If you are a homeschooling parent you may or may not give your child tests in general much less timed tests. Many homeschoolers do not see the benefit in giving tests to their children. I agree that a test is not the end all be all of intelligence or mastery over a subject. I was also a homeschooler who did not give or rely on tests to weigh the level of mastery achieved on a subject. Recently, I have decided to change my homeschool to include tests for my older children. Before this year I had only given spelling tests and all other material was not tested in the traditional sense. This year I am giving tests in every subject and each test will have a designated amount of time in which it must be completed.
If you attended school you are all too familiar with timed math tests. In fact, if you attended school you basically any test given, not solely the standardized test, had a time limit. When first taking timed tests many students get palms so sweaty they nearly drop their pencil and nerves so shot they cannot draw a straight line. As the student becomes accustomed to timed tests the level of anxiety diminishes or coping skills are incorporated.
Many homeschooled children are not required to take standardized tests nor have testing at home which may put them at a disadvantage if they attend high school or college. While I do not think it necessary to test or have timed tests in early grades, testing should be given in upper elementary school or junior high. If your child is to prepare for the ACT, SAT, Standardized Test or high school years, he must have good test taking skills and feel confident while taking an exam. Students who are more confident taking tests tend to score higher. Higher scores and concentration are the result of a student who has mastered taking timed tests throughout his junior high or high school years. Timed tests help a student not only focus but work more efficiently.
Tests may not be a good “fit” for your homeschool lifestyle but it is a challenge your child will face once he enters college. It is wise to prepare our children for what they will face once they graduate our homeschool whether it be to attend college or school.
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