The NH Home Education law (RSA 193-A and the corresponding rules, Ed 315) requires homeschoolers to do yearly evaluations, and testing is one of the three options available. The California Achievement Test (CAT), the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), the Stanford Test, and the Personalized Achievement Summary (PASS) test are perhaps the most commonly used tests. Homeschoolers order these tests from special test providers, administer the tests at home, and then return the testing materials to the test provider for scoring. Costs for the test range from $25 to $60 per test. Typically, you have to pay for the return postage, although some services charge a shipping and handling fee that includes a postage-paid return envelope.
The state assessment test administered by your local school district can also be used; you should probably inform them at the time of notification if you plan to use that option. For public high school students, the PSAT and the SAT aptitude tests are now used for assessment. Homeschoolers may also use those tests. Check the College Board site for information on taking these tests at a testing center.
You are not required to submit the test results, just to keep them on file for reference if a question comes up about your homeschooling program. If you are interested, we have put together a sample cover letter for parents to send with test results, IF they want to submit them to their participating agency. This is no longer required but is sometimes needed in special circumstances, such as applying for social security survivor benefits.
California Achievement Tests (CAT)
– This test is available for grades K-12. It comes in different editions and versions. The first edition of the CAT was developed in 1950. The most recent edition of the CAT is the sixth, or CAT/6. The CAT/6 is also called the “TerraNova, 2nd Edition” or simply the “Terra-Nova CAT.”
Testing services available to homeschoolers usually offer the CAT/5 (the fifth or 1992 edition); some services use an even older, 1970 version (the 3rd edition). Any of these editions are acceptable for meeting the evaluation requirement, but some people prefer to use the most recent edition.
Note that some testing services offer only the Basic Battery test (sometimes referred to incorrectly as the “Survey” test), which is an abbreviated version of the full (Complete Battery) CAT test. The Basic test covers fewer subjects (no science or social studies) and takes less time to administer, so it is usually cheaper.
The CAT is produced by the CTB Division of McGraw-Hill. To learn more about the test, go to the CTB website (www.ctb.com). Also, Spectrum Test Prep workbooks (grades 1-8) describe the CAT test content and format (not surprisingly, since McGraw Hill publishes both the test and the workbooks). These workbooks are available from many of the test providers and are also in most bookstores, including the online ones. Cost is about $9.95 each (or less from some third-party vendors).
Some places offering the CAT test:
Academic Excellence offers online California Achievement Tests that can be administered in your home. Scores are immediately available both on the test site and via email. http://www.academicexcellence.com/
Bayside School Services – PO Box 250, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. (800) 723-3057. http://www.baysideschoolservices.com/
Brewer Testing Services – 2853 Davis Road, East Bend, NC 27018, www.brewertesting.com, 336-699-3997
New CAT/6 (Terra Nova CTBS), Iowa Tests, and the Basic Achievement Skills Inventory (BASI) plus other testing services. Test preparation materials, IQ testing and career testing.
Christian Liberty Press Independent Testing Service – 502 West Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. (847) 259-4444 https://www.shopchristianliberty.com/special-service/
Crosspointe Educational Services – PO Box 10, Willow Spring, North Carolina 27592, 919-341-1552, Toll Free 888-713-1249. http://www.cestesting.com/. CAT5 $45, Terra Nova $55.
Family Learning Organization – P.O. Box 7247, Spokane, WA 99207-0247. (800) 405-8378. http://www.familylearning.org.
Seton Testing Services – 1350 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630. (800) 542-1066. http://www.setontesting.com
Triangle Education Assessments LLC (www.TriangleEd.com) 5512 Merion Station Dr, Apex, NC 27539, 877-843-8837, provides nationally standardized achievement and cognitive tests as well as practice and career tests, as well as homeschool consultations, diplomas, and transcripts. Groups get discounts – call for quotes. orders@traingleed.com
IOWA Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) or the Stanford Achievement Test
The ITBS is virtually the same as the CAT test, but the test comes from a division of Harcourt-Brace (another textbook provider) instead of McGraw-Hill. However, unlike the CAT, the ITBS cannot be administered by just anyone. For the ITBS, the person administering the test must: have a Bachelor’s degree, or be registered as a certified teacher, or have experience as a “full time academic teacher in a conventional classroom” (specifically, not a homeschool).
The Stanford test requires the test administrator to have a Bachelor’s degree, and experience or training in test administration (watching a training DVD is enough). For either the ITBS or the Stanford, you must complete a one-time application for pre-approval before you can order the tests, so allow extra time for this step. Both of these tests are offered by:
BJU Press Testing and Evaluation – BJU Press, Greenville, SC 29614-0062. (800) 845-5731. www.bjupress.com .
Triangle Education Assessments LLC (www.TriangleEd.com) 5512 Merion Station Dr, Apex, NC 27539, 877-843-8837, provides nationally standardized achievement and cognitive tests as well as practice and career tests. We provide homeschool consultations, diplomas, and transcripts. Groups get discounts – call for quotes. orders@traingleed.com
The Iowa test is offered by:
Brewer Testing Services – 2853 Davis Road, East Bend, NC 27018, www.brewertesting.com, 336-699-3997
New CAT/6 (Terra Nova CTBS), Iowa Tests, and the Basic Achievement Skills Inventory (BASI) plus other testing services. Test preparation materials, IQ testing and career testing.
Seton Testing Services – 1350 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630. (800) 542-1066. http://www.setontesting.com IOWA Test of Basic Skills Grades K-12 starting from $29.00.
Personalized Achievement Summary System (PASS) Test
The PASS Test is an untimed test developed specifically for homeschoolers in grades 3-8. Covers math, reading and language arts. Results show your child’s overall achievement and include suggestions for reaching goals in each assessment area. The PASS test is offered by:
Hewitt Homeschooling Resources, P.O. Box 9, Washougal, WA 98671. (360) 835-8708. www.hewitthomeschooling.com Cost: $36/test (includes shipping). Tests should be returned within four weeks from the time you receive the testing materials. Expect to receive the results in 4-6 weeks.
Other Testing Options
Affordable Homeschool Testing Services offers the current version of the NWEA MAP test with 2015 norms. Homeschool students test at home on their own computer, iPad or chromebook, and we administer the test remotely. What makes the MAP test different from most of the tests available to homeschoolers is that it adapts to the student as they take the test, so it will adjust to “fit” the child even if, like so many homeschoolers, he is at different grade levels for different subjects. Read more at https://affordabletests.com/ and https://www.nwea.org/assessments/map/.
CLT has a suite of 3-12 grade exams that fulfill New Hampshire’s end-of-year testing requirements. These standardized assessments provide a homeschool-friendly option for testing.
- Taken at home and online
- Group testing available for discounted rates
- About 2 hours to complete
- Curriculum-neutral content
- In-depth student analytics
- CLT – college entrance exam for 11th-12th graders
- CLT10 – college prep exam for 9th-10th graders offering scholarships and recognition
- CLT8 – high school readiness exam for 7th-8th graders
- CLT3-7 – end-of-year diagnostic exams for grades 3 through 7
Last updated: August 2023
Home Education & Family Services (HEFS) – P.O. Box 1056, Gray, Maine 04039. (207) 657-2800, https://www.royalacademyeducation.com/individual-achievement-testing/. Achievement tests, specific academic area testing, and special needs testing are administered one-on-one. Nationally normed individually standardized achievement tests are given in one day and written results are prepared that same week “in house”. When parents receive the results in person, they have the opportunity to discuss observations, curriculum choices and important topics of concern. Will administer testing to homeschool groups. Regular testing is scheduled in North Carolina, Michigan, and New England.
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