Readiness Assurance Tests in Team-Based Learning: iRAT and tRAT

Overview

Readiness Assurance Tests are brief quizzes used at the start of a Team-Based Learning (TBL) module/session to confirm learners completed the pre-class preparation and are ready for team application work (Burgess et al., 2020). Students first complete the iRAT individually and then immediately retake the same 12-question multiple-choice test as a team (tRAT), with immediate feedback and multiple attempts to reach the correct answer before moving into application exercises. The TBL pedagogy allows students to practice essential skills for interprofessional collaboration, as they must be accountable to the team by completing the preparation work, communicate their reasoning clearly, and work together to problem-solve.  The iRAT and tRAT function as objective knowledge checks that measure individual and team readiness on foundational concepts, helping surface misconceptions and knowledge gaps early. Results help students identify areas to focus on during discussion and study, while faculty can diagnose readiness gaps, adjust instruction, and monitor preparation across modules or cohorts; programs can also track readiness trends and the impact of instructional changes over time.    

Scale for questions: Multiple choice questions are scored as correct or incorrect.  

Question Types 

Concepts tested in the Fundamentals of Teamwork module include the seven drivers of evidence-based teamwork. 

Concepts tested in the Tools for Effective Interprofessional Teamwork module include communication strategies (such as SBAR and closed-loop communication), psychological safety, and situation monitoring (Tannenbaum & Salas, 2020). 
 
Sources: 

  • Burgess A, van Diggele C, Matar E. Interprofessional Team-based Learning: Building Social Capital. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2020 Aug 7;7:2382120520941820. doi: 10.1177/2382120520941820. PMID: 32844116; PMCID: PMC7418222. 
  • Tannenbaum, S., & Salas, E. (2020). Teams that work : the seven drivers of team effectiveness. Oxford University Press.

  • Team-Based Learning Collaborative. (n.d.). Overview. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://www.teambasedlearning.org/definition/ (teambasedlearning.org)