Free Standardized Testing for Homeschool: Options by State and Grade

Standardized testing is one of the most misunderstood aspects of homeschooling. Some parents assume they must test their children annually because that is what public schools do. Others do not realize that their state legally requires annual testing and skip it unknowingly. And plenty of families want to test voluntarily but do not want to pay for an expensive proctored exam.

This guide covers which states require standardized testing, what free testing options exist, and how to approach testing if you are in a state that leaves the decision to you.

Do You Actually Have to Test? It Depends on Your State

Standardized testing requirements fall into several categories:

No testing required (most states): The majority of U.S. states — including Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, and many others — do not require home school students to take standardized tests at any grade level. Testing is entirely at the parent's discretion.

Annual testing required: Some states mandate that homeschool students be tested each year. States with this requirement include:

• Georgia: Annual testing by a standardized test, portfolio assessment, or evaluation by a certified teacher is required (parent's choice of method)
• South Carolina: Annual testing required, results kept by the parent
• North Carolina: Annual nationally normed standardized testing required for grades 3, 6, and 9; parents administer and retain scores
• Arkansas: Annual testing required, results submitted to the school district
• Pennsylvania: Annual standardized testing or portfolio evaluation required, with results reviewed by a superintendent or licensed evaluator

Portfolio or evaluation in lieu of testing: Several states (Virginia, Florida) allow parents to choose between standardized testing and an alternative like portfolio review by a qualified evaluator. In practice, many families in these states choose portfolio evaluation to avoid the stress of formal testing.

If you are in Missouri, no standardized testing is required at any level. You maintain records of your child's progress (test grades you administer yourself, written evaluations, or portfolio samples), but you never submit them to the state or school district. The Missouri Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the record-keeping requirements in detail.

Free Standardized Testing Options for Homeschoolers

Khan Academy SAT Practice

Cost: Free Khan Academy partners with the College Board to offer free official SAT practice for high school students. While this is not a full standardized achievement test in the traditional sense, it provides norm-referenced feedback on math and reading comprehension that can serve as a useful benchmark. For families who want a free assessment of where a high school student stands relative to peers, this is the most accessible option.

State Testing Through Public Schools (Vary by State)

In some states, homeschool students can participate in state standardized testing alongside public school students at no cost. Requirements vary:

• Texas: Homeschool students are not required to test and cannot participate in state STAAR testing
• Florida: Homeschool students enrolled in a school district's homeschool program may take Florida standardized assessments through the district
• California: Homeschool students do not have access to state tests unless enrolled in a public school charter or independent study program

Check with your local school district. Policies on whether homeschool students may voluntarily participate in state testing vary significantly and sometimes change year to year.

HSLDA Free Testing Access (Members Only)

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) provides access to the Iowa Assessment at a reduced or no additional cost to members. HSLDA membership costs around $130/year and includes access to testing, legal assistance, and educational resources. For families who would otherwise purchase the Iowa Assessment separately, this can represent good value.

California Achievement Test (CAT) — Lower-Cost Option

The CAT (specifically the Spectrum Edition or CAT/6) is available from several testing services at prices ranging from $20 to $50 per student. While not free, it is one of the more affordable norm-referenced standardized tests available to homeschoolers without proctoring requirements. Brigham Young University (BYU) Independent Study has offered it, as have services like CAT Testing and Seton Testing.

Iowa Assessment — Available Through Testing Services

The Iowa Assessment (formerly the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, ITBS) is the most widely used standardized test among homeschoolers. It is norm-referenced against a national population of public school students and covers reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science. Several organizations provide it for $20-$50:

• Seton Testing Services — popular with Catholic homeschoolers, Iowa Assessment at reasonable cost
• BJU Press Testing — Iowa Assessment through a submission and scoring service
• Thurber's Testing — mail-in testing, no proctoring required in most states

In states that require annual testing, the Iowa Assessment meets the requirement in virtually all cases.

Free Online Assessments (Not Norm-Referenced)

Several free online platforms offer assessments that can help you identify gaps in your child's learning, though these are not norm-referenced standardized tests:

• Khan Academy: Adaptive math and reading assessments by grade level
• IXL: Diagnostic assessment for math (limited free access); subscription required for full diagnostic
• MAP Growth from NWEA: Not free, but many families ask their local public school if the child can test as a community participant — policies vary widely
• Standardized Test Practice on Khan Academy: Free SAT, LSAT, and GMAT prep, useful for older students

Why Some Homeschoolers Test Voluntarily

Even in states with no testing requirement, some families choose to test annually for legitimate reasons:

Academic benchmarking: A norm-referenced test tells you where your child stands relative to the national population of students the same age. This is information you cannot get from grades you assign yourself.

Identifying gaps: A child who is strong in reading but scoring at the 40th percentile in mathematics computation signals a specific gap that the curriculum may not be addressing.

College admission documentation: Some colleges request standardized test scores from homeschool applicants as part of portfolio review, particularly if the applicant lacks a traditional transcript. An Iowa Assessment score from grades 9-11 provides objective documentation.

Motivating students: Some children respond positively to external benchmarks and work harder knowing an outside assessment is coming.

Peace of mind: Some parents feel more confident in their teaching when an outside measure confirms the child is progressing appropriately.

When Testing Works Against You

Not everyone should test voluntarily. Reasons to skip or delay testing:

Different developmental timelines: Homeschooled children often develop at different rates than institutional school norms assume. A child who is reading two years "behind" grade level may be completely on track for their own developmental trajectory. A bad score on a standardized test designed for classroom-paced learners can create unnecessary anxiety without actionable information.

Test anxiety: For children with anxiety, introducing a timed, formal test environment can do more harm than good if the results are not required for any legal or college admission purpose.

Misaligned curriculum: If your curriculum does not follow standard scope and sequence (e.g., a Charlotte Mason approach that covers ancient history in grade 5 rather than grade 4, as most state curricula assume), standardized tests aligned to public school scope and sequence will reflect apparent gaps that are not real deficits.

The result cannot change what you do: If you will not change your approach regardless of the score, the test serves no purpose.

A Note for Missouri Families

Missouri does not require standardized testing at any grade level. Your home school's required evaluations — one of the three record types you must maintain under RSMo §167.012 — do not need to be formal standardized tests. They can be:

• Subject-specific tests and quizzes you administer and score yourself
• Written narrative assessments of your child's progress in each subject area
• Annual qualitative reviews you write yourself documenting observable academic growth

The requirement is that evaluations exist and are documented, not that they come from an outside testing body. If you do choose to test voluntarily, the Iowa Assessment or California Achievement Test works well. The results are yours to keep — you do not submit them to anyone.

If you are still in the process of withdrawing from a Missouri school district, the first step is getting the withdrawal letter right, not deciding which test to use. The Missouri Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the withdrawal process, the required record types under Missouri law, and a simple logging system for tracking your child's progress from day one.

See more United States homeschool guides →