s/o on testing thread...Now *I* have ????'s

[Mrs. Frankweiler]

I mentioned before on the testing thread that it's something I never gave much thought to since we aren't required to test. But now that I'm thinking about it, I have some questions for you more seasoned testers.

 

1. When part of the year is best to giving a test?

2. Do you give the test yourself or to you take them to an "official" test giver?

3. For those to do give your own tests, how do you do it? Do you have little ones hanging around? I have a 2yo and I know how much she interrupts on a regular day...I'm sure our testing environment would be anything but "standardized."

4. What test do you give? How much does it cost?

 

I think that's all...but feel free to add in any other helpful information that you'd like to share.

 

Thanks (in advance) for your help!

 

-Mrs F :)

[choirfarm]

There is a Christian private school near me that allows us to test there. It costs only 25 dollars and they do the SAT-10 for all grades. For the odd numbered grades, they also do the IQ test...(can't remember the name now). They do it the first week of April. To be honest, that is always a little early for my middle child and math. I always try to rush and do a review/teach what we haven't gotten to yeat but that is on the test. But it is always his worst subject and it is hard for me to know where he really is there. Our homeschool group does the testing as well, but it is more expensive and you have to stay and help give the test. The Christian school is more attractive..however, we have had a little trouble with the timing. My oldest has a different test schedule than my younger one. I do have a friend and now my two and her oldest will be on the shorter schedule: 8-10: Monday - Thursday whereas the younger ones just test in between their regular classes like pe or music. So their testing tends to take from 8 to 11: 3o. So one of us picks up the older ones and one picks up the younger ones.

Christine

 

Christine

[littlebug42]

Last year, I administered the CAT test (reading and math only) from Seton. It cost $25 and they were very quick getting the results back to me. The nice thing about it was, each individual section is timed but you don't have to finish the whole test in one day or anything. So, we could easily do a section, take a break and then come back to it so there was no pressure to it. The instructions are very complete so it was not difficult to do at all.

[Lizzie in Ma]

 

1. When part of the year is best to giving a test?

 

2. Do you give the test yourself or to you take them to an "official" test giver?

 

3. For those to do give your own tests, how do you do it? Do you have little ones hanging around? I have a 2yo and I know how much she interrupts on a regular day...I'm sure our testing environment would be anything but "standardized."

4. What test do you give? How much does it cost?

 

I think that's all...but feel free to add in any other helpful information that you'd like to share.

 

Thanks (in advance) for your help!

 

-Mrs F :)

 

We test in April, which can be problematic as we have not generally finished the math book but it is when we can get the building we test at.

 

The Stanford 10 has to be given by an approved tester, which I am but you can only test your own child if it is in a group setting.

 

I would not want to give the test at my home to a little one, it would be too hard to not try to "help" and that would defeat the purpose.

 

I order our Stanford 10 from BJU, it goes right to our test coordinator and I think it was $40 last year? I can't recall, sorry. Our hs group charges $5 per kid which covers the building cost and pencils and stuff.

[JudoMom]

We did the Iowa Test last year. We order from Bob Jones (I don't remember the cost).

 

Dh administered it (he took long lunch breaks and administered it in 3 or 4 mornings) in our school room which is in the basement. I took the other boys up to my bedroom (2nd floor) so we weren't a distraction.

 

We gave the test in June.

[charlotteb]

Our homeschool group offers the tests during the end of April. This will be the first year that my son has done an official test.

However, I have given him a test myself at home for free using the Texas online tests

http://www.scotthochberg.com/taas.html . Their tests are usually the exact ones they used in their school system a few years back.

[Melissa in NC]

This is my fourth year testing.

 

 

**1. When part of the year is best to giving a test?

 

I give it in late May. I find it difficult to return to schooling after testing. This is the last thing we do for "school". Summertime we take field trips, art classes and science experiments.

 

 

**2. Do you give the test yourself or to you take them to an "official" test giver?

 

I have a highly anxious child so I give the test. We break it into parts and I watch for fatigue. My dd is 11. When she is older, I will transition to a testing site to prepare for the SAT.

 

 

**3. For those to do give your own tests, how do you do it? Do you have little ones hanging around? I have a 2yo and I know how much she interrupts on a regular day...I'm sure our testing environment would be anything but "standardized."

 

We usually give it over 3 days. The IOWA is broken down into chunks that are manageable. We have the test for over a week, usually closer to two weeks. Can you arrange to give it on Saturday and Sunday when dh can distract the younger ones?

 

 

 

**4. What test do you give? How much does it cost?

 

I use the IOWA test that I order from Piedmont Educational Services. It is $40 per test if you order before Feb. 13.

http://www.pesdirect.com/itbs.html#ITBS-A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that's all...but feel free to add in any other helpful information that you'd like to share.

 

Thanks (in advance) for your help!

 

-Mrs F

[Sebastian (a lady)]

I mentioned before on the testing thread that it's something I never gave much thought to since we aren't required to test. But now that I'm thinking about it, I have some questions for you more seasoned testers.

 

1. When part of the year is best to giving a test?

2. Do you give the test yourself or to you take them to an "official" test giver?

3. For those to do give your own tests, how do you do it? Do you have little ones hanging around? I have a 2yo and I know how much she interrupts on a regular day...I'm sure our testing environment would be anything but "standardized."

4. What test do you give? How much does it cost?

 

I think that's all...but feel free to add in any other helpful information that you'd like to share.

 

Thanks (in advance) for your help!

 

-Mrs F :)

 

I like the idea of wrapping up the school year with testing (or at least having a short break). If you test in a group environment, it is 2-3 days that are pretty long and intense. It can be hard to get back in the swing of things. However, as far as validity of the test, at least on the Stanford, there is a field on the answer sheet that asks what grade and how many months in that grade. So a student is compared with a cadre of other students in the same stage of the same grade. You might also consider fall testing if you don't have to submit scores to your state. I believe that BJU sometimes gives discounts for fall tests (because there is a lower demand in this season).

 

The past two years, we've tested with a homeschool group in a pretty intensive setting. The year before that, they were tested by an educational psychologist (long story) one on one. I think that the one on one testing was a great experience, with fabulous feedback. However, it is nothing like the high stakes tests that they'll encounter in highschool (which I want them to be ready for). Having said that, I'm considering testing them myself this year because 1) my homeschool group here is so small that there wouldn't be much of a beneficial group effect to the groupings, 2) they used the same test that I can administer myself, ITBS, 3) I don't have to submit scores here and testing them myself would allow me to gain greater insight on exactly what they're missing and how they are approaching the test scenario. I think there are many right answers here.

 

If I had a 2 yo, it would be worth my getting someone to sit for me, using a group testing or otherwise taking the 2yo out of the picture. FWIW, giving the test to just one student is much less time consuming than giving it to a group. Do you have someone that would swap with you, you test their kids and they test yours?

[MamaT]

My children go to a small private school to test. The fees are $30 each. They are tested individually and not in a classroom setting.

 

The tests are at the beginning of April, which is early. It doesn't really matter, except for my information (what they need to work on, etc.). In NC they are required to test but you only have to keep them on file - not send them in. They could technically ask for them, but in all my years of schooling they never have.