Standardized Tests: A Parent’s Guide
By Sylvia Robinson, Ph.D., Director of Curriculum & Instruction

RMCA students in grades 2-7 take the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) each spring. The Academy staff is frequently asked many of the following questions about SATs. Below are some answers as well as some helpful advice about how to you prepare your student for Test Week.

Q. Why does RMCA administer the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT)?
A. The results from standardized tests such as the SAT provide RMCA with information that helps us measure success on various scales. We chose the SAT in particular because it is one of the most popular norm-referenced tests used by private and parochial schools (and principally used by members of the Association of Christian Schools International – ACSI). Using the same test as similar schools allows us to compare ourselves on a more equivalent basis.

Q. What can we learn from SAT results?
A. While teachers collect information from class work, homework, classroom observations, tests, and quizzes on a regular basis, achievement tests provide a “snapshot” of how much knowledge the student has accumulated at a given point in their schooling. Scores are reported based on how each student’s score compares with other students in the same grade from across the nation who took the test at about the same time in the school year. School administrators use grade level and school wide test results to help evaluate programs and make decisions about ways to optimize the use of educational resources.

Q. What are the limitations of standardized tests?
A. Test results can tell us a lot. But no important decision should ever be based on the results of a single test. Scores can be affected by something that happened before or during testing. To accurately evaluate a student, test scores should be considered as ONE valuable source of information, in addition to observations of parents, teachers, other staff, and doctors or specialists.

Q. How does RMCA utilize standardized test results?
A. In the past, we have used the results of SATs, in conjunction with teacher feedback, to evaluate particular curricula. For example, we made a shift with our reading instruction curriculum due to trends we noticed in our reading comprehension scores. Parents are provided with their student’s individual test results as well as school wide, summary results (such as those provided on the reverse of this page.)

Q. How can I help my child do his or her best on the SATs?
A. The following are a few suggestions for parents:
• Encourage your child to read. The easiest and best way to prepare your child for doing well on tests is to read often.
• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and provide good breakfasts during Test Week.
• Have your child dress in layers on test days. That way, feeling either too hot or too cold won’t be a distraction.
• Don’t be too anxious. Say things like, “This test is important. I know you will try hard and do your best.” Your confidence will be contagious.

Remember, a test is a one-time look at a child’s performance. All children have skills and knowledge that tests do not measure. A single test score does not tell you everything about your child.

 

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