suggestions for out of level standardized

[brownie]

test I can administer myself?

We just completed the grade 2 CAT with our 1st grader. note: We did the CAT bc ds3rd grade legally had to be tested this year and I was able to administer this test at home. DS1st grade got a 94% on the 2nd grade CAT. While it told me he is stronger in math than in language (duh), it really provides little information, especially when the child only makes 4 mistakes on the entire test.

The CAT only has 6 subsections and I think 120 questions. Thinking ahead to next year, is there a test I can administer at home that would give me a better breakdown of his abilities? If not, what would you look to administer away from home? Thanks! Brownie

[Quad Shot Academy]

You might check out the PASS (http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/test/tmain.asp) test. It is only meant for 3-8th grade though.

[AngieW in Texas]

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills breaks everything down very well in the score reporting. I have only used the tests for 3rd-8th grade, but you'd probably want to do the 3rd grade test anyway since you used a 2nd grade test this year. You could even bump him up to the 4th grade test, but I wouldn't do that this first time.

[dmmetler]

What about just getting a practice test for a higher grade level, having him take it, and score it at home? That would give you the information you want, without having to pay nearly as much for the formal test.

[Gratia271]

We have had our children tested periodically using the Woodcock-Johnson III individual achievement test. You can read about it here http://assess.nelson.com/test-ind/wj-3-ach.html It has high ceilings, past high school. We have also had them tested using the ITBS annually (for state reporting purposes) which has told us nothing. Testing two or three levels up, they haved missed 1 or 2 on the entire test. I have found that working with our local gifted school in terms of the individual testing is the only way to assess (via test) what their academic needs are. As time goes by, though, I think parents are able to determine where their children are in terms of ability and in terms of weak areas. I hope that helps a little.

[kck]

Last spring, my son took the Peabody test (PIAT). It was administered at home by someone specialized in this kind of thing for $50.

http://www.pearsonassessments.com/HAIWEB/Cultures/en-us/Productdetail.htm?Pid=PAa29060&Mode=summary

This tests allows kids to keep going until they get stuck. It's not as good as tests that psychologists use, but it does attempt to give you a grade level equivelement on where your child is at in 6 different areas. It gave us a lot of useful information with our highly to profoundly gifted 8 year old last year. We plan on doing it again later in the spring. It's also oral, so writing and attention skills are not an issue.

[Gratia271]

I second the PIAT. My children were also evaluated using that tool when they were younger. If you can arrange that without all the psychologist fees, it would be an outstanding choice!

[brownie]

thanks guys! Lots of great ideas. Does anyone know if the IOWA is available for administration at home? Brownie

[AngieW in Texas]

You can administer the Iowa test at home if you have a bachelor's degree.

Many hs groups offer group testing sessions. I do it for a group every year.

[Crimson Wife]

My DD took the 2nd grade CAT-E in January and ceilinged. So then I re-tested her with the 3rd grade ITBS/CogAt. She still ceilinged on many of the sections but it provided us with much more useful information.

I wish there were a way for me to mix & match levels on the ITBS such that I could do one grade level for the math and a higher one for the verbal.

[EKS]

The PASS test will allow you to use different levels for each subtest. This allowed my son to test three levels ahead in reading and language and four levels ahead in math.

For this same child I have been using the ITBS one year ahead. Last year his core total was at the 99th percentile (as compared to children a year ahead). I will be needing to bump him to two grade levels ahead this year to get any real information.

[Capt_Uhura]

Has anyone used NWEA's MAP (Measure of Academic Progress)? WE'll be using it this year. My understanding is that it is truely a growth model for assessment. You'll get grade equivalents for each subject. It's computer adaptive testing. the ceiling is 10-11th grade I believe. the WJIII achievement will give you a general idea but there are so few questions per level, it's not meant for placement purposes. I wouldn't use it for growth measurement either. I've heard of folks using that each year however. I've read that the SAT/10 is the most challenging of the at-home tests, followed by ITBS and then the CAT.

[Aunty Social]

I've read that the SAT/10 is the most challenging of the at-home tests, followed by ITBS and then the CAT.

I don't know how challenging the SAT 10 really is. My dd, who is certainly very bright, mildly gifted, but not (imho) what I would consider profoundly gifted, maxes the thing out every year. The questions that are in the practice books are by no means overly difficult. I test just to reassure dh and the grandparents, but if you are looking for something for placement or true, valuable feedback on skill areas, I wouldn't rely on the SAT 10.