Science or vocabulary achievement test?

[displace]

Is there such a thing as an at home science achievement test? I can administer a whole test (like Iowa) but I'm hoping for something more isolated. Or maybe I can get an Iowa and just administer the science.

I'm also looking to see what DS vocabulary level is (approximately).

DS is almost 8, entering third, and I'm guessing his knowledge is about 5th grade or higher for science, higher for vocabulary. We are entering a public gifted school, whose fine print says within the first 15 days we can appeal for a different level for specific subjects. Well, our new Neuropsych testing will likely be after that point, so something I can order and administer in the next 1-2 weeks is necessary if I want placement changes. It would just be to give me a rough estimate to see if I should request the school testing. I would tailor the test for dyslexia (read aloud), so it's just a rough approximation.

Any ideas? Like a DORA test just for science or vocab? Or even a curriculum testing that guides placement would be ok.

 

ETA -- If I were to give the IOWA I wouldn't even know which one to order.  The ones we've done in the past were actual age/grade level and could give no indication for science/social studies because DS was above 99%.  Vocab I had him take himself to gauge the dyslexia skills and his was on grade level at the time (about one year ago), so not indicative of his true vocabulary level, just his reading vocab.

Edited July 30, 2016 by displace

[Dmmetler]

The National Science League released exams may serve for science. They have one for each grade level on their website (cmleague.org). It would give you some idea where he stands compared to the top kids in each grade (I believe last year there were 20 perfect scores nationally in DD's group).

 

I can't think of anything for vocab. There is a released National Classical Etymology exam, but it's high school level, and is, frankly, a tough enough test that unless they're familiar enough with it to recognize that perfect scores are basically unknown, and 50% correct is usually enough to medal for a high school Latin student, it may be counter productive.

[displace]

Thanks for the tip about the science test released questions. All I've been able to find so far are state tests that also have some science questions, usually for fifth and eighth grades only. Or randomly and ministering regular assessment tests for random grades for science. I'm considering for vocabulary just a partial test of CAT or SAT 10, but I'd have to read it out loud and figure out which grade test to give him.

 

Maybe common core has something for science? Then I can see what the public schools are actually teaching for each grade and just go by that.

[luuknam]

Is there such a thing as an at home science achievement test? I can administer a whole test (like Iowa) but I'm hoping for something more isolated. Or maybe I can get an Iowa and just administer the science.

 

I'm also looking to see what DS vocabulary level is (approximately).

 

DS is almost 8, entering third, and I'm guessing his knowledge is about 5th grade or higher for science, higher for vocabulary. We are entering a public gifted school, whose fine print says within the first 15 days we can appeal for a different level for specific subjects. Well, our new Neuropsych testing will likely be after that point, so something I can order and administer in the next 1-2 weeks is necessary if I want placement changes. It would just be to give me a rough estimate to see if I should request the school testing. I would tailor the test for dyslexia (read aloud), so it's just a rough approximation.

 

Any ideas? Like a DORA test just for science or vocab? Or even a curriculum testing that guides placement would be ok.

 

ETA -- If I were to give the IOWA I wouldn't even know which one to order.  The ones we've done in the past were actual age/grade level and could give no indication for science/social studies because DS was above 99%.  Vocab I had him take himself to gauge the dyslexia skills and his was on grade level at the time (about one year ago), so not indicative of his true vocabulary level, just his reading vocab.

 

If you suspect 5th grade level or higher for science, you could order the 5th grade test and see how that works out - not sure if the ITBS does vocab as a separate subtest (probably? - the CAT does). Not ideal, of course, but I don't know of any tests for that that will keep going until you hit your ceiling.

 

Realistically though, if it's a gifted school, I'd imagine that if he's only 2 grade levels ahead it might not be that necessary to change his grade level for that. And, for science, if he's not ahead in math, he's going to hit a wall once he reaches middle or high school science but doesn't have the math to do it (like calculus based physics). And I've never encountered a school that taught vocabulary as a separate subject (but they might exist).

[luuknam]

Oh, and I also wanted to suggest maybe finding a vocabulary program that has a placement test. Not sure if that exists.

[Arcadia]

For science subject acceleration, the public school just spent 2hrs testing every level until my kids can't get 100% for their end of course tests. The school didn't care about vocabulary, they tested reading comprehension but my older cleared every test to 8th grade. However his writing is on grade level. So the school didn't bug him for anything except writing. They will test regardless of outside achievement tests results.

 

Every school does things differently. When my kids took the WISC, the psych said she can attend a school meeting if we decide to go back to public school. Is your son's dyslexia documented? You would need documentation for IEP or you can ask the school to test. My district is not proficient at dyslexia testing so parents go for the private testing route.

Edited July 31, 2016 by Arcadia

[wapiti]

If I recall, PARCC has science.  Or maybe I'm remembering the state test from before that :tongue_smilie:.  (Ds rocked it!  Yeah!  But, that is utterly meaningless.)  ETA, there might also be a science offered by NWEA MAP, but not all schools that use MAP do the science.

 

As science is a content subject rather than a skill-based one at the elementary level, I would not be looking for subject acceleration at this point.  The most I've seen for acceleration in science is my ds13s' new school, which allows 8th graders to take the high school Honors Bio.  They also offer honors/accelerated versions at each middle school grade level, though that is just a deeper version than the regular.

 

Many, perhaps most, schools have ability groupings for reading and for spelling (vocab) contained within the classroom and do not offer subject acceleration in those, as in attending a class in a higher grade level.

