How do the different standardized tests compare?

[Ruthie]

For a few years, my dc took the survey CAT tests and did OK. Then they did a full Iowa and scored nearly perfect. What gives? My dh seems to think that these tests are not that hard and have no rhyme or reason.

Are these tests any indicator of how well they will do on PSATs, ACTs, or SATs?

I'd freak if I thought they were doing well, only to have them bomb when they got older!!

[Jane in NC]

Some tests are knowledge based, others test aptitude. The old SAT with is analogies was truly more of an aptitude test. I believe that it is still considered that, though some say it is moving closer to the ACT which is a knowledge based test. Even that may be questioned. For example, the ACT has a science component which most students feel is not based on their science background but their ability to read graphs and tables, then extrapolate information. Is this a test of knowledge? You got me.

My state requires that homeschool students take an annual standardized exam from their list of approved tests. The SAT and PSAT are not on their list, but the ACT is.

My son's own test history includes the CAT-5 which he took at his Montessori school, then the Iowa Basic which I gave at home. I prefer the latter to the former. The Iowa test seems more complete to me. In 9th, we moved to the ACT not for college purposes, but because I did not think that the Iowa was telling us anything we did not already know with his consistently high scores.

I think what makes the SAT and ACT completely different animals are the required essays. The sword of Damocles dangles over the students' heads as they have 25 or 30 minutes to write an essay on an artificial prompt that rarely seems to connect with homeschool students. Yuck. Further, the SAT and ACT exams are marathons--four to five hours of testing. I bluntly told one of my son's college counselors that by the end of the ACT (when the essay is performed) my son just wanted to eat his pencils. He snorted and suggested that this is cruel and unusual punishment for teenage boys! (We were discussing the fact that his school does not completely dismiss the writing portion of the exam; rather, they let it help the student if the essay is good, ignore it otherwise. Could this be subjective? Yup, but college admissions are a subjective process.)

I ramble.

Each test has its own personality. Be sure you add SAT subjects and AP tests to your lists. :D

[Sandra in NC]

That's what my son said about the difference between the PSAT and the SAT. The PSAT is a kinder, gentler version -- much shorter than the SAT. He used Jane's words exactly, calling the SAT an endurance test.

As always, I need to throw CLEP in the pot.... If you're going to take AP and SAT Subject tests, take the CLEP too. We've learned the hard way. My son scored a 3 on AP US History. Many schools require a 4 or a "B" on the AP exam, yet they'll take the CLEP equivalent a "C." So, if my son had taken the CLEP while the knowledge was fresh in his mind, I have no doubt he would have passed with flying colors and gotten credit at schools that won't take his AP score of 3. See CLEP FAQs
(http://www.freewebs.com/officesolutions/clepfaqs.htm)
Sandra