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Are standardized tests fair and helpful evaluation tools?
Not really. Standardized tests are tests on which all students
answer the same questions, usually in multiple-choice format,
and each question has only one correct answer. They reward the
ability to quickly answer superficial questions that do not require
real thought. They do not measure the ability to think or create
in any field. Their use encourages a narrowed curriculum, outdated
methods of instruction, and harmful practices such as retention
in grade and tracking. They also assume all test-takers have been
exposed to a white, middle-class background. [read on]
FairTest finds that many four-year colleges do not use the SAT
I or ACT to admit substantial numbers of bachelor degree applicants:
Schools
That Do Not Use SAT or ACT Scores for Admitting Substantial Numbers
of Students Into Bachelor Degree Programs.
|
 Tests
You May Encounter
Test
Name & Description |
Abbreviation |
Age
or Grade |
Kind
of Test/How Administered |
Norm
referenced |
Criterion
referenced |
At
Home |
| American College Test |
ACT |
High
School |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Advanced Placement Test |
AP |
High
School |
Standardized
(Academic, or proficiency)
Individual or Group |
|
X |
|
| California Achievement Test,
5th edition |
CAT-5 |
various
elementary grades & high School |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
X |
| Comprehensive Test of Basic
Skills |
CTBS |
various
elementary grades |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Cognitive
Abilities Test |
Cogat |
various
elementary grades |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| General
Educational Development Test |
GED |
High
School |
Standardized
(Academic, or proficiency) |
|
X |
|
| Geselle |
Geselle |
age-appropriate
developmental
|
Developmental
test |
X |
|
|
| Iowa Test of Basic Skills
|
ITBS |
various
elementary grades |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Metropolitan Achievement Test |
MAT |
various
elementary grades &
High School |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
X |
| Otis-Lennon School Ability
Test |
OLSAT |
Individual |
Individual
Intelligence Test |
X |
|
|
| Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude
Test |
PSAT |
sophmore
& Junior High school |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Scholastic
Aptitude Test / II |
SAT
/ SAT-II |
Junior
High school |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Scholastic Aptitude Test |
SAT |
various
elementary grades |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Slosson
Intelligence Test |
SIT |
various
elementary grades |
Individual
Intelligence Test |
X |
|
|
| Stanford-Binet |
SB-IV |
various
elementary grades |
Individual
Intelligence Test |
X |
|
|
| TerraNova |
TerraNova |
various
elementary grades |
Group
Standardized (Academic, or proficiency) test |
X |
|
|
| Wechsler Intelligence Scale |
WISC |
ages
6-17 |
Individual
Intelligence Test |
X |
|
|
| Woodcock-Johnson Tests of
Achievement |
WJ |
Preschool
through college level, |
Individual
achievement test |
X |
|
|
(Typical) Elementary
& Middle School Level Tests
You can administer the CAT, MAT and CTBS at home.
California Achievement Test (CAT), Fifth Edition,
published in 1992 by CTB/McGraw-Hill. Grades K-12. K
is a pre-instructional test in reading and mathematics.
1-12 covers: Word Analysis, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension,
Language Mechanics and Expression,Spelling, Study Skills
Math Computation, Math Concepts, Application Word Analysis,
Science and Social Studies. |
Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) tests
all academic areas including Reading, Language Arts,
Spelling, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Reference
Skills. |
Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT), Seventh
Edition, published in 1993 by Psychological Corporation.
The MAT is a less time consuming test than CAT. Grades
1-12. MAT covers: Vocabulary, Word Recognition, Reading
Comprehension, Math Concepts, Math Problem Solving and
Computation, Language, Science, and Social Studies. |
TerraNova
The TerraNova is a test designed to measure achievement
in the basic skills. Subject areas measured are Reading/Language
Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Word Analysis,
Vocabulary, Language Mechanics Mathematics Computation,
and Spelling. |
(Typical)
High School Level Tests
We
have some great resources on our homeschooling
teens pages about upper
school testing resources and preparing for college.
The PSAT/NMSQT
This test cannot be administered at home. It is administered
at the High Schools. The PSAT/NMSQT gives you first
hand practice for the SAT. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical
reading, math problem-solving, and writing skills. |
The SAT- The SAT measures verbal, math reasoning
and writing abilities. These are abilities develop over
time through the work you do in school and on your own.
SAT scores can help and colleges better understand how
you compare with other students preparing for college.
|
SAT Subject Tests (AP) - You can take Subject
Tests to show colleges your mastery of specific subjects,
like English, History and Social Studies, math, science,
and language. Colleges can use your Subject Test scores
to make admission decisions, help determine how well
prepared you are for college programs, place you in
freshman or higher-level course work, advise you on
course selection. Subject tests fall into five general
subject areas each test for more information: English
(Literature, Writing), History (U.S. History, World
History), Mathematics, Science (Biology E/M, Chemistry,
Physics)
|
The ACT - American College Test - Multiple-choice
tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics,
reading, and science. Optional writing test measures
skill in planning and writing a short essay. |
GED - General Educational Development Test
The GED is an assessment of skills and knowledge comparable
to those of a high school graduate. It is not to be
considered as a substitute for completing high school
and earning a diploma. It is an alternative for those
who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to finish
high school. The GED test is a series of five tests
covering writing, science, math, literature and the
arts, and social studies. The tests require the test
taker to apply reading, math, language and critical
thinking skills. Tests are taken one at a time and in
any order desired. |
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