Which test do you administer?
We provide the California Achievement Test (CAT) in both group and private settings. The test lasts about two hours and consists of 120 questions broken into six sub-tests. Questions are multiple choice and students are provided with pencils and scratch paper. Calculators are not allowed on the test.
When do I have to test?
The Oregon State Law states that students who are home schooled must test for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. We recommend that you test your students every year to get an accurate picture of their progress and to keep them familiar with the testing process. The law states that students in the required grades, mentioned above, must test by August 15th of that school year.
Do you send test results to the ESD for me?
We do not send anything to the state regarding your student. We believe that it is your right, responsibility, and decision to provide information to the ESD. After your student has tested with Basic Skills, we will process the test results and create three copies of the test report. We send two of those reports to you, one for your own records and one for ESD, should they request results. The final copy we keep on file at our site for future reference or in the event that your results get lost.
I have a 12th Grader. Do I need to test?
According to the Oregon law, home school students must be tested by the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. After tenth grade, there are no testing requirements, not even for the CIM/CAM. Diplomas are not awarded to home school students by the state so whether or not your student has earned a diploma is left up to your discretion. We do, however, suggest that your student take either the GED, SAT or ACT.
The GED will be required by most employers if your student is not college bound; they just want to make sure that they are hiring a person who has completed high school. The SAT or ACT are more for college bound students. Almost without fail the college your student is applying to will request these test scores. This is to assure that the student is working at the caliber they require, and is also quite helpful for getting scholarships. If your student knows where he/she wants to apply, we would suggest calling the office of admissions there and asking which test they would prefer, some lean more toward the ACT, some prefer the SAT.
Do you give the SAT or the GED testing?
We do not. To find out how to sign up for these tests you can visit the following websites:
GED--http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=GEDTS
SAT--http://www.collegeboard.com/splash
I missed the group test that was in my area, and your site in Oregon City is a long ways away. Is there any other way I can still get tested without coming out to Oregon City?
We have examiners in many cities and towns throughout Oregon and Southern Washington. These examiners often times will come to your house, administer a private test to your student and then send the results to us for processing. Fees vary for these private examiners. To find out if there is an examiner in your area, call our office.
I have had my student tested. How long before I get the results?
For group tests we promise a two week turn-around time. That means that if you tested on June 15th, you should have the results by no later than June 29th. For private tests, you will receive the results about 15 minutes after that test has been completed.
I just received my results, and I have some questions. What should I do?
First, please read through the Interpretive Guide that was included with your test results. This guide will answer many of the basic questions you may have. Secondly, read the rest of these "Frequently Asked Questions."
If you still have questions after reading the Interpretive Guide, please call Basic Skills (503.650.5282) if you would like someone to help you interpret your test scores.
I don't understand the national percentiles on the test report. What do they mean?
The national percentiles are not a grading scale of your student's performance, they are a ranking scale. In other words, if your student received a 65% on his Reading Comprehension test, that does not mean that his grade would be a "D." It means that if there were exactly 100 students who took the Reading Comprehension test and then were placed in a line according to their scores (100 being the 1st place and 1 being the last place), your student would be in the 65th spot in line.
My student's score on one of the subtests was 20/20 but her national percentile was 98. Why didn't she get a 100?
Please read the question and answer above first to better understand this answer. Often times many students will score high on a particular test. This means that the highest national percentile rank goes down because students are essentially sharing the highest rank. For example, if four students score 20/20 on a test, those four student share the top spot in the national percentile so the highest percentile would be 96.
What is the Grade Equivilant and what does it tell me?
The grade equivalent shows the theoretical grade and month in the school year for the student based on the norm level. It represents placement in the thirteen years of school, kindergarten through twelfth grade. So, for example, 4.6 means that your student, for that particular test subtest is working at the fourth year, sixth month. This score does not mean that a student has mastered all of the skills taught up to the grade level indicated. Grade equivalents are not intended to be used for placing students in grades.
What is the Diagnostic Profile?
The Profile is an additional report that will provide more information about your students performance. The general test report will give you your student's raw score and national percentile for each of the sub-tests. The profile will tell you specifically which concepts were presented and which ones your student got correct and which ones your student missed. This report is $7.00 and can be ordered at the time of the test or after you receive test results. Please click here to view a sample of the Diagnostic Profile.
