relationships
- Spatial thinking
- Chemistry
Experience ITB-START live
We show you how to tailor ITB-START to your apprenticeship positions, dual study programmes or entry-level positions – from selecting the right modules and sending invitations through to the results report.
Dr. Alexander Zimmerhofer
Member of the Executive Board, expert in digital assessments