Serving Home Schools and Private Schools Since 1993
Margaux and Art Thurber
THE CALIFORNIA ACHIEVEMENT TEST, CAT/5
Thurber’s Educational Assessments (Margaux and Art) have been providing home schools and small private schools with the California Achievement Test 5th Edition, for 16 years. This is an excellent achievement test designed to measure achievement in basic academic subjects as generally taught in public and private schools.
Over the years we have continued to provide a dependable service with good materials and at reasonable cost. In addition to providing the CAT/5, the tests are always computer scored by the California Testing Bureau. Results are then printed on CTB forms that are recognized and accepted everywhere by public schools as well as colleges.
Normal office hours: Mon. - Fri.; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 919-967-5282
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The California Achievement Test, Fifth Edition (CAT/5).
This achievement test comes in two forms, the CAT/5 Complete Battery and the shorter CAT/5 Survey. For more infomation about each of these forms, scroll down to "Overview of the CAT/5".
What grade should you order?
Normally you will order the grade in which the student has been progressing during the past six months or so. For example: for a student recently starting the 4th grade, order a third grade test.
When should you order?
After choosing your test week, you might want then to place your order. At any rate, place your order at least 4 weeks in advance of your test week. This will assure availability of supplies and your choice of test week.
What is the Cost per student?
To Order via mail:
2009 Test Weeks: Choose your week to test.
___ Feb. 22 – Feb. 28, -$43 per student..Complete Battery or Survey
___Mar. 8 – Mar. 18, -$45 per student..Complete Battery or Survey
___Mar. 22 – Mar. 28, -$45 per student..Complete Battery or Survey
___Apr. 5 – Apr. 11, -$47 per student…Complete Battery or Survey
___Apr. 19 – Apr. 25, -$47 per student…Complete Battery or Survey
___Later weeks will be added if demand and supplies are adequate.
Click here for Spring 2009 mail order form
To Order Online through Paypal:
1 Go to: www.paypal.com
2. At Paypal click on “Send Money.”
3. Register with Paypal for free credit card payment.
4. Click on “Send Money”.
5. Payment is made to our email address: test@thurbers.net
Type in the exact email address to ensure that we will receive the order and the payment..
6. In either the "Note" or the "Message" area on the Paypal form, type in the following information:
Name of parent responsible for the home school education
Mailing address of parent responsible for the home school education
Specify the Test Week you want
Telephone
The statement "I have read and accept the Test Agreement." (See Test Agreement below.)
For each student type in the following information:
Name (the name that will be used on the Test itself)
Birthday
Test Grade and indicate Complete Battery
Practice Exercise: "Yes" or "No": (Grades K - 6 only.)($3.00 each only with test order)
7. Please add $1 Paypal usage surcharge to your payment for each student.
8. Submit.
If correctly submitted, Paypal will acknowledge the transaction to you by email and will forward to us your order and your payment. Do not send us a duplicate order by regular mail.
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:
With your order, you will receive:
1. A Student Test Booklet for each level you ordered
2. Directions for Administering Booklet(s)
3. Answer Sheet (Except for grades 1-3—students answer directly in those test booklets)
4. Suggested Time Schedule
5. “Step-by-Step” - our guide to help you administer the test
6. Your Responsibilities as the Examiner administering the tests.
7. Practice Exercises, if ordered.
By the end of your test week, all test materials are returned to us. The test will be sent to be Computer Scored and to have an Individual Test Record printed for each student. This will be a detailed and comprehensive report.
THE TEST AGREEMENT:
Read these requirements carefully. You will be asked on the Order Form if you agree to them.
Test Agreement:...Read each item. The agreement must be signed below by the home school teacher.
1.I have read the "Overview of the CAT/5" and understand the differences between the Complete Battery and the Survey, as well as the primary purpose of Practice Exercises.
2.If you are not the teacher and/or the student is not a full time home school or private school student, do not continue with this order.
3. My homeschool complies with local and state regulations. The test will be given by a person allowed by my state regulations.
4. Test materials will be kept in a secure place at all times. Test-takers will not be left alone with any test materials.
