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Understanding BJU Press testing for homeschool families

Learn about BJU Press Testing options for homeschool families, including testing formats and state acceptance.
Lisa Thorsen
Written byLisa Thorsen
3 min read
Key takeaways
  • BJU Press Testing provides standardized assessments like the Iowa Assessments and Stanford 10, widely accepted for homeschool compliance in most states
  • With over 30 years of experience, they offer flexible online testing options that eliminate the need for an approved administrator, making it easier for families to meet state requirements.

BJU Press Testing offers standardized assessments for homeschool families, providing recognized tests like the Iowa Assessments and Stanford 10. They allow flexible online or paper testing options, making it easy to comply with state requirements.

Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024).

What is BJU Press testing?

BJU Press Testing & Evaluation has been helping homeschool families for over 30 years. They’re one of the most trusted names in homeschool testing. They offer well-known achievement tests like the Iowa Assessments Form E for grades K-12 and Stanford 10 for grades 3-12. In October 2025, they updated their norms from Riverside Insights, so families get the latest student comparisons. You can choose to test online at home or use traditional paper tests, with flexible testing seasons to fit your schedule.

Testing options

You can take online tests on Mac, Windows, iPad, or Chromebook. Students log in during morning hours Eastern time. BJU Press handles the test administration, so you don't need to find an approved tester. The achievement tests take about 4-5 hours over two days, and students can go at their own pace through the subtests. For paper tests, an approved administrator with a bachelor's degree is needed, but this option suits some families who prefer the traditional way. Online results come in 5-7 business days, while paper test results take around 6 weeks.

State acceptance

Both the Iowa Assessments and Stanford 10 are widely accepted by states that require standardized testing for homeschoolers. These tests meet the rules in most states needing achievement tests. However, some states have specific agreements or restrictions on certain test forms. Always check with your state or school district to confirm that the test you choose is accepