FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Index
| • Online CAT | • Paper CAT | ||
| • TestPoint™ | • Recommendation Service | ||
| • Why we still use the 1970 edition CAT | • Apparel Size Chart |
Online CAT
Thank you for considering our online California Achievement Test (CAT) testing service. We trust that the following will be of help to you in selecting one of our three testing services.
| 1. |
Why does Christian Liberty use the 1970 edition of the California Achievement Test? |
| 2. | What is the difference between the online and paper CAT tests? The original 1970 CAT tests have been placed into a digitized format for online presentation. The content of the online CAT is as close to the paper test as possible. |
| 3. | What is the primary difference between the CAT—both the paper and online versions—and the TestPoint exam? The CAT is an achievement test, although it has also been used for placement purposes for over twenty years by the Christian Liberty Academy School System (CLASS) home education program and for the recommendation service of Christian Liberty Press. TestPoint is designed for use as a placement test. |
| 4. | What is the difference between a placement test and an achievement test? Placement testing is used to help find out whether a student has sufficient knowledge to enter a particular grade level. The results could also be used to determine what materials should be used by a student within a grade level. An achievement test is used to determine the general skill or knowledge level attained by a student regardless of grade level placement. Its purpose is to evaluate what a student has learned over a period of time. |
| 5. | How can I determine which grade level to use if ordering the CAT: at the beginning or at end of the school year? If using the online CAT for placement purposes, you should select the grade level the student will be entering. This can help you determine what books to use with the student or even if the student is ready for the projected grade level. This is particularly important if you are also ordering our curriculum recommendation service. The CAT is scored as if being given at the beginning of a grade level. If you are using the online CAT to assess your student’s academic progress, please consider the following:
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| 6. | What subjects are covered in the online CAT? The subjects on the online CAT are the same as the paper version—reading, language, and math. |
| 7. | How many sections are there? The online CAT tests have the same number of sections as the paper tests. Level 1 has 10 sections, Levels 2 and 3 have 11 sections, and Levels 4 and 5 have 9 sections. |
| 8. | How quickly will I receive the registration e-mail after ordering an online CAT for my student? You will receive the registration e-mail, with a license key, within one business day after ordering an online CAT. |
| 9. | Once I receive the license key, do I have to take the test immediately? You do not have to take the test immediately because online CAT licenses NEVER expire. However, bear in mind that the CAT’s usefulness will decline markedly if you wait, for example, several months to give the test to your child. |
| 10. | Can I log in, review the content of the online CAT, and log out, then have my student take the test later? You will not be penalized for logging in with the provided authorization code. Bear in mind, however, that the online CAT sections are timed. As soon as a "start test" button is selected, your student should be present and ready to take the section. Once a test section is begun, the timer starts and there is no pausing. The timer begins as soon as the student answers the first question or attempts to look at other questions. The timer will then begin to count down, and cannot be stopped. After the time expires, the section will be scored and will no longer be accessible. |
| 11. | Will my student be able to answer questions in a section in the online CAT when the time for that section expires? No. Once the time expires for a section, your child will no longer be able to see or answer any further questions in that section. He will be directed to the "finish and grade" page. |
| 12. | Can a student exit the test when a section is completed and go back to it later? No. If a student chooses to leave a section to move on to another, the timer is still running and will eventually expire. He should finish as much as possible and continue working on each section until completion or time runs out. |
| 13. | Is my student required to complete the entire online CAT in one sitting? No, we have included recommended breaks in the authorization code e-mail. You may, of course, use your discretion at the amount of time per break as well if another break is needed to stretch, use the restroom, etc. You should follow the same protocol as you would with the paper-based CAT. To clarify, each section is timed, but there is no timer in between sections. Once a section is finished you may break as long as needed or move right along into the next timed section. |
| 14. | How long does it take to complete the online CAT? The length of time to complete the CAT varies among the five levels. In general, however, they will take between two and three hours to complete. The time to complete the CAT will also vary depending upon the length of the break(s) taken by the student. |
| 15. | Will my results be e-mailed to me? Results will be e-mailed in HTML format. Once you receive the results, we suggest that you print out a copy for your records and save a copy to your hard drive. |
| 16. | How soon after completing the online CAT will I receive my results? Online CAT tests will be scored immediately after all of the sections are completed. Within a few moments, an e-mail with these results will be generated and sent to the parent/teacher. |
| 17. | In what format will my child’s online CAT scores be reported? CAT scores are reported in terms of grade equivalents, stanines, and percentiles. |
| 18. | How long do you store results online and how long will I have access to my results? The online CAT results will always be available to you at www.tespoint.net. An online database stores the online CAT results, past and present. If you are unable to access them online for any reason, contact Christian Liberty. We will e-mail or mail the results directly to you. |
| 19. | What should I do if I need to obtain past results? If you need to obtain a copy of your child’s past TestPoint results, you have two choices.
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| 20. | Who will have access to my results? Only selected Christian Liberty administrators and High Ground Solutions personnel will have access to results. |
| 21. | Does the online CAT meet my state requirements? Many states accept the 1970 edition of the California Achievement Test as a suitable achievement test. However, we make no guarantees that your state will do so. You will need to check with your local school authorities or with your statewide home education organization for further information. The online CAT test has the same content as the paper version, except that it is digitized for online presentation. Therefore, if your state accepts the paper version of the 1970 CAT, then it should also accept the online CAT |
| 22. | Will this test work for special needs children? The online CAT is not designed for special needs children. |
| 23. | What are the system requirements for the online CAT testing service? It is imperative that you have a high speed Internet connection if you wish to use the online CAT testing service. If you only have a dial-up Internet connection, you should order our paper-based CAT testing service. In addition, if you need online CAT tests for second grade (Level 1) or third grade (Level 2), you will need to make sure you have Flash player installed. If you do not, the registration e-mail for these online CAT tests has directions on how to install the free software. You may use either the Windows or Macintosh operating system on your computer; the operating system is irrelevant. However, you will have to download Safari web browser to be able to use the online CAT testing service. |
| 24. | What do I do if I am having a problem with Internet speed or connectivity while taking the TestPoint exam? First, contact your local Internet provider to determine if there is anything wrong with your local network. If your local Internet provider cannot resolve the issue, you should contact Christian Liberty Press at custserv@christianlibertypress.com or (800) 348-0899 (press 6). We will provide you with a full refund. You can then order our paper CAT testing service. |
| 25. | If after ordering the online CAT testing service, I decide to enroll my child in Christian Liberty Academy School System (CLASS), does my student need to retake the online CAT? If you decide to enroll your student with CLASS within six months after receiving the test results, the cost of the test will be deducted from your student’s tuition fee. However, if you enroll your student in a grade level using a different test than the one he or she originally took, we will NOT deduct the test cost from your student’s tuition fee. |
| 26. | May a home school group or school make a bulk purchase of the online CAT test? No. Each online CAT license must be purchased separately for an individual student. |