Please note that anyone can administer most of these tests. However, the parent may administer the tests for students in any other grade, unless the testing company specifically requires administration by a certified teacher. If you are using a full-service curriculum provider, please inquire as to their testing schedule, if any, before ordering testing elsewhere. All of the following offer their standardized testing services to any student regardless of whether the student is enrolled in their program or not.
Kolbe Academy (1600 F Street, Napa, CA 94559 or call 707-255-6412) takes requests for the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) - 8th edition (the 9th edition is the most recent) during the month of March for grades 1-12 for a fee of $35. Because the scanning fee is cheaper on processing a volume of tests, at other times of the year the cost is $120. Any requests for eight or more tests at any other time of year, however, are at the $35 rate.
The Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT) is available to any students through Our Lady of the Rosary School (105 E Flaget St., Bardstown, KY 40004 or call 502-348-1338). OLRS uses the 1978 version of the test to avoid issues of immorality/vice and politically correct questions. Better statistics are expected from this test than updated versions for two additional reasons. The first is that it is not dumbed down. The second is that the scoring is done on a curve based on students who took the test that year, which was higher than today’s students. OLRS charges a fee of $30 for their test. There is no charge for this test for students taking the test for placement when initially enrolling in OLRS.
Our Lady of Victory School (13 E 10th St, Post Falls, ID 83854, or call 208-773-7265) refers their students to Mrs. Sara T. Dunsford for testing. Mrs. Dunsford began homeschooling her children in 1972 and volunteered to handle OLVS’s standardized testing services in 1982. After 21 years of homeschool experience, Mrs. Dunsford’s children are now grown, but she continues to offer the testing services. Like OLRS, she offers a challenging version of the Iowa Basic Skills Tests for students in grades K-12. The fee of $15 includes an $8 deposit which is refunded when the test is returned. A request for testing and checks payable to Mrs. Dunsford may be sent to 5840 West Winchcomb Drive, Glendale, AZ 85306.
For a cost of $20 per test, Seton Home Study School (1350 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630, or call 540-636-9990) provides the CAT test. Seton does not charge for those taking the test for placement when initially enrolling. Enrolled students also automatically receive a test at no charge when the third quarter tests are returned.
Each test is different and has its pluses and minuses; however, in many situations with large homeschool families, cost or other factors will determine which test parents will choose.
To order tests from any of the above sources, send them your check and a letter requesting the specific standardized test along with the child’s name, address, phone number, and current grade or grade just completed.
Adapted from Issue #38-May/June, 1999 of Catholic Homeschoolers of Pennsylvania Newsletter, © 1999, 2000 Ellen Kramer
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