Academic Achievement & Developmental Assessments

* This is for English-speaking students and uses US-based assessments. We would love to add assessments for other countries if you can send us information.

Developmental Assessments for Ages 0-5.5

Zero to Three: zerotothree.org is an organization that works with military a lot – sends emails every 2-3 months with developmental milestones, etc.

ASQ3 (Ages and Stages Questionnaire – Third Edition): screening & assessment for ages 1 – 60 months filled out by parents. Available in English and Spanish. Free webinars available through the website. http://www.brookespublishing.com/resource-center/screening-and-assessment/asq/asq-3/

Standardized Testing (USA) for school-aged kids

Testing & Evaluation: The Home School Legal Defense Association has a page with links to helpful information as you consider what you want to use for assessing your child(ren)’s educational growth.

These are the most commonly-used achievement tests. Each has a total composite score and subscores. It is recommended that you use the same achievement test each time you test in order to be able to compare the scores. To understand more about testing, a helpful set of questions and answers is available: Some Things Parents Should Know about Testing at http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/harcourtparents.htm 

• TerraNova CAT 6, which replaced California Achievement Tests (CAT) published by CTB-McGraw-Hill http://www.setontesting.com/terranova/

  • Nationally-recognized, norm-referenced test

  • Normed in 2005 and replaces CAT 5

  • Complete battery with Plus Test $40 (orders of 10 or more get 10% discount, but must be ordered as a group and score reports must be sent to group coordinator)

  • B.A. or B.S. Degree NOT required to be able to administer test

  • Can be rented by homeschools, private schools, and public schools (on school letterhead)

  • Practice tests are available

• TerraNova 3, which replaced the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) now renamed and published by CTB-McGraw-Hill

  • https://brighted.funeducation.com/Practice/TerraNova The Bright Education Services and Testing (link above) provides a system of printable and online practice materials to increase student scores on state standardized tests.

  • ACSI has a Christian School Program (CSP) version of the test that includes a Bible section and Plus tests that are not included in the basic shelved test. It is sold and serviced only to ACSI member and partner schools.

  • This is a powerful assessment instrument with online score reports. It can be purchased at:  https://pdp.acsi.org/pdp/Category/104_1/Achievement_and_Aptitude.aspx   Home school groups can become a member and purchase as a group.
    
    

• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) This is a top-rated nationally-standardized achievement test designed to evaluate thinking skills. This test takes less time to administer than the Stanford and permits a wider grade range of students to be tested at the same time. This test is considered to be among the most difficult tests. Grades 3-8 may be tested together; grades 9-12 may be tested together. Qualifications for test administration: a 4-year baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree in any field. Directions for administration are supplied at no additional cost. Tests are supplied and returned to suppliers for scoring. Tests are given orally through grade 2.

  • Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is published by Riverside

  • http://www.setontesting.com/iowa-tests/

  • $29 – $39 per test. “Can be taken with the Interest Explorer to provide career guidance and counseling for 9th – 12th grades, or with the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to identify gifted and talented students as well as at-risk students who may need further individual assessment.”

• Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) Not to be confused with the Scholastic Aptitude Test (also SAT). A top-rated nationally-standardized test for K-12. Listening skills are included for K – 8th grade. The test administrator must have a baccalaureate degree in any field, plus meet additional test-administering guidelines. The publisher of this test has strict guidelines that must be followed when testing any relative. The test supplier can supply you with specifics before ordering the test. Qualifications for test administrators and directions for administration must be purchased.
  
  Stanford Achievement Tests 10 Edition (SAT), published by Pearson can be purchased as an online version at https://www.setontesting.com/product/stanford-10-online/.  No degree is required because Seton is the Test Administrator. A Lexile Measurement (reading level) is included with the Complete Battery. $40 per test
  
  

• California Achievement Test (CAT)
  This test is popular among Christian schools and home schools because it contains more traditional values than other tests listed. Parents administer the test and send it back to be scored and returned. You must request percentile scoring and /or stanine results or you will only receive raw scores and grade equivalents. This test is intended for grades 2  12.
  
  

• Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS)
  The CTBS tests all academic areas including reading, language arts, spelling, math, science, social studies and reference skills for grades 1  12. With the CTBS scores, you receive a professional critique.
  
  

• Personalized Achievement Summary System (PASS) The PASS Test was developed specifically for home schoolers. It has certain similarities to other achievement tests in that it estimates student achievement in the subjects of reading, language, and math. For grades 3 – 8. More information is available at Hewitt: https://hewittlearning.org/pass-test/.

Ordering of Standardized Testing (USA):

Seton Testing Services: http://www.setontesting.com/
They have the Iowa, CAT, and TerraNova as well as the requirements for administering the tests.

Bob Jones University Press: http://www.bjupresshomeschool.com/content/testing
They have the Iowa and Stanford Achievement Tests available. 

https://www.letsgolearn.com/retail/single-license-solutions/ (K-12)
Online assessments for reading and math skills ($25 each); helpful, especially, if wanting to measure skills for beginning/early readers (K-1st); has a separate measure of ‘phonemic awareness’ which ability is basic to being able to learn effectively through phonics instruction. These are diagnostic tests and give parents some ideas on where problems may lie and how to help remediate.