Navigating Annual Standardized Assessments for Homeschooled Students in Grade 8
May 17, 2023
Enlightium Academy
May 17, 2023
Enlightium Academy
For homeschooled students in grade 8, annual assessments are an important part of tracking progress. Not only do they provide feedback on academic strengths and weaknesses, but they can also offer insights into college readiness and career paths. This guide will explore the different tests available to homeschooled students in grade 8, including the PSAT 8/9, the CLT8, and the Iowa Complete. With this information in hand, parents can make informed decisions about which assessments best align with their student’s academic goals.
Standardized tests are assessments typically taken by high school students; however, students in grade 8 can take a standardized assessment to prepare for the rigor and content of the SAT, ACT, and other tests. 8th-grade students’ test scores are not submitted to colleges but can be reviewed by the student, the student’s family, and the student’s school to see how well the student tests and where there are areas for improvement.
Additionally, many states require students to take a standardized assessment. You can check Enlightium’s state blogs or HSLDA.org to see if your state requires 8th-grade students to take a standardized test.
Students in grade 8 can consider three testing options:
All three of these assessments can help parents gain insight into their child’s academic strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for high school.
Writing assessments are typically included in annual assessments. These types of tests measure a student’s ability to craft compelling essays or stories through analysis of literature or other related topics. Writing can be tested in multiple genres such as persuasive writing, creative writing, poetry analysis, or expository essay prompts. To prepare for this component of an assessment it is important to make sure your student understands basic grammar rules and has practice responding to different types of prompts ahead of time.
Math assessments often include questions from all areas of mathematics including algebraic equations, geometry, data analysis, and probability questions. When preparing for a math assessment it can be helpful to review formulas and practice applying them to solve problems independently. Additionally, having some knowledge of statistics and real-world application problems can be beneficial when taking any type of math test.
With an understanding of each type of exam available, parents can work with their child to ensure they are best prepared by setting realistic goals and expectations prior to test day.
Furthermore, staying informed about each specific requirement associated with each assessed subject area will help families make more informed decisions when selecting which tests best suit their student’s academic goals.
Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.
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Don’t just take our word for it—listen to the stories of families who’ve chosen Enlightium and found success. Our community of over 5,000 online students speaks to the strength of our program and the profound impact it has on our students’ lives.
This was our first year with Enlightium Academy and I love it for my daughter! She has grown so much spiritually and academically! The weight of having to do it all has been lifted since I have 3 small children as well. We feel supported in our homeschool life!
This program is really focused on a good education for your kids.
The ability to adapt to our child’s learning challenges made for a smooth transition bringing joy that she is actually learning now and retaining the knowledge. We can not wait to tackle another year!
Love the curriculum. The teachers are wonderful and caring. Any technical issues are resolved almost immediately and the billing department has excellent customer service
This was our first year with Enlightium Academy and I love it for my daughter! She has grown so much spiritually and academically! The weight of having to do it all has been lifted since I have 3 small children as well. We feel supported in our homeschool life!
This program is really focused on a good education for your kids.
The ability to adapt to our child’s learning challenges made for a smooth transition bringing joy that she is actually learning now and retaining the knowledge. We can not wait to tackle another year!
Love the curriculum. The teachers are wonderful and caring. Any technical issues are resolved almost immediately and the billing department has excellent customer service
This education option has blessed our lives in so many ways. We will forever be grateful to Enlightium Academy.
Enlightium academy has helped me so much in the homeschooling of my son. They have worked with our scheduling and been there with answers to any questions we've had. They have made this a wonderful experience.
I love the curriculum given to my kids and the teachers are very helpful. My kids are making way better grades with this program then they did in public school.
Enlightium Academy ended up being everything I was looking for. It offers a good, flexible curriculum that truly accommodates my schedule without sacrificing learning. Most importantly, they teach the Bible in such an amazing way. It’s just perfect—I don’t regret being part of this school for a moment.
This education option has blessed our lives in so many ways. We will forever be grateful to Enlightium Academy.
Enlightium academy has helped me so much in the homeschooling of my son. They have worked with our scheduling and been there with answers to any questions we've had. They have made this a wonderful experience.
I love the curriculum given to my kids and the teachers are very helpful. My kids are making way better grades with this program then they did in public school.
Enlightium Academy ended up being everything I was looking for. It offers a good, flexible curriculum that truly accommodates my schedule without sacrificing learning. Most importantly, they teach the Bible in such an amazing way. It’s just perfect—I don’t regret being part of this school for a moment.