Part 2: Standardized Tests Homeschool Parents Can Administer

If you haven't read Part 1 of Standardized Testing, please do so.

Part 1: Can Homeschool Parents Administer a Standardized Test to Their Child?

So from Part 1, we've established that a (Georgia) homeschool parent can administer a standardized test to their child and that the HSLDA is recommending the complete battery form be used in order to evaluate Social Studies and Science as well as Reading, Language Arts and Math.

Here is how the HSLDA has it written in their 2012-2013 Legal Analysis of Georgia Homeschool Laws PDF. 

"Standardized Tests: Children must take a nationally standardized achievement test every three years beginning at the end of the third grade. The test must be administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm reference tests. Since science and social studies are required subjects and the testing is required to evaluate the student’s “educational progress,” HSLDA is of the opinion that the complete battery form of the standardized test should be used. Test scores must be retained but are not required to be submitted to public school authorities. Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-690(c)(7)."

The options, for those of us who wish to test our own children, are the CAT, CAT/5 and the Terra Nova 2, CAT/6. Let's compare.

CAT:
The California Achievement Test, CAT E/Survey, Grades K-12, is a nationally normed standardized test that measures achievement in the areas of Reading, Language Arts and Math. It meets most states’ requirements for an annual assessment for homeschool and private school use. This is a Core Battery/Survey Edition and takes approximately 2½ hours to administer. NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED!

Again, HSLDA recommends Georgia homeschoolers test Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science since those are the subjects we are required by law to teach, and the CAT does not test Social Studies or Science. Therefore, I'm scratching that one off my list.

CAT/5:
Although the CAT/5 does test Science and Social Studies, there is no longer publisher support for this product. I found this information on Bayside School Services website: 
"The California Achievement Tests, Fifth Edition, known as the CAT/5, has been discontinued and is no longer being supported by the publisher,  CTB McGraw-Hill. While some test providers are still offering the CAT/5, you should be aware that there is no publisher support for this product. The scoring reports are not at all like those provided by CTB. The most notable difference is the lack of the Skills Mastery information, perhaps the most useful data you receive with genuine reporting."

I'm scratching the CAT/5 off my list too. That leaves me with the Terra Nova...

Terra Nova, Second Edition, CAT/6: 
The TerraNova test is a nationally-recognized, norm-referenced, standardized achievement test that meets most states’ annual testing requirements. This edition was renormed in 2005, allowing homeschools and private schools the ability to purchase this test for the first time. It provides a series of tests that are easy to administer, stimulating to take, and most importantly, extremely accurate in their assessment of student achievement. NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED!

It appears to me that whether you use the Terra Nova Complete Battery Plus or the Terra Nova Survey Battery Plus, you will be testing Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science. Seton has provided a Terra Nova PDF for comparison. My understanding is that as long as you use one of the "Plus" tests, you will test all subject areas.

So after looking closely at these three tests, I've decided I'm definitely going to use the Terra Nova, Second Edition, CAT/6!

In another post, I'll share about testing companies.

Part 3: Standardized Testing Companies