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By the time children reach high school, they will have undoubtedly passed through many rounds of standardized tests. For some students, these tests will have been a virtually pain-free experience. But many children stumble through the standardized test process. With test results now being considered a factor in grade advancement, class placement and even graduation, standardized tests can be stressful for students and parents alike. During high school, standardized tests continue to serve as a measure of school performance. Test results can also direct curriculum changes and determine funding or school accreditation. Your child will likely take two types of standardized tests in high school. Achievement tests will measure how much a student has already learned in specific subject areas. These are the tests that are commonly used for national comparison of school success. Aptitude tests will predict how a student is likely to perform in a future educational setting. Aptitude tests, such as the SAT and ACT, take on special importance during high school because the scores will be sent to prospective colleges. If your child has had problems with standardized testing in the past, this does not mean that your child will not be able to succeed on college aptitude tests. There are numerous preparation methods available to students including classes, books and online resources. By utilizing these sources, your child can become familiar with test formats and even take full practice tests. You can help by meeting with your child’s teacher or guidance counselor to find out about specific preparation assistance offered. You can also discuss any previous testing issues in order to get recommendations for addressing those problems. Remember, it is possible to re-take exams such as the ACT and SAT, and test results are not the sole factor in determining a student’s admission into a college. Although your child may have been taking standardized tests for years, you may be unfamiliar with the specifics of how various tests work. Here is a brief overview of several widely used standardized tests. Stanford Achievement Test - 9th version (Stanford 9/SAT-9) This widely used K-12 assessment offers both multiple-choice and open-ended components to provide depth to your child’s results. The test is formatted according to an “easy-hard-easy” structure that surrounds difficult questions with easier ones. Results can be compared with the U.S. student population. California Achievement Tests (CAT) This test series measures achievement in basic skills for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The test is administered nationwide and covers reading, language, spelling, mathematics, study skills, science and social studies. There is also a Writing Assessment System, which can be used in conjunction with the multiple-choice sequence. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) This test is generally taken by high school juniors and seniors, and is considered by many colleges as an indicator of a student’s readiness for advanced coursework. The test is divided into a verbal and math section with a maximum score of 800 for each section. The overall score reflects both sections, thus a score of 620 for math and 780 for verbal results in a combined score of 1400. The three-hour test covers critical reading, sentence completion, analogies, arithmetic, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis, statistics and probability. There are also SAT II subject tests available in 22 content areas. Consult your child’s school on which, if any, of these tests your child should be taking. ACT Assessment This college admission and placement exam tests students’ aptitude in English, math, reading and science. The 215 question test lasts nearly three hours. Although the maximum composite score is 36, this is only achieved by 1 in 8,300 students. The national average score for 2002 was 20.8. By Heidi K. Neuzil |
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