Testing Options
**TESTING IS NOT REQUIRED THROUGH THIRD OPTION ACCOUNTABILITY ASSOCIATIONS, BUT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS**
TESTS FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Elementary students are not required by SC state law to participate in any form of testing. We find this a wonderful relief as we nurture our children's souls to become educated thinkers and are able to approach testing 'stress-free' due to its lack of necessity. We are able to avoid having our children feel like products being measured. In almost all cases, your child will test just as you knew they would. Should you choose to test, there are many options available. The easiest being to purchase basic aptitude or achievement test booklets, according to your child’s grade level, through your preferred curriculum sources.
Middle School students are not required by SC state law to participate in any form of testing. We find this a wonderful relief as we nurture our children's souls to become educated thinkers and are able to approach testing 'stress-free' due to its lack of necessity. We are able to avoid having our children feel like products being measured. However, and especially if the student is college bound, there will be a necessary time to become practiced in standardized test taking procedures.
- Iowa Achievement Test evaluates reading comprehension, word analysis, vocabulary, math, language, spelling social studies/science and listening skills. www.bjupress.com
- Offered at various times throughout the year.
- Register a month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official test site or be qualified and pre-registered to administer the test.
- Cost: $32 - $57.50 according to grade/level
- Time: 2 hours 30 minutes – 5 hours 30 minutes over 3 days according to grade/level
- Stanford Test evaluates a students word study skills, reading and comprehension level, vocabulary, math, language, spelling, social studies/science and listening. It is comparable to the Iowa Achievement Test. www.harcourtassessment.com
- Offered at various times throughout the year.
- Register one month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official test site or be qualified and pre-registered to administer the test. Bring a picture ID.
- Cost: $35 - $57.50 according to grade/level
- Time: 3 hours 20 minutes – 6 hours according to grade/level over 3 days
TESTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
High School students will most likely need to test for college or trade school admissions or simply to be familiar with testing for future careers’ advances. In short, our opinion is that it is a great life skills to have.
- Iowa Achievement Test evaluates reading comprehension, word analysis, vocabulary, math, language, spelling social studies/science and listening skills. www.bjupress.com
- Offered at various times throughout the year.
- Register one month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official test site or be qualified and pre-registered to administer the test. Bring a picture ID.
- Cost: $57.50 - $72.50 according to grade/level
- Time: 5 hours over 2 days
- Stanford Test evaluates a students word study skills, reading and comprehension level, vocabulary, math, language, spelling, social studies/science and listening. It is comparable to the Iowa Achievement Test. www.harcourtassessment.com
- Offered at various times throughout the year.
- Register one month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official test site or be qualified and pre-registered to administer the test. Bring a picture ID.
- Cost: $35 - $57.50 according to grade/level
- Time: 4 hours over 2 days
- PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Test) provides practice for high school juniors preparing for the SAT I in the areas of math, writing and critical thinking skills. It also qualifies students for the National Merit Scholarships. www.nationalmerit.org and www.collegeboard.com
- Offered at various times according to the public and private schools in our area.
- Register a month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official test site. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Cost: $13
- Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- SAT I (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a college aptitude test used by colleges to gauge a student’s verbal, writing, math and critical thinking skills. www.collegeboard.com
- 7 test dates from October to May.
- Register one month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official SAT test site. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Cost: $43
- Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- SAT II (Scholastic Assessment Test) measures aptitude in twenty subject areas such as math, Latin, history, etc. SAT II tests are often used to verify a homeschooled high school students transcripts and can increase possible college acceptance. www.collegeboard.com
- Register one month prior to testing.
- Must test at official SAT test site. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Time: 1 hour
- ACT (American College Testing) is a college aptitude test measuring proficiency in English, math, reading and science. www.actstudent.org
- 6 tests offered per year.
- Register one month prior to testing.
- Must test at an official ACT test site. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Cost: $30 (additional $14.50 for writing section- optional)
- Time: 3 hours (30 minutes additional for the writing section)
- ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) exams are geared toward advanced students who take AP courses while still in high school. Credit for AP courses will not be earned unless an AP exam in each AP subject is taken and passed. These credits are widely accepted by colleges. www.collegeboard.com/ap
- Register through the College Board.
- Must test at a public high school assigned by the College Board. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Cost: $84 for the exam plus an additional $100 for materials and course.
- Time: 2 hours
- CLEP (College Level Examination Program) exams are used to prove adequate independent education in college subject areas in order to gain college credit for such courses while being exempted from the semester-long class(es). Over thirty CLEP exams are available and some test for a full year’s knowledge of material. www.collegeboard.com
- Tests available year-round.
- Register at most universities, colleges or private testing centers.
- Test at their locations. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Costs: $65 plus proctors fee
- Time: varies by test
- GED (General Educational Development) tests certify that a student has the equivalence of a high school education. It tests reading, writing, math, sciences and social studies and is accepted by colleges and most employers in lieu of a high school diploma. www.acenet.edu
- Tests available year-round.
- Register on-line.
- Test at assigned location. Bring a picture ID when testing.
- Costs: $100
- Time: 7 hours 30 minutes over several days