Are CAT achievement tests comparable to the kinds of yearly testing done in the ...

[Whitneyz]

school systems???? For instance, in my are they take the NECAP. I don't know anything about it. Does anyone? I just heard in my location that only 2 out of 10 students scored proficient in mathematics in the NECAP.

If your child does really well in the CAT is that a good indication that your child is doing well or is it not a great standard test??

[Cadam]

which CAT are you using? Around here we have all been using the CAT 5 for a while but it is no longer one of the 2 most recent versions of the test and so it doesn't meet our state requirements. Under pressure from the NEA the company that makes the CAT will no longer sell to homeschoolers so we may be forced to switch tests.

I think it is a decent test as far as they go but the CAT 5 is a 20 yo test based on 20 yo norms. I would prefer the Iowa personally but the local person doing testing doesn't offer that option.

[Chris in VA]

Cadam, I'm not sure where you live, but do you know you can give the ITBS yourself if you have a college degree? You just register--you can go to BJU's website for more info.
Don't know if this is an option for you, but just wanted to fyi you.

[HappyGrace]

I did the CAT last yr with dd8 in lieu of a written assessment and it was great-gave her testing practice and took the pressure off me to write up a narrative. I had planned to do it again. This is the first I've heard of it no longer being offered. What can we use instead? I did the basic battery, which was just math and Eng, and that was great since our history is of course off the normal S+S, and so is our sci. What is comparable to the CAT basic battery that a mom can give at home? :eek:

[Cadam]

Cadam, I'm not sure where you live, but do you know you can give the ITBS yourself if you have a college degree? You just register--you can go to BJU's website for more info.
Don't know if this is an option for you, but just wanted to fyi you.

Nope, no degree.... but my dad has one, I wonder if he would do it for me? In my state there are certain years we have to test with a "certified tester" and this is one of those years for my ds.

I did the CAT last yr with dd8 in lieu of a written assessment and it was great-gave her testing practice and took the pressure off me to write up a narrative. I had planned to do it again. This is the first I've heard of it no longer being offered. What can we use instead? I did the basic battery, which was just math and Eng, and that was great since our history is of course off the normal S+S, and so is our sci. What is comparable to the CAT basic battery that a mom can give at home? :eek:

The mom who does it for our hs group was mistakenly sent the new test and so she is still going to use that one. They were trying to get her to give it back, but she is refusing. She bought it after all! Our major issue is with the younger kid tests because they are disposable. Those are the ones she can't get now, although they aren't suppose to be sending the new test out to any hs'ers.

If your state law allows the use of the CAT 5 you may be fine but in OR it has to be one of the last 2 versions and they came out with a new version making the CAT 5 to old.

[HappyGrace]

are any state requirements here as to it having to be recent. (I did the 1970 one or whatever it is that CLP puts out.) I actually wanted to switch to Seton to get my CAT test from this yr because I personally wanted a newer version-I thought the 1970 version that CLP puts out was kind of hard.

So basically you're saying it's a problem in OR because it has to be a newer version?