Homeschool Standardized Testing: Free Options, the CAT, and the ACT

Standardized testing for homeschoolers serves two distinct purposes: state compliance (where required) and college admissions. The tests that satisfy state requirements aren't always the same ones colleges care about, and the registration process for college-prep tests is different for homeschoolers than for students at traditional schools. Here's what you actually need to know.

Does Your State Require Testing?

Most states do not require standardized testing for homeschoolers. But several do, and the requirements vary significantly:

States with testing requirements: - Pennsylvania requires annual standardized testing at 3rd, 5th, 8th, and at least once in high school (or portfolio review as an alternative) - Florida requires annual evaluation — one option is standardized testing from the state's approved test list - New York requires annual assessments - Arkansas requires annual testing (which is why "intent to homeschool arkansas" is a related search — families wanting to comply need to understand both filing and testing) - Ohio, Maine, Georgia, and several others have testing requirements with specific grade levels and approved tests

If you're in a minimal-requirement state like Texas, Illinois, or California, no standardized testing is required to remain legally compliant as a homeschooler. Testing is optional and done for college prep purposes only.

Free Standardized Testing for Homeschoolers

Khan Academy SAT Prep (Free Practice Testing)

Khan Academy's free SAT prep program — developed in direct partnership with College Board — provides unlimited full-length practice tests with detailed scoring analysis. For college-bound students, this is the most valuable free testing resource available. Each practice test provides a scaled score (200–800 per section) equivalent to a real SAT score, so families can track readiness without paying for actual test registrations.

State Assessments (Where Offered Free)

In states where homeschoolers are permitted to participate in state standardized assessments at public schools — sometimes as optional, invited participants — the tests are free. The practical use is limited: state assessments (like the PARCC or SBAC) are designed to measure grade-level standards for public school accountability, not to generate scores useful for college admissions or portfolio evaluation.

CLEP Exams (Low Cost, Not Free)

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) exams cost approximately $90 each and are not free. However, they're worth mentioning as a cost-effective way for homeschoolers to earn college credit before enrollment. CLEP is accepted for credit at most state universities and community colleges. Elite private colleges rarely accept CLEP credits.

ACT Prep (Free via State-Funded Programs)

Several states pay for all 11th-grade students to take the ACT, including homeschoolers in those states. Wyoming, Colorado, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and several others have run statewide programs offering free ACT administration. Availability changes year to year — check your state education department's current offerings.

The California Achievement Test (CAT) for Homeschoolers

The California Achievement Test (CAT) is a norm-referenced academic achievement test that homeschool families use independently for portfolio documentation, academic assessment, or state compliance in states that accept it.

What the CAT measures: Reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. The test is designed to compare a student's performance to a national norming group — the result is a percentile rank (e.g., "75th percentile in math for 7th grade") rather than a letter grade.

How homeschoolers access the CAT: The CAT is commercially available through providers who are licensed to administer and score it for homeschoolers. You typically purchase a test administration through companies like: - Seton Home Study School — offers the CAT-E (CAT Abridged) testing service - BJU Press Testing & Evaluation — offers standardized testing services including the CAT - Family Learning Organization — administers normed tests to homeschool families

Costs are typically $25–$60 per student depending on the provider and grade level. The test is sent to your home, the student completes it under timed conditions, and it's mailed back for scoring. Results arrive in a few weeks.

Is the CAT useful for college admissions? Generally, no. The CAT is useful for state compliance portfolios and as a diagnostic tool for parents, but college admissions offices want SAT or ACT scores — not CAT results. The CAT is not a college admissions test and should not be substituted for SAT/ACT preparation.

States that accept the CAT for compliance: Florida's approved test list includes the CAT. Pennsylvania's list historically included the CAT through BJU Press. Always verify with your specific state's current approved test list before purchasing.

The ACT for Homeschoolers

The ACT is one of the two major college admissions tests (alongside the SAT) and is returning to required status at a growing number of universities after the test-optional years. Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, UT Austin, MIT, Yale, and others have reinstated testing requirements for the Class of 2026 and beyond.

Registration

Homeschoolers register for the ACT through the ACT website (act.org) exactly as any student would. You'll need: - Basic demographic information - High school information — use your homeschool name and state (no official school code is required; enter your homeschool information as the high school) - A testing center near you — the ACT website lists available test dates and testing centers

For the SAT, the universal homeschool high school code is 970000 when registering to ensure scores go to your home address. Confirm the current ACT equivalent on the ACT website, as policies are occasionally updated.

ACT Score Requirements and Benchmarks

The ACT is scored 0–36. For reference: - National average: approximately 19–20 - Typical state university minimum for scholarship consideration: 24–26 - NCAA sliding scale minimum (D1): approximately 68 EQSS (combined ACT/SAT score derived from composite) - Merit scholarship triggers at many universities: 30+ composite - PSAT National Merit: Based on PSAT scores (separate from ACT), but highly competitive ACT scores often correlate with National Merit recognition

For homeschoolers specifically, a strong ACT score is more valuable than for traditionally schooled students because it provides external validation of the parent-created GPA. An admissions officer looking at a 4.0 from "Smith Family Homeschool" will view it very differently if accompanied by a 33 ACT composite versus no test score at all.

Test-Optional vs. Test-Required: What Homeschoolers Should Actually Do

"Test-optional" is not "test-optional for homeschoolers." Approximately 13–15% of colleges that describe themselves as test-optional still explicitly require or strongly encourage test scores from homeschooled applicants, because the scores serve as external validation that the parent-issued transcript doesn't provide on its own.

Even at schools where tests are genuinely optional for all students, submitting a strong score is almost always advantageous for a homeschooler. The risk of submitting a weak score is real; the risk of not submitting any score when you have a strong one is unnecessary.

Practical rule: If your student's score is at or above the median for the schools they're targeting, submit it. If it's significantly below, and the school is genuinely test-optional for all applicants including homeschoolers, you may consider not submitting — but only after confirming the school's specific policy for homeschool applicants.

PSAT and National Merit for Homeschoolers

Homeschoolers cannot register for the PSAT online. They must contact local high schools directly — typically in early summer — to secure a seat for the October PSAT administration. Contact several schools; not all will accommodate outside students, and space is limited.

The PSAT high school code for homeschoolers: use the state-specific homeschool code if your state provides one, or the general code 990000.

National Merit recognition requires a PSAT score above the state cutoff in junior year. For homeschoolers who achieve a commended or semifinalist score, the recognition and associated scholarship opportunities are significant — and fully available to homeschool students.

Building a Testing Strategy

The testing sequence that works well for most homeschooled college-bound students:

9th grade: PSAT 8/9 (optional, for practice) 10th grade: PSAT 10 (practice) + begin ACT/SAT practice via Khan Academy 11th grade: PSAT (for National Merit) + first real SAT or ACT attempt 11th–12th grade: Retake if needed; aim to have scores submitted before December of senior year for Early Action deadlines

The United States University Admissions Framework includes detailed guidance on the test-optional landscape for homeschoolers, including which colleges require scores from homeschoolers even when listed as test-optional, and how to use AI tools to accelerate course description writing alongside testing preparation.

Your student's test scores — or the absence of them — will be one of the most scrutinized parts of a homeschool college application. Planning the testing timeline early, and using free resources like Khan Academy's prep program, turns this from a last-minute crisis into a manageable process.