Frequently Asked Questions - Paper CAT
| • Online CAT | • Paper CAT | ||
| • TestPoint™ | • Recommendation Service | ||
| • Why we still use the 1970 edition CAT |
Paper CAT
Thank you for considering our paper-based 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? Please read Why we still use the 1970 edition CAT to learn about this. |
| 2. | What is the difference between the online and paper CAT tests? The original 1970 CAT tests have been placed into a digitized format digitized 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 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 paper-based CAT to assess your student’s academic progress, please consider the following:
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| 6. | What subjects are covered in the paper-based CAT? The subjects on the paper-based CAT are reading, language, and math. |
| 7. | How many sections are there? Level 1 has 10 sections, Levels 2 and 3 have 11 sections, and Levels 4 and 5 have 9 sections. |
| 8. | How long does it take to complete the 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. |
| 9. | Once I receive paper-based CAT materials, do I have to take the test immediately? You do not have to take the test immediately. 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. | How will my results be sent to me? Results for the paper-based CAT will be mailed to you. We will send an explanation letter, the results, and answer sheet. If your student took the Level 1 (2nd grade) or Level 2 (3rd grade) CAT, we will return the booklet to you. If you also ordered the recommendation service for your child, we will delay sending the results to you until the recommendation report is complete. |
| 11. | How long do you store paper-based CAT results and how long will I have access to my results? We have stored the paper-based CAT results since 2000. Therefore, any past test results since that time will always be available to customers. |
| 12. | What should I do if I need to obtain past results? Contact Christian Liberty Press for a copy of your student’s past results, and we will mail the results directly to you. |
| 13. | Who will have access to my results? Only selected Christian Liberty staff members will have access to results. |
| 14. | Does the 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. |
| 15. | Will this test work for special needs children? The paper-based CAT is not designed for special needs children. |
| 16. | How soon after completing the CAT will I receive my results? Please allow a week for processing the results once we receive them from you. We will send them to you by first-class mail. |
| 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. | If after ordering the paper-based 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 the Christian Liberty Academy School System (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 Achievement Testing Level than the one he or she originally took, we will NOT deduct the cost of the test from your student’s tuition fee. Please use the CAT Level Chart below to determine if you are eligible for a refund when enrolling your child with CLASS.
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| 19. | May a home school group or school make a bulk purchase of the paper-based CAT test? Yes, we allow group or bulk purchases of the paper-based CAT test. In fact, if the group or school buys 150 or more tests, the price for each paper-based CAT will drop from $25 to $22. Group purchases cannot be made through our Web site. Call us at (800) 348-0899 and press 6, or e-mail us at custserv@christianlibertypress.com to make the needed arrangements. |