The California Achievement Test,
Fifth Edition (CAT/5).
This achievement test comes in two forms, the CAT/5 Complete Battery (about 5 hours total testing time) or the shorter CAT/5 Survey (about 2 1/2 hours testing time). The shorter Survey is easier to administer and may ease test anxiety. The Survey might be better for a student with a short attention span, because each test subject can be completed in less than 20 minutes. Both forms include language, math, spelling, and optional Social Studies and Science tests which your state may or may not require. For more information about each of these forms, click on the “About CAT/5” tab at the very top of this web page.
What grade should you order?
Normally you will order the grade in which the student has been progressing during the past six months or so. For example: for a student recently starting the 4th grade, order a third grade test; for a 4th grader mid-way through the 4th grade curriculum, you would order a 4th grade test and so on.
When should you order?
After choosing your test grade and your test week, proceed next to place your order. Order at least 3 - 6 weeks ahead of your test week. Many schools and teachers order 8 -10 weeks ahead. This assures availability of supplies and your choice of test week.
No orders are taken by telephone, as signed agreement is required.
What you will receive from us:
With your order, you will receive:
1. A Student Test Booklet for each level you ordered
2. Directions for Administering Booklet(s)
3. Answer Sheet (Each test, for grades 1- 12, has a separate answer sheet for the student’s answers)
4. Suggested Time Schedule
5. “Step-by-Step” - our guide to help you administer the test
6. Your Responsibilities as the Examiner administering the tests.
By the end of your test week, all test materials are returned to us for scoring. Test results are usually mailed to you within 3 - 6 weeks.
Read these requirements carefully. You will be asked on the Order Form if you agree to them.
Test Agreement:...Read each item. The agreement must be signed on the order form by the home school teacher or the private school teacher.
1. I have read "About CAT/5" (normed: '91) and I understand the primary purpose of the test.
2. As the teacher, I'll be testing either a full-time home-schooled student or a private school student.
3. My homeschool complies with any local or state regulations. The test will be given by a person allowed by any state regulations.
4. Test materials will be kept in a secure place at all times. Test-takers will not be left alone with any test materials.
5. Tests will be administered in accordance with instructions. Tests for grades 1-12 are reusable & each test has a separate answer sheet.
6. Confidentiality of test contents will be maintained. Test materials will not be copied and copyright restrictions will be honored.
7. All test materials will be placed back in the mail, securely and in good condition, by the end of my test week.
8. I am responsible for the cost of postage when returning my test materials to TEA.
9. I am purchasing the service, not the test materials. I agree to rent (not buy) the test for the scheduled test week & then to return the test material without delay. If the test is not used, all materials are to be returned immediately.
10. Test materials have been previously used and will be used again by other students. Test materials for ALL grades are to be kept clean and free of any marks your students may have made. A charge is made for materials damaged and returned unusable.
11. Deadlines: Notify TEA if your test materials have not been delivered to you at least one week in advance of your test week, to provide time to trace your package. Notify TEA if you have not received test results within 6 weeks of returning your test materials. Any matters regarding test results must be addressed to T.E.A within 30 days of receipt of test results.
12.TEA cannot be responsible for shipping or scoring losses, or delays out of our control. Keep a photocopy of the completed Answer Sheet (never copy the actual test booklet).
13. New Policies as of July 2011: All tests are nonconsumable booklets which require students to mark answers on a separate answer sheet. The publisher, CTB McGraw-Hill is no longer scoring CAT/5 tests. Consequently, the CAT/5 no longer provides the Objective Performance Index (mastery levels). Test results are now computer generated, using the publisher’s norming statistics.
14. Partial refunds or future credit may be given on an individual basis. However once the order has been shipped, our service cannot provide a refund (because of clerical & shipping costs, restocking fees, and test security maintenance).
