FAQ

Does my homeschooled child need to be tested? How often?
Why should I follow the homeschool testing law?
What version of the Stanford Achievement Test do you use?
What is offered on each Stanford Achievement Test?
Where and when are the tests offered?
How long will the testing take?
How much do the tests cost?
How do I complete the registration process?
Can I register and pay for testing online?
Will I receive confirmation regarding my test registration?
What's your refund policy?
Can I phone my registration in to HTS?
Can I change locations once I've registered?
What instructions and details do I need to know regarding testing day?
My child is not reading yet. Should he take the SAT test?
How can I help my child prepare for Testing?
When can I expect to receive my child's test scoring report?
What information does a Scoring Report contain?
Why does HTS use the 1995 norming instead of the updated 2000 norming?
Can I use your tests to test my own children in my home?
Does my child have to take the WASL?
Is this SAT the same as the college entrance SAT?
Do you offer the SAT 10th edition?
Why does HTS use the UNbbreviated edition of the SAT9?
What if I lose my scoring report?








Does my homeschooled child need to be tested? How often?
Yes. The Washington State Home-Based Instruction Law offers parents two methods to meet the annual testing requirement. One, your child can be tested using a State Board of Education-approved standardized achievement test. Or two, an assessment of your child's academic progress can be written by a certificated teacher currently working in the field of education. The testing requirement is for homeschooled children between the ages of 8 & 18. return to top
Why should I follow the homeschool testing law?
A young man from Spokane almost was denied entrance into the Navy because the recruiter felt he had not been in compliance with the Washington Home-based Education Law during his homeschooling years. The following has been excerpted from the June 2003 WHO's News by permission from his mother, who authored the article. "The bottom line was that because we didn't have Tim tested every year of his high school education, as Washington State law requires, Tim's education credentials were not accepted by the Navy. Fortunately, however, Tim was still able to enlist in the Navy.....Here is my advice to other homeschooling families: Follow the law! It's very important to adhere as best you can to the requirements of your state's homeschooling laws every year that you choose to homeschool."
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What version of the Stanford Achievement Test do you use?
We use the Full UNabbreviated Two-Day Stanford Achievement Test---a highly respected testing tool The Unabbreviated, Full Comprehensive Battery includes: ~ Two Reading sections ~ Two Math sections ~ Full Language test ~ Listening, Study Skills, Science, Social Science, Spelling, and an integrated Using Information score Second & Third Graders Write Answers in Test Booklets : ~ Makes testing simpler ~ Fewer chances of errors ~ Higher test scores Computerized Professional Scoring---NO scoring mistakes ! Detailed, Informative Scoring Reports : ~ Percentiles, stanines, raw scores, and placement level ~ Acceptable by both public and private schools Complete Confidentiality : ~ ONLY Parents see Scoring Reports ~ Copies kept on file for replacement needs only Friendly, Trained Test Proctors Discount Prices for Early Registration return to top


What is offered on each Stanford Achievement Test?
To see a list of SAT contents for specific grade levels, you may click here. return to top

Where and when are the tests offered?
We offer tests during the months of April, May, and June. There are several locations and dates available. Click here to see the schedule. A Fall testing site may be offered some years; please check locations and dates for that information. return to top


How much do the tests cost?
Tests for grades 2 & 3 cost $50. Grades 4 through 12 cost $45. There is a $5.00 early registration discount for each test. If your registration is postmarked 10 days before the first testing day at your testing location. return to top

How long will the testing take?
Testing takes place over two days from 9:00* to about 1:15 to 1:30. High Schoolers finish about 11:30 each day. The students in grades 2 through 8 have 30-40 minute lunch breaks as well as other shorter breaks throughout each testing day. Students are to arrive and be ready for testing by 8:50 AM.. Testing will start promptly* at 9:00 return to top

How do I complete the registration process?
Registration with Homeschool Test Service is easy. Please click here to print out your registration form. Send the completed registration form to Homeschool Test Service, 21404 SE 400th St. Enumclaw, WA 98022-8909 Homeschool Test Service now accepts online registrations. Please click here to be taken to the online registration page. We accept the following forms of payment through PAYPAL:

