How are your kids doing in school? Standardized tests tell you how much information your children were able to retain. They are not graded pass or fail. Look at standardized testing as a progress report. This progress report shows where your children are excelling and where there is room for improvement.

Where do your kids rank on a national scale? Are they at grade level? Standardized tests tell you this and more! They prepare your children for high school and college. In these environments, standardized testing is a regular occurrence.

If you begin testing your children now, future standardized tests, like the SAT or ACT, won’t be as stressful. You’ve heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.” Well, it rings true with standardized testing.

When to Test

At Abeka, we created our standardized tests and testing services with you and your homeschoolers in mind. We recommend starting standardized testing in second grade as a practice year. But, the guidelines for each state vary, so double-check.

Purchasing the Iowa Form E Standardized Test

The Iowa Test is also nationally recognized and available through Abeka. This test covers all core subjects and evaluates your student’s listening skills, word analysis, comprehension, and more! A test administrator is necessary for test taking, and your chosen administrator must possess a four-year college degree. Prepare your student to take the standardized test for 2.5-6 hours over the course of 2-3 days depending on grade level.

With the paper test, you will receive your results digitally within just 10 business days, and you will see how your student compares to other students nationally. Iowa Form E is available for homeschoolers and private school students in grades K-12. Purchase one today to find out how your student is doing academically.

Testing Preparation

When testing week arrives, set up a quiet location with good lighting and zero distractions for your child to test. Tuck your children into bed early the night before a testing day. A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast in the morning will leave your kids ready to tackle the day!

Need more tips? Here are five more ways to prepare for the standardized testing season.

Results

Digital test results will be available within 10 business days. If tests are received after April 15, additional time will be needed to score tests.

Test scores cannot be sent to Abeka Academy. To meet state regulations, test results need to be sent to the state.

Reviewing Results

Standardized tests are not graded pass or fail like typical tests. Your children’s results will show their progress. Results show areas of strength, possible weaknesses, and how your child compares to other children who have taken the test.

Use your child’s test results as a growth opportunity to enhance your homeschool curriculum and methods for next year. Spend extra time on areas in the curriculum where your child did not perform well. Each child learns differently and thrives on a personalized curriculum tailored to his or her strengths and weaknesses. Refer to this guide for getting the most out of testing scores.

Pray with your kids before and after testing sessions. This is so important! Regardless of the outcome, praise your children for their hard work. When testing commences, thank God for a successful week and celebrate the results as a family.