Math Assessments for Students Entering High School

The eighth grade marks a period of transition for both students and parents. When a child enters grade eight, a parent begins to wonder if their math skills are up to par for high school and the PSATs. Home school parents who are considering entering their children into the public or private school system for high school have a lot to think about as well. Since their children have been taught at home, many home school parents are curious if they have introduced their students to all of the essential math skills. The best way to answer the questions and worries of parents and students is through a math assessment test.

Required Assessment Tests

If your eighth grader is currently enrolled in the public school system, then it is likely they will be administered an assessment test at the end of the year. More and more states are implementing required assessment tests into their public education system. Some of these tests are administered to each grade level, while some are designed for only certain grade levels; either way, most states administer these assessments to their eight graders. States have different policies regarding private and home school students participating in their assessment tests. However, many states have taken the stance that home school and private school students do not have the privilege to take these tests.

Preparation for the PSAT

While the PSAT is not required for most students, it is a valuable test for a child interested in attending college. The PSAT shows a student what the SAT and ACT tests will be like when they are applying to colleges. Second, the results of the PSAT tests are used to qualify students into the National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit Scholar program allows students to compete for scholarships and aids in the admission into difficult universities. The PSAT test is administered in the fall of each school year, adding to the importance of eighth grade students excelling in their math skills.

Online Math Assessment Tests

It is recommended for parents to have their children participate in a math assessment test before the end of the school year. Taking the test early in the eighth grade will allow students and parents to work together to strengthen any math skills that are lacking.

Online tutoring centers make math assessment tests easy for families to schedule and take. Parents schedule a time for their child to take the test, which can be completed from any computer with Internet access. The online tutoring math assessment tests measure students in all of the math fundamentals, letting the student and the parent to see where the child stands with their math skills. If the assessment test indicates the child is having difficulties with some of the math fundamentals, the center can design a tutoring program based around the eighth grader's needs. Online tutoring programs currently offer lessons for children in the third to eighth grades, so taking the assessment test at the beginning of the grade 8 is perfect timing for most families.