School Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the Prepare an Order section for help preparing an order.

Terra Nova Test Coordinator Manual (Use this to prepare your order, plan testing, test, and return tests for scoring.)    Click here if you need to download a free pdf reader.

Q:  Why do I need to test my students each year?

A:  Annual achievement testing provides a basis for measuring achievement year to year to determine the academic growth of students.  Comparison with national norms, indicates if students are performing below average, within the average range, or above average.  Evaluation of test results aids in setting realistic academic goals and expectations for each student.  Testing identifies weak areas needing remediation.  Also, test scores provide a self-evaluation for the school to assess the academic excellence of their program.

Q:  What is the benefit of administering an aptitude test?

A:  The optional Test of Cognitive Skills (TCS) is a series of cognitive ability tests designed to assess the academic aptitude of students.  The TCS indicates POTENTIAL for achievement and the Terra Nova measures ACTUAL achievement.  When administered in combination, the score shows where the student would be expected to place on the National Percentile Scale based upon cognitive ability (IQ) and indicates if a student is working at his potential.  The TCS also works with CAT5 testing.

Q:  What is the difference in achievement tests, i.e. CAT/5, CTBS Terra Nova, Stanford, Iowa, Metropolitan?

A:  All of the above are nationally normed achievement tests and measure a student’s acquired knowledge and skills in one or more of the content areas common to school curricula (reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies).

Q:  I have always used the Stanford test but last year the company instituted a policy requiring a school to be accredited in order to purchase the Stanford Achievement or Metropolitan Tests.  What options do you recommend?

A:  CTB McGraw Hill is the most reliable source for Christian schools that do not have state recognized accreditation.  CTB is the largest publisher of testing materials in the world and welcomes the opportunity to serve all educational markets.

Q:  What achievement test battery do you recommend?

A:  The CTBS Terra Nova Plus 1^st Edition provide the most comprehensive test results to identify student mastery levels and educational planning data.

Q:  When is the best time to test?

A:  The ideal testing window is March and April.  Materials needed to be ordered at least 30 days prior to test dates.  Reminder:  The course of study does not need to be completed before administering the achievement test.  Scoring is adjusted to the month the test is administered.

Q:  How do I know which test level to order?

A:  Test levels are determined by chronological grade levels; therefore, order the test level corresponding to the student’s current grade level.

Q:  What accommodations can be made for students with special needs functioning below chronological grade level?

A:   Students may be tested off level, but if a student is functioning more than one year off level the student test should be coded ungraded.

Q:  When will I receive results? 

A:  Allow 6-8 weeks for processing and scoring.