Homeschool standardized testing: CAT, Iowa, Stanford, MAP and PASS explained, and which states require them

About a third of US states require homeschooled children to take a standardized test at some point, and many families in the other states test anyway, for a benchmark or for peace of mind. The tests themselves are cheap and easy to arrange; the confusion is over which one, when, whether the parent can administer it, and what to do with the score.

This guide covers the tests homeschoolers actually use, the states that require testing and what they accept, how to order a test and give it at the kitchen table, and how to read the results as information rather than a verdict.

Which states require homeschool testing

Requirements change; verify with your state's guide. As of September 2026, the states with a testing or assessment requirement for the main homeschool option include:

Arkansas: none since 2015. Colorado: test or evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. Florida: annual evaluation (test is one option). Georgia: test every three years from grade 3. Hawaii: grades 3, 5, 8, 10.
Iowa (if reporting option chosen), Louisiana (Home Study Program renewal option), Maine: annual test or portfolio review. Minnesota: annual test (results kept). New Hampshire: annual test or evaluation. New York: test in alternate years from grade 4, annually from 9.
North Carolina: annual nationally standardized test. North Dakota: grades 4, 6, 8, 10. Ohio: removed in 2024. Oregon: grades 3, 5, 8, 10. Pennsylvania: grades 3, 5, 8. South Carolina (Option 1 only). South Dakota: grades 4, 8, 11. Tennessee (independent option): grades 5, 7, 9. Vermont: annual assessment (test is one option). Virginia: annual test or evaluation. Washington: annual test or certified-teacher assessment. West Virginia: grades 3, 5, 8, 11.
No testing requirement: Texas, California (affidavit), Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts (district discretion), Rhode Island (district discretion), and most others.

The tests homeschoolers use

Test	Grades	Format	Who can administer	Approx. cost	Notes
California Achievement Test (CAT)	K–12	Paper or online, untimed options	Parent (most versions)	$25–$50	The most-ordered homeschool test: short, cheap, parent-administered, accepted almost everywhere it is nationally normed. Norms are older on some editions.
Iowa Assessments (ITBS)	K–12	Paper or online, timed	Bachelor's degree usually required to administer	$40–$70	Rigorous, current norms, widely accepted. Some suppliers require a qualified tester; others allow parents with a degree.
Stanford 10	K–12	Paper or online, untimed	Bachelor's degree usually required	$50–$80	Well regarded, untimed, detailed reports. Same administrator rules as Iowa.
MAP Growth (NWEA)	K–12	Online, adaptive, untimed	Parent, via a homeschool provider	$30–$60	Adaptive computer test with RIT scores; shows growth over time. Popular for families who test each spring and fall.
PASS (Personalized Achievement Summary System)	3–8	Paper, untimed	Parent	$40–$50	Designed for homeschoolers by Hewitt; places the child before testing. Accepted in most states that require a nationally normed test; check yours.
Terra Nova	K–12	Paper	Bachelor's degree usually required	$40–$70	Nationally normed alternative; less common among homeschoolers.
State test (e.g. PSSA, STAAR)	varies	At a school	School	Free	Some states let homeschoolers sit the public test; rarely required and rarely chosen.

How to order and give a test at home

Check what your state accepts: 'nationally standardized achievement test' is the usual wording, which the CAT, Iowa, Stanford, MAP, PASS and Terra Nova all satisfy. Some states specify the grade range or a minimum score (Virginia's 4th stanza, for example).
Order from a homeschool test supplier (Seton Testing, Academic Excellence, BJU Press Testing, Homeschool Boss for MAP, Hewitt for PASS). They handle administrator qualification: the CAT and PASS are parent-administered; Iowa and Stanford usually need a bachelor's degree or a proctor.
Choose paper or online. Online tests score instantly; paper tests are mailed back and scored in a few weeks. Order in March or April for a spring result.
Give it over two or three mornings at the kitchen table, following the script exactly. Do not teach to it; a week of light review of test format (bubbles, timing) is enough.
Keep the report with your records. In most states it is not submitted; in a few (New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania's portfolio) it goes to the district or evaluator.

How to read the scores

Percentile rank is the number that matters: a 65th percentile means the child scored higher than 65% of the norm group. Stanines (1–9) group percentiles into bands; the 4th stanine begins around the 23rd percentile. Grade-equivalent scores ('5.3') are widely misread: they mean the child scored what an average fifth grader in the third month would score on this test, not that the child is ready for fifth-grade work.

Look at the pattern, not the total. A child at the 80th percentile overall with a 30th in spelling has told you what to work on. A single low score after a bad morning is noise; the same low score two years running is signal. And remember the norm group is schooled children on a school calendar; homeschoolers who take the test in spring after a different sequence often show quirks that mean nothing.

Testing to place, not to prove

The most useful homeschool tests are the ones nobody requires: placement tests before a new program, and a quick check each term of what has stuck. Every major math and reading program publishes a free placement test; use it and place by skill rather than age. For a fast, free check by grade in reading and math, see the printable placement checks on our placement test page.

Plan it with Kuraplan

Homeschool testing FAQ

Do homeschoolers have to take standardized tests?

In about a third of US states, yes, at certain grades or annually, usually with alternatives such as a portfolio evaluation. In the rest, and in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, no. See the state list above and your state's guide.

What is the best standardized test for homeschoolers?

The CAT is the most-ordered because it is cheap, short and parent-administered. The Iowa and Stanford are more rigorous with current norms but usually need a degree-holding administrator. MAP is best for tracking growth twice a year. PASS is built for homeschoolers in grades 3–8.

Can a parent administer a homeschool standardized test?

For the CAT, PASS and MAP (through a homeschool provider), yes. For the Iowa and Stanford, most suppliers require the administrator to hold a bachelor's degree or use a proctor; some offer parent-administered online versions. Check the supplier's rules.

How much does homeschool testing cost?

Roughly $25–$80 per child per test. The CAT is the cheapest at about $25–$50; Iowa, Stanford and Terra Nova run $40–$80. Group testing through a co-op is often cheaper.

What score do homeschoolers need on a standardized test?

Most states with a requirement do not set a minimum; the test simply must be taken and kept. A few do: Virginia requires the 4th stanine (about the 23rd percentile) or an evaluation; Colorado, North Dakota and others set a percentile below which remediation or evaluation is required. Check your state.

Reviewed 2026-09-07. Requirements, fees and programs change; verify with the official source before acting.

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