5. Tests will be administered in accordance with instructions in the Examiner’s Manual.
6. Confidentiality of test contents will be maintained. Test materials will not be copied and copyright restrictions will be honored.
7. All test materials will be placed back in the mail, securely and in good condition, by the end of my test week.
8. The agreement is to rent (not to buy) the test for the scheduled test week and then to return the test material without delay. If the test is not used, all materials are to be returned immediately.
9. Most test materials have been previously used and will be used again by other students. Test materials are to be kept clean and free of any marks your students may have made. A charge is made for materials damaged and returned unusable.
10.TEA cannot be responsible for shipping losses that are out of our control or for losses caused by the scoring process. To protect against any such losses, make and keep a copy of the completed Answer Sheet. If there is a loss, a new Answer Sheet can be made for Grades 4 – 12. For Grades K - 3 make a numbered list of the student’s actual answers (Never copy the actual test booklet).
11. No refunds are given, but credit may be applied to future orders.
NC Homeschools--Send results to DNPE?: What NC regulations say:
Send results to DNPE? Only if, this past August, you received from DNPE a gray colored postal card inviting you to do so. Consult that gray postal card for all the details. Otherwise, simply keep the student achievement test result and attendance records at your home for at least one year after the date of testing. If DNPE doesn’t ask to see them during that one year period, you will have satisfied the North Carolina law regarding the DNPE inspection of these student records. If the test company scoring your child's test does not provide the test scores to you in time to meet the June 30 DNPE postmark mail-in deadline, simply hold the completed student attendance records until the test results arrive from the company. Then, send both items together to DNPE per instructions given in your August invitation letter. There is no need for you (or the test company) to notify DNPE about the mail-in delay. Also, when sending student test result or attendance records, DO NOT attach address or telephone number changes in the same envelope. This increases the risk that they may be accidentally overlooked by the DNPE staff.
HOW CAN I PREPARE MY STUDENT FOR THE TEST:
Since the test will reflect the typical curriculum taught for each grade, the very best preparation for the test is to teach day by day the typical academic subjects for each grade.
If you would like guidance in understanding the learning objectives for subjects in each grade, you would do well to consult the "Standards of Learning" developed by many states. These guidelines are on the internet (Click on link at end of this page). In addition to your state's standards, look at Virginia's standards which are comprehensive and clearly written(Click on Link below). These are only guidelines to help with teaching and no student is expected to have mastered everything in the standards. Remember, you do not need to have completed the entire curriculum for the year at the time you give the test.
If you are interested in guide books to help students with the C.A.T./5, go to:< www.sraonline.com/products.html >. On that site click on "Test Preparation". These helps should be ordered earlier in your school year to be useful.
Practice Exercises: These are not academic reviews. They are used to acquaint children with the multiple choice type of test. It is definitely recommended that students in Grades K through 4 take this Practice Exercise.
An additional purpose for Practice Exercises applies to Grade 4. The Grade 4 Practice Exercise helps in the transition from the student marking answers in the student's booklet to marking answers on an Answer Sheet separate from the Test Booklet.
Students in higher grades probably have had experience with multiple choice tests. Practice Exercise for Grade 4, 5, and 6 are identical. Practice Exercises are given a day or two before the achievement test is given, and take about 30 minutes. Practice Exercises are only available with a C.A.T. order.
WHY CONSIDER ORDERING FROM Thurber’s Educational Assessments?
We have been providing the California Achievement Test for sixteen years and consider it a privilege and a ministry to have made these tests available to many thousands of students across our great country. Our testing service is limited to the United States.
Our testing service provides computer scoring of every test, not hand scoring. Computer scoring is the most accurate method of scoring. It provides the most comprehensive test results, and so gives you, the teacher, the very best guidance in your teaching plans.
Our testing service is designed to have the student’s test results completed as quickly as possible, usually within four to six weeks. Strict confidentiality is kept.
We bring advanced professional training to our service; Margaux as an Educator and Art as a psychologist.
WHAT DOES YOUR STATE SAY ABOUT HOMESCHOOL TESTING?
