Non-Test Assessments
A non-test assessment is an informal, individualized session with a certified teacher to determine at what approximate grade level your student may be working, suggested goals for the next school year, and how to design the best curriculum for your student's learning styles and needs.
Parents put together a portfolio of the student's work to present 2 weeks before the appointment. At the appointment, student will read a short selection and answer questions, complete math problems, take a spelling test, and complete a writing piece. These sessions usually last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for one student.
For more information on how to prepare your portfolio, download the file below.
Parents put together a portfolio of the student's work to present 2 weeks before the appointment. At the appointment, student will read a short selection and answer questions, complete math problems, take a spelling test, and complete a writing piece. These sessions usually last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for one student.
For more information on how to prepare your portfolio, download the file below.
California Achievement Testing
This test is offered in a multi-age group setting. There are 10 sub-tests that are proctored over 3 days. The cost is $40 with the parent participating in scoring on the 4th day. The exam is $50 if you would like the test scored for you and the results mailed. You may arrange for an individualized testing session at any time during the year for $100/150.
The results will include a score report and an item analysis.
The score report will include:
Raw score -- simply tells how many questions were correctly answered of the total questions asked in each subtest.
Grade equivalence -- Caution should be exercised in interpreting grade equivalency. If an 8th grade student obtains a grade equivalent score of 10.8 in a mathematics test, it does NOT mean that the student has mastered all the mathematics that is taught during the first eight months of 10th grade. Rather it means only that should an average student who is in the 8th month of the 10th grade took this same (8th grade) test, they would – theoretically score the same raw score. To demonstrate 10th grade skills, a student would have to take a 10th grade level test.
Percentile rank -- indicates the percentage in a norm group that fall below a student’s raw score. For example, if a student’s raw score converts to a percentile rank of 71, this means that the student scored higher than approximately 71% in the norm group (same grade level by quarter/trimester: fall, winter, spring).
Stanine -- draws its name from the fact that it is STAndard score from a scale of NINE divisions. A student’s score is converted to a stanine score by using a scale of equal units (1-9) of the bell curve of this test. The mean or average of this scale is 5, and the standard deviation (margin of error) is +/- approximately 2 stanines. Thus, it is used as a rounded-off percentile as the percentile score only shows how that student did that day on that particular test. The stanines, however, show the expected performance range of the student on any given day. Thus, if he/she scored in the 5th stanine, the stanine is at least from 41% to 59% and perhaps even greater or less, depending on test-taking variables of the student (degree of fatigue, hunger, stress, environmental/personal distractions, etc.)
The item analysis is a report that will tell you the types of questions your student missed.
The results will include a score report and an item analysis.
The score report will include:
Raw score -- simply tells how many questions were correctly answered of the total questions asked in each subtest.
Grade equivalence -- Caution should be exercised in interpreting grade equivalency. If an 8th grade student obtains a grade equivalent score of 10.8 in a mathematics test, it does NOT mean that the student has mastered all the mathematics that is taught during the first eight months of 10th grade. Rather it means only that should an average student who is in the 8th month of the 10th grade took this same (8th grade) test, they would – theoretically score the same raw score. To demonstrate 10th grade skills, a student would have to take a 10th grade level test.
Percentile rank -- indicates the percentage in a norm group that fall below a student’s raw score. For example, if a student’s raw score converts to a percentile rank of 71, this means that the student scored higher than approximately 71% in the norm group (same grade level by quarter/trimester: fall, winter, spring).
Stanine -- draws its name from the fact that it is STAndard score from a scale of NINE divisions. A student’s score is converted to a stanine score by using a scale of equal units (1-9) of the bell curve of this test. The mean or average of this scale is 5, and the standard deviation (margin of error) is +/- approximately 2 stanines. Thus, it is used as a rounded-off percentile as the percentile score only shows how that student did that day on that particular test. The stanines, however, show the expected performance range of the student on any given day. Thus, if he/she scored in the 5th stanine, the stanine is at least from 41% to 59% and perhaps even greater or less, depending on test-taking variables of the student (degree of fatigue, hunger, stress, environmental/personal distractions, etc.)
The item analysis is a report that will tell you the types of questions your student missed.