My own philosophy of testing is that when there is one-to-one tutoring going on, the need for constant or even yearly testing is nil. If a teacher has 25-30 students, then there is a great need to know where each of those students are in their studies. It would be easy for a teacher to not have a good handle on the specifics of an individual student. He might have a general idea, but with so many, he would need a method to help him know for certain if a child were failing in a particular area or not. When there is only one student and the teacher is intimately aware of that student’s relationship with the curricula, testing only serves to confirm where a student is. And confirm it normally does. Most tutors in this situation already know if Johnny is not doing well in math and is ahead of the game in science, for example, the test only validates what they already know.

There are plenty of reasons why some homeschoolers may choose to test; however, and there is nothing wrong with testing regularly. Some wish to show the grandparents that yes, indeed, homeschooling is working. Some need to test because of their state requirements. Some are just used to this as part of the protocol of teaching and feel more comfortable doing so. Although I feel that testing is not all that necessary, that does not negate the reasons or feelings of those who do.

There are several options in testing. Some tests require someone with a bachelor degree administer the test, while others do not. Here is a list with some options so you may do your own research.

* Stanford Achievement Test from Pearson

* PASS tests from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources

* California Achievement Test (CAT) from Christian Liberty Academy (CLASS)

* “Do it Yourself” Standardized Tests from Bayside School Services

* Iowa Tests of Basic Skills—BJU Press

* Several kinds of assessment including portfolio—Home Education & Family Services

I chose to test my son when he was in the sixth grade with the Iowa. A homeschool group hired a teacher and then opened the testing up to other groups and other homeschoolers. The tests did nothing but confirm his status so I chose not to continue testing. The next test he took was his SAT and ACT for his college entrance.

When your child is in 10th and 11th grade, they ought to take the PSAT. The test taken in the junior year is the one that counts for determining if your child might be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship. It’s also good practice for taking college level/entrance tests. 

You may choose to test three times (4th, 7th, and 10th grades) before starting the college tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT). The SAT and ACT are relatively the same type of test and it’s a good idea to contact the schools you think your student is interested in and see which test they require. There are courses and tutoring geared just for the SAT and ACT. They may be helpful to you. There are several books available also that you can use as a course unto itself in prepping for the test, specifically encouraging good scores in both vocabulary and with the essay question. Many junior and community colleges offer classes and tests to score out of some of the entrance level classes, as well as helping a student get a start with their college credits with dual enrollment during high school.

Testing won’t always show you how well your student is doing or how much your student knows. Some children do not test well due to learning challenges. Some just don’t test well but know the information. They do much better with oral exams that ask them what they do know instead of regurgitating basic facts, which they may not be able to retain well.

Remember that you are your own child’s expert. There is no need to seek a “higher authority” or one with more education than you have, unless your child presents to you with problems and issues which you can not help them (i.e. dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism, etc.). If your child does not have these issues, you most likely already know if they are not where you feel they ought to be in language arts or math. A test will not necessarily help you, although it can give you some peace of mind that you do indeed know your own child. Remember also that some children bloom late and there are numerous cases of children learning to read the year they are 10 or 12 and within one year, they are reading and understanding at a college level. Most parents are usually able to tell if their child is blooming late or needs some sort of intervention. Trust your gut! Pray and ask the Lord to guide you and direct your steps as you direct the nurture and education of your child. Don’t test just because it’s expected but use tests as a tool. Just as you don’t let the textbook dictate what you teach, don’t allow peer pressure or some internal worry to dictate to you to test. (You’re the teacher not the textbook! You’re the teacher, not the test! You may let either one guide you but you do not have to become a slave of the textbook or the test.) Teaching to a test might help some children, but by and large, most children will not necessarily remember the information that is pushed just so they can pass a particular test.

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