 

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I wouldn't hold my breath hoping any school was offering what I think you're looking for.  However, as this is a gifted school, I might hope that his needs in these areas will be satisfied within the classroom.  If not, he can always read science outside of school to his heart's content.

Edited July 31, 2016 by wapiti

[OlgaLA]

Does anyone know if National Science League has any statistics available? I can't find it anywhere, and I would want to see how my kids compare. It doesn't make much difference to me as I now know which areas we should work on, but I am curious.

[Dmmetler]

You have to have a login to see results now, and they only show the ones that you had kids registered in.

 

In 6th grade, there were 7 perfect papers last year, and the top 3 schools had scores of 391, 367, and 361 (divide by 10 for their average student score). Keep in mind that the school scores are their top 10 scorers, and many schools have their entire student body take the test. There are a lot of schools in the 275-300 range.

 

I can't see other grade levels, but that seems pretty similar to past years that DD has participated.

[OlgaLA]

Thank you! I guess we are doing great then :) Although I must admit, compared to some math competitions, these questions don't look very challenging. I am really surprised there is not more perfect scorers.

[Dmmetler]

There are more perfect scorers in math, usually.

 

CML (and their other exams) are designed for schools to give their entire class a taste of competition math (etc) and some more challenging problem solving with grade level skills. That's how I use it in my clubs. They are very flexible largely for that reason.

 

I do think the National League exams are a nice way to see what is typically taught in a grade level, since they are non-curriculum specific. That's how I've tended to use them-as a way to make sure that we haven't completely missed a topic.

 

If you actually want to register individuals as opposed to teams, e-mail them. They are more than willing to let individuals register, but the online store doesn't include that as an option.

[OlgaLA]

Thanks for the explanation, Dmmetler! It does make sense now.  I don't intend to register him for any of these competitions. He is not fond of them, and I mostly gave it to him to see how we are doing. Since he only missed 3 on the 6th grade test, I feel like we have the breadth covered and can safely follow his interests for the next few years.

[arliemaria]

For science subject acceleration, the public school just spent 2hrs testing every level until my kids can't get 100% for their end of course tests. The school didn't care about vocabulary, they tested reading comprehension but my older cleared every test to 8th grade. However his writing is on grade level. So the school didn't bug him for anything except writing. They will test regardless of outside achievement tests results.

 

Every school does things differently. When my kids took the WISC, the psych said she can attend a school meeting if we decide to go back to public school. Is your son's dyslexia documented? You would need documentation for IEP or you can ask the school to test. My district is not proficient at dyslexia testing so parents go for the private testing route.

My son is advanced in science and also dyslexic.  We are currently pursuing diagnostic testing at the public school.  They are scheduling WISC V and also achievement test then speech and language.  They told us in our initial meeting that Robby needs to score 1.5 deviations or 22 points higher on the cognitive than achievement to show he is not working at potential.  I am very nervous about the achievement test because he is reading at such a beginner level.  I don't know how he'd even begin to take a test that isn't read to him.

[Arcadia]

They told us in our initial meeting that Robby needs to score 1.5 deviations or 22 points higher on the cognitive than achievement to show he is not working at potential. I am very nervous about the achievement test because he is reading at such a beginner level. I don't know how he'd even begin to take a test that isn't read to him.

How old is he? When my oldest was in public school, the state tests were read to 2nd graders. 3rd graders and up need to read their own tests. WISC doesn't require reading so if he score very well for WISC but low for achievement test, it would be to your child's favor.

 

We didn't opt for the achievement tests since my kids were allowed to be subject accelerated. The WISC scores were more to justify continued subject acceleration.

[arliemaria]

How old is he? When my oldest was in public school, the state tests were read to 2nd graders. 3rd graders and up need to read their own tests. WISC doesn't require reading so if he score very well for WISC but low for achievement test, it would be to your child's favor.

 

We didn't opt for the achievement tests since my kids were allowed to be subject accelerated. The WISC scores were more to justify continued subject acceleration.

 

Robby is 7.  This is the first year we are required to record hours with MO homeschool laws (so I've been saying it is another year of first grade in hopes that reading would begin), but we are doing such a mix of levels I don't know what grade.  I am not worried about the WISC.  I actually think he will do very well on the Verbal and Puzzle sections.  I do worry about the achievement test though.  He understands math at a higher level instead of learning regular +/- facts he is more interested in learning all of the squares and cubes (which he discovered on his own playing with c-rods).  When he was younger, one day out of the blue he told me numbers went from negative infinity to infinity, but has had trouble memorizing math facts.  Reading has been even more difficult.  He is just now able to read confidently (after practice) Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie books.

[Arcadia]

I do worry about the achievement test though. He understands math at a higher level instead of learning regular +/- facts he is more interested in learning all of the squares and cubes (which he discovered on his own playing with c-rods).

My kids teachers did accommodate every time they did achievement testing. They use school tests though. My oldest refuse to speak so he did his K tests as written tests since he was an early reader. My younger failed the Time unit test and Coins unit test until he was in 3rd grade but was still allowed to accelerate math by two grade levels. He did not have his math facts memorised until he was in prealgebra.

 

Ask for unofficial accommodations. We learn that the most we get is No for an answer.

 

My youngest reading speed was slow so he watched lots of Wild Kratts, Cyberchase, Mythbusters, Nova, BBC. That way he could gain knowledge from documentaries and shows faster than he could read from books. It paid off in that he wasn't held back by his reading speed. He love penguins and BBC Earth satisfy that need for info when he couldn't read fast enough.

 

ETA:

Numberphile and ViHart YouTube videos helps too.

Edited November 13, 2016 by Arcadia