ACADEMIC PLACEMENT TESTING

“Evaluate your student’s academic strengths and weaknesses to accurately place them in an approved curriculum”

·         Our extensive Alpha Omega Diagnostic Testing enables us to “tailor make” an academic program that meets each individual student’s needs.

·         You have the flexibility to choose curricula from Alpha Omega LIFEPACS, “Switched-On Schoolhouse CD-ROM, Saxon Math, Keyboard Video Algebra I, Bob Jones or Abeka.

·         We may also suggest supplemental curricula to assist with problem areas.

Two-part Testing

(Required for students enrolling in either of our two schools & Highly Recommended for our curriculum only families):

Part 1 – Wide Range Achievement Test *

The student will complete this national standardized test which enables our diagnostician to determine the Math and Reading levels of the student.  The student’s age and grade level are factored into prescribing three grade levels to test in the Alpha Omega curriculum after completion of this test.

The parent administers the test at home with guidelines that accompany each test.  A trained diagnostician at Summit Christian Academy does the evaluation.

*(This test may be purchased independently by homeschool families whose states allow the WRAT to meet annual testing requirements.  Contact our office for more information- 1-800-362-9180)

Part 2 –ACADEMIC PLACEMENT TESTING-         “2” OPTIONS AVAILABLE

After the diagnostician determines which levels to test the student we send you a test booklet for each subject with answer sheets.  Instructions on how to administer the test and what grade levels need to be attempted accompany the test booklet  Regardless of the curriculum you will choose to use, the student is required to complete as much of the testing as possible.

BEST- Option #1- Testing in ALL 5 subjects       Cost : $45.00          

We have found, from 24 years of experience, that a student can be in different levels in all academic subjects. Therefore, our preference, especially at the upper grade levels, is to test them in all 5 subjects. Using this strategy allows for a “tailor-made’ academic program for your student.

Option # 2- Testing in Language and Math ONLY     Cost = $35.00

With this option students will be evaluated in Math and Language Arts only.  Placement in the other reading subjects (Bible, Science, and Social Studies) will be determined by the Placement for Language Arts. This makes for an obvious shorter testing period.

Either way, we highly recommend the testing to help to determine your student’s academic strengths and weaknesses.

Our instructions encourage the student to complete as much as they can since this is not a “pass/fail” test, rather it is showing us what they know.   Consequently, we are able to locate “learning gaps” in each subject.  As a result, a student can be on more than one grade level in any given subject each year.

After completing the tests, the parent will send it back to Summit for an evaluation.  The parent is contacted by phone with the test results and both parent and diagnostician will discuss the results and whether to keep the student in the grade levels that are indicated or whether to adjust the placement.  Adjusted placements are done more frequently in the high school levels because a student may already have credit for some of the courses and does not need to take them again. 

NATIONAL STANDARDIZED TESTING

Each spring we offer the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. This is a “complete battery” test, which includes reading comprehension, language usage, math skills, social studies, and science.  This is an optional test and is offered to enrolled and non-enrolled students grades 3-12.  Registration begins in January, and the testing is done in March. Guidelines and Registration information are available on our web-site, or via January Newsletter sent to families who have signed up to be on our mailing list.