High School Testing

high school testing

High school testing includes two main categories of test–the annual achievement test that is required by the NC homeschool law and tests for college. The tests for college are two main types–those for admission and those for college credit.

High School Testing: Achievement Tests

Any homeschooled student is required to take a nationally standardized achievement test annually. By law, this test must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics. The most commonly used achievement tests are the TerraNova, California Achievement Test, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, the Stanford Achievement Test, and the Metropolitan Achievement Test, and Woodcock Johnson. For more information on the the nationally standardized achievement tests see our Testing and Testing Services page.

One college admission test, the ACT with Essay, has been approved by the NC Division of Non-Public Education to fulfill the state’s annual testing requirement.

High School Testing: For College Admission

  • The PSAT is usually taken in the tenth or eleventh grades and is offered once a year in October. Juniors must take the test to be eligible for National Merit Scholarships. Other scholarships may also be based on these scores. Unlike the SAT, local high schools can control who takes the test. To register, contact a local high school (private schools are more likely to be cooperative) in late August or early September to ask if your student can take the test with them. For information on which schools give the test, call 609-771-7070. The PSAT code for NC is 99 34 99.
  • The SAT is a basic test of writing, math, verbal skills and reasoning, and is used to measure the students potential success in college. Most colleges require either the SAT or the ACT for admission. The test is offered seven times a year and can be taken innumerable times. Colleges usually accept the highest scores from tests taken at different times. It is commonly taken in the spring of the junior year. You register for this test on the College Board website and not with the individual high schools. The SAT code for homeschool is 970000.
  • The ACT, along with the SAT, is one of the two admission tests required by most colleges for admission. All of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina accept SAT or ACT scores in support of an application for admission. The UNC System encourages homeschool students to submit both scores. You register for this test at the ACT website and not with the individual high schools. The ACT homeschool code is 969-999.
  • The CLT (the Classic Learning Test) is a new college admissions test. It was developed as an improved college entrance exam, taking advantage of contemporary technology and testing students on more engaging material. Additionally, students receive test results within 24 hours (except in the case of the new remote-proctored CLT), and can share their scores and essays with as many colleges as they choose. There is a growing list of colleges that accept this test, mainly Christian colleges.

High School Testing: For College Credit

  • AP (Advanced Placement) tests results are used by colleges to waive college classes and award credit for those classes. The tests, which are created by the College Board and primarily given at high schools in the spring, are usually given to students who have taken advanced placement courses, but the courses are not a requirement. Detailed AP course descriptions, teacher’s guides and sample tests may be purchased. Contact your local high school counselor’s office for information on registering for these tests or call 888-CALL-4-AP. (Private schools are more likely to be cooperative.) Check with your prospective college to see which tests are accepted.
  • CLEP (College Level Examination Program) exams are designed to give students college credit by examination. These tests are created by the College Board and are primarily given at colleges and community colleges. Check with your prospective college to find out which tests they accept and what their administration schedule is.

Test for High School Diploma

GED (The Graduation Equivalency Diploma) is a test taken in lieu of high school graduation. Since homeschoolers can issue a diploma, they do not need to use this test. Although some feel it brings closure to high school, it can carry a stigma of being a high school drop out and may hurt future chances of getting into college or the armed forces.

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