North Carolina: If you do not have the test report by June 30,the Dept. of Non-public Education (if they did ask you to send in the test report) asks that you send a copy when you do get it. And also, hold other records and send everything together when you send the student report. We have a separate page with more information: Click here: North Carolina Regulations
For complete information on all aspects of home schooling in North Carolina, go to: www.ncdnpe.org/hhh114.htm
For other states: Information about testing and other homeschool regulations can be found at the following website: < http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp >
WHY ORDER THE CAT/5(1992), RATHER THAN AN EARLIER EDITION(1970,1986)?
When a publisher sets about to develop a new edition, they analyze curriculum materials presently being used across the country. This provides the publishers with a comprehensive view of the common educational goals that are guiding the teachers’ instruction of students.
Test questions are then constructed that would demonstrate the students’ ability to apply concepts and skills that will reflect achievement in the specific subjects. Most home schools utilize recent curricula. Hence, the more recent edition will more accurately indicate the students’ achievement.
OVERVIEW OF THE CAT/5
Which CAT/5 Test is best for you ?
CAT/5 Complete Battery OR CAT/5 Survey ?
The C.A.T./5® Complete Battery: : Tests are available for each grade from Kindergarten to 12th grade. This is a full-length test for each grade from one to twelve and gives the most comprehensive test results. Grades 2 - 12 will require about 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours work time, but can be spread over several days. The student report shows not only how each student compares with others in the same grade, but also shows how well the student has done in mastering specific learning goals.
There are two different First Grade tests called Level 10 and Level 11.
Consider giving the Level 10 first grade test, if the student is not yet reading very well. If the student stumbles over reading, sounds out most words, and is just a slower reader; then Level 10 is the right test.
If you have any question as to giving Level 10 or Level 11 of the Complete Battery, it is best to give Level 10. The first time a student takes this type of test, it is better to give a relatively easier test. This gives the student a positive experience about test taking and his own academic ability.
First Grade, Level 10: total testing time 1 ½ hours; 4 subject categories, each about 22 minutes long (better for shorter attention spans).
Reading skills: mostly sight words or phrases; some sentences 5 or 6 words long.
Math skills: no computation, just pictorial math.
First Grade Level 11: total testing time 3 ¾ hours (can be spread over several days); 9 subject categories, each up to 33 minutes long (requires longer attention span).
Reading skills: some sentences up to 8 – 10 words; more reading needed in other subject areas.
Math skills: has computation including some double digit addition and subtraction.
When ordering First Grade: choose Grade One and then specify whether Level 10 or Level 11.
The Grade K test for Kindergarten: a readiness test, not an achievement test. It does not test academic achievement. Some kindergarten students may be ready for and can be given the Grade One, Level 10, test.
The C.A.T./5® Survey: : Please note: the Survey is not available for our fall testing. This is the short form of the Complete Battery available only for Grades 2 - 12. It covers all the same academic subjects as the Complete Battery. It requires 2 to 2 ½ hours. We are frequently asked if the Survey form meets North Carolina requirements. The answer is “YES”, it does. If you want to use the Survey in other states, check your state’s requirements at: www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp. The Student Report compares each student with others in the same grade, similar to the Complete Battery; but the Survey does not give you information regarding mastery of specific learning goals.
Reasons you might want to give the CAT/5 Survey:
..1) This test is shorter and easier to give, while covering all the subjects including science and social studies.
..2) It might be better for a student with short attention span.
..3) It may keep test anxiety lower.
..4) It can be administered and easily completed in one day.
Whether you use the Complete Battery or the Survey, you will receive excellent student reports based on the computer scoring of the tests by the California Testing Bureau, McGraw-Hill, and printed on their official form.
Basic Skills: For a more limited test, called "Basic Skills", order the Complete Battery; but do not give the Social Studies, Science, Word Analysis or Study Skills subtests. The instructions will tell you exactly how to do this. This Complete Battery Basic Skills Test requires 3 1/2 hours.
For the very shortest Basic Skills test, order the Survey and again do not give the subtests just listed. Requires 2 hours.
OTHER LINKS:
Standards of Learning (Virginia.)
Standards of Learning (All states.)
Standards of Learning (North Carolina.) Thurber's Educational Assessments
400 Clayton Road
Chapel Hill, NC, 27514.