Standardized Testing and Homeschooling
Should I test my child annually?
Written by Angela Pilcher
The question comes up all the time - "In Georgia the state laws say to test every three years - is that enough?"
The answer to this is based on your preferences and the needs of your children. In this article we will break down the pros and cons of both sides of the equation.
Pros to Annual Testing
Keeps the kids from getting too anxious about testing. By making it an annual occurrence you help to normalize the process. The child learns that it's no big deal and can begin to relax about tests. If your child was ever enrolled in public school, they may have some residual anxiety over tests. By administering them in a low-key way each year, you can help them to adjust to a laid-back perspective about testing.
Allows you to spot any areas to review. This was really helpful for us one year. My youngster was missing a few key geometry terms which I had overlooked as we were focusing on learning our multiplication tables that year. By recognizing what parts he struggled with, I was able to fill in the gap over the summer and get us back on track.
Gives you a baseline of percentile for each child. Typically, you want your child to stay in approximately the same percentile range. If they score high in one area but the following year drop dramatically, as the primary teacher, you will likely not be surprised - but it can help be an indication, if this was a subject in which you had let someone else teach or had tried a new curriculum.
Easy to prove grade level placement if you ever need to enroll them into a brick-and-mortar school. We do not like to think about this, but it does happen. Having recent test scores will give you indisputable evidence of your child's abilities.
Teaches the kids "Test taking" skills. - As kids get older taking standardized tests is just a part of life. Whether it is the driving test, the SAT or a dual enrollment exam as a teen, they will face standardized testing everywhere. Giving them practice once a year is helpful in building confidence.
Cons to testing Annually
Cost. The fees of administering tests can range from $30-150 per child plus shipping, depending on how you decide to administer. If you have multiple children, this can add up.
Time. Testing requires at least 2 or 3 days of time to administer the tests, and this can be difficult to manage if you have let the school year get away from you and are just so "DONE".
Overall, my family chooses to test each year because very early on in our homeschooling journey I read an article from a college professor about this subject. He was comparing homeschooled kids with public and private schooled kids. His observations were that homeschooled kids outperformed brick and mortar schooled kids in every area except test taking. During his interview he recommend the relatively easy solution of simply testing our kids each year in whatever sort of test we chose.
With so many options to choose from (there are many test options!) there is something to fit every family's needs.
We have ordered from both Seton Testing and Bob Jones University Testing Services. They are quite similar and both very easy to deal with. In another article I will outline how to manage your child's testing, but the key is to remember it is only a tool and to let it be as fun as possible.
The law in Georgia does not dictate which test you should administer, so feel free to choose what will serve your child best. Many families go with the traditional ITBS (Iowa Test), but this can feel overwhelming for some children.
Another popular option is the CAT (California Aptitude Test.) This test does not require the administrator to have a degree and can feel less rigorous to a more creative child.
The key is to choose ahead of time what your family will do for the year, especially if it’s their “third grade” year.