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Can I register and pay for testing online?
Yes! Homeschool Test Service now offers online registration through Paypal. Available for 2008 SOON. return to top


Will I receive confirmation regarding my test registration?
If you desire confirmation, send a SASE with your registration. Otherwise, see you at testing. return to top

What's your refund policy?
Refunds, minus $5.00 per test, are allowed until TWO weeks before testing. After that time and for "No Shows" on testing day, there will be no refunds. In the case of illness on the day of testing, Homeschool Test Service will attempt to provide an opportunity for your child to make up the test at another time and location. return to top



*Can I phone my registration in to HTS?*
Yes, however Homeschool Test Service strongly discourages this form of registration! There will be a $5.00 service charge to do so.
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Can I change my testing location after I've registered?
There will be a $5.00 service charge if you need to change locations after you've registered. return to top




What instructions and details do I need to know regarding testing day?
There are many details you need to be aware of regarding testing day. Please click here for a printable list of instructions. return to top



My child is not reading yet. Should he take the SAT test?
If your child is not yet reading, a non-test assessment may be a better testing option. return to top

How can I help my child prepare for Testing?
Homeschool Test Service offers practice tests. Practice tests are helpful for all grades, but highly recommended for children in grades 1-4 and for those students who have not tested in the past. These tests contain 2-3 questions/problems per subtest and are not designed for SAT test prepping but are for the purpose of familiarizing students with the SAT test directions, test questions and problems, and the answer coding process. The price of $8.00 each includes the test, administering instructions, and shipping. Please allow two weeks for delivery. Click here for a Practice Test Order Form. or Order Online One additional way to prepare your child for SAT testing is to encourage them to do the best they can on each of the tests. Tell them there is a wide range of difficulty on each subtest, so some of the material your child will know well, while some questions will be more difficult to answer. Whatever you can do to minimize their anxiety is to their benefit. return to top


When can I expect to receive my child's test scoring report?
Test Scoring Reports will be available on the following schedule: April Testing will be sent in June. May testing will sent in July. June testing will be sent in August. return to top


What information does a Scoring Report contain?
The professionally scored testing report contains much specific helpful information for the parent. See Scoring Report sample. return to top




Why does HTS use the 1995 norming instead of the updated 2000 norming?
Homeschool Test Service has been using the 1995 norms since we implemented the SAT 9th Edition. Many families have been testing children since 1995 and continue to do so. For the sake of consistency on the scoring reports, HTS has chosen to continue with the 1995 norms until we change to a newer edition of the SAT. return to top





Can I use your tests to test my own children in my home?
No. The testing manufacturing company, Harcourt Educational Measurement, requires that the SAT be administered in group settings with unrelated children. return to top


Does my child have to take the WASL?
Your child does not have to take the WASL, however it is on the state approved list of tests for homeschoolers. You may receive a notice from your local school district that your child may take the WASL with students at the public school. You may choose this option to fulfill the annual testing requirement, but you do not have to do so. return to top



Is the SAT the same as the college entrance SAT?
Homeschool Test Service offers the Stanford Achievement Test. The college entrance test is the Scholastic Aptitude test and we do not offer that testing. You will need to go to www.collegeboard.com for information on the college SAT. return to top


Do you offer the SAT 10th edition?
Homeschool Test Service does not offer the SAT10 at this time. We like the SAT9 because it contains the Listening section, which the SAT10 does not. Also, the SAT10 does not have time frames for each of the tests and for homeschool testing we need to have designated ending times to our testing sessions. return to top




Why does HTS use the UNabbreviated edition of the SAT 9?
Homeschool Test Service uses the UNabbreviated SAT because it is a comprehensive battery. It contains several tests that the abbreviated doesn’t have, such as Listening, Study Skills, Science, and Social Science, as well as an integrated Using Information score. Also, the subtests in the UNabbreviated edition contain more problems and questions, which allows for more comprehensive battery scores than does the abbreviated edition of the SAT. return to top





What if I lose my scoring report?
A replacement report can be sent to you for a $5.00 charge.