Consider Standardized Testing (If Required or Desired)

Arrange for your child to take a nationally normed standardized test to get an external measure of academic standing. Some states require periodic standardized testing for homeschoolers; even where it is optional, it can provide a useful benchmark. Common options include the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, and CAT (California Achievement Test), many of which can be administered at home or in group settings.

Why It Works

Standardized tests compare your child's performance against national norms, giving you an objective data point alongside your own assessments. This can confirm that your curriculum is covering grade-level material, highlight unexpected strengths or weaknesses, and satisfy state compliance requirements in a single step.

Tips

• Standardized tests are one measure of learning, not the whole picture; use them alongside portfolios and informal assessment
• Familiarize your child with the test format beforehand to reduce anxiety without "teaching to the test"
• Some tests require a certified proctor; check requirements before ordering
• Results can be useful for college applications and scholarship documentation
• If your child tests poorly in one area but demonstrates competence through daily work, investigate whether test anxiety or format unfamiliarity is the cause