How Placement Tests Can Help Your Homeschooler Succeed

Posted by AOP on Aug 29th 2016

While homeschool parents know that placing students in the correct grade is an important first step to successful homeschooling, sometimes it’s hard to know whether you’re making the right choice. That’s why we offers FREE Placement Tests for LIFEPAC and Horizons, as well as an affordable Placement Test for Switched-On-Schoolhouse (only $17.95).

Designed to help parents choose a curriculum that suits individual learning needs, placement tests are perfect for newbies transitioning from a traditional school, rookies starting from scratch with their oldest child, or veterans hoping to start this homeschool year with a clean slate. They are intended to help families avoid learning gaps, which occur because concepts are presented at different times within different curriculum.

Placement tests also help parents determine whether a child is taking on too much or needs more challenging material in a given subject. For example, your 6th grader may be on par in most subjects and ready for 7th grade English, but still need to master 5th grade math. If you take the tests and realize that’s the case, you can buy the correct curriculum to meet your child's needs.

So, whether you’re new to homeschooling or a seasoned pro, Placement Tests can help your family find the curriculum that suits your children best this school year.

LIFEPAC Math and Language Arts Diagnostic Tests

Placement Tests are provided for 1st through 8th grade as well as 7th through 12th grade. Instructions for scoring and evaluation of test results are provided in the answer key pages. Your child should be able to complete the tests for this Christian homeschool curriculum on his own as long as he understands the activity directions.

HORIZONS Math Readiness Evaluations

Not sure which grade level to use when starting your homeschooler in Horizons Math? Alpha Omega Publications offers free diagnostic and placement resources for this Christian homeschool curriculum.

The Horizons Math Readiness Evaluation provides tests for 1st through 6th grade, and each test takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete. The 1st grade test is taken orally with special instructions for scoring and remediation of weaknesses. For 2nd through 6th grade, instructions for scoring and evaluation of test results are provided in the answer key pages.

The Horizons Pre-Algebra Readiness Evaluation and the Horizons Algebra I Readiness Evaluation help parents determine if their child is ready to begin studying upper-level math. Each of these tests takes 45-60 minutes and includes instructions for scoring and evaluation of test results.

For all Horizons Math Readiness Evaluations, your child should be able to complete the placement tests on their own, as long as they understand the directions.