test taking

[MotherOfBoys]

We were thinking of giving our children a standard test around second or third grade. Our state, michigan, does not require any testing or reporting. Our reason is for piece of mind, monitoring progress, and choosing curriculum.

Which test and when would you give it?

Ability and achievement tests or one or the other? We are looking at the Stanford or Iowa achievement tests through Abeka right now. They also offer the Colgat and olsat for ability.

Is there a different test we should consider and any other information that newbies should know?

 

I would like the cost low, administered at home preferred, and my children not added to any database. Thank you.

[k8c]

We are also in a state that does not require testing or reporting (TX), but my DH and I decided it would be helpful to introduce DD6 to the process of taking some tests, and that it is helpful for us (especially as the one giving the tests) to see where she makes mistakes, and what her personal ceilings are.  Because of this, I have tested her up a grade level each time.  She has taken the ITBS just before K (taking level 6), and then again just before 1st (level 7).  These tests are achievement tests which measure what she has already learned as compared to other children in the country.  I am actually in the process of giving her the Stanford test, plus the OLSAT, though I am also testing that up because I was only able to get the 2nd grade OLSAT (level C), and we want to see how she would do if we decide to try for the local full-time gifted school.  OLSAT is the test they give, and it is a measure of school abilities, which can be correlated to IQ, and potential for learning.  It is just to give us an idea.

 

However, for what you are looking for (piece of mind, monitoring progress, choosing curriculum), I really would recommend the DORA and ADAM K-7.  They are both adaptive tests that cover a wide range of grade levels, something your child would take online, the results are sent to you just about instantly as they finish, and each is only $15 through the HS-Buyers's Co-op (https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/lets-go-learn-reading/?source=165995) or $20 directly through the Let's Go Learn Company.  You could potentially give one of these before the new year, or at the end of each year, or even midway through, and the test system will keep track of progress and show change just for your own child, so it will be easy to analyze.  In fact, one of the private schools near us uses these tests after each trimester to track where the kids are throughout the year, and the results are so specific to each kid, instead of the very ambiguous results that most schools get months after their testing periods.

 

I hope this is helpful, and sorry it is so late - I stumbled upon your question when I was looking for an answer to one of my own!

[Dmmetler]

I agree with the DORA/DOMA. Until DD maxed out on them, they were MUCH more useful than the grade level SAT-10 that we could do locally (we did both, and did group administration for the SAT-10. DD had a tendency at age 5-6 to be unwilling to answer questions if the person giving her the test knows she can do it-so I wanted to have someone else test her so she'd go into "show off" mode as opposed to "this is stupid" mode.) At 3rd grade, when she'd maxed out the SAT-10 the two prior years (and hit the ceiling for everything but spelling on the DORA and DOMA), we moved to the EXPLORE, which is used pretty widely for admission into magnet programs and private schools, so was more useful to us (and was several grade levels ahead, so was more useful in showing where she was.

 

We'll probably move to the ACT as our yearly test in the next year or two. The only reason why we didn't this year is that DD really likes the Talent Search testing days when she's with kids her age who are also academically focused, and was nervous about being too much younger than the other kids. Maybe next year.

 

 

 

 

[MotherOfBoys]

Haha, yeah this is an old thread. We did end up taking the DOMA in September. He tested in third grade. I liked the break down of the results. It proved what we knew and gave me confidence that we are going in the right direction. I am only going to have him take the Doma in the spring from here on so I can see improvement. Just to make sure we don't slack off too much. We will add the Dora this spring for the first time. It is reminding me that I need to work on reading with him. We have no formal reading/phonics this year. We've just been reading a magic tree house book a week and other history books by interest. I'm guessing he's third grade reading.

 

Testing is going to help with keeping us on track I think. The results are really nice for the price.