Common Homeschool Testing Concerns
Flexibility is one of the many advantages of homeschooling. While you can customize your curriculum, this can complicate things when you get to a “standardized” achievement test. Here are some answers to some common questions and concerns:
My daughter is a slow reader. Does she need to use a lower test level?
The publisher designed the test to accommodate lower reading levels. Subjects like Math, Science, Social Studies, etc. use a simpler reading level so even struggling students can focus on the subject matter and not the words themselves. Only Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension use grade-level reading difficulty since that is what those subjects measure.
Can I test my child on two different test levels?
Because achievement tests may repeat some questions from level to level, “double testing” does not work. The student may remember some of the questions when he sees them the second time. Since this creates an unfair advantage that skews the scoring, only the first test will be scored.
If my son is working a grade ahead in Math, should I test him on the higher grade?
A student who excels in Math will score higher in Math regardless of test level. After all, his best subject will naturally score stronger than his weakest. Therefore, choose a test level that matches the majority of his basic subjects: Reading, Grammar, and Math. For example, if two of these are at 6th grade level with the third at another level, go with a 6th grade achievement test. If you’d still like to see how he scores at another grade level, contact us for an adjustment. (Adjustments allow us to change the grade your student is compared against, without the time and expense of testing again.)
How can I tell which test level best suits my student?
If your student is working on multiple levels or your curriculum doesn’t clearly indicate a grade level, consider a mix of test prep and practice materials. For example, if 5th grade test prep is too challenging across the board (not just in one area), consider using a lower test level. If just one area is weak, try some extra test prep focused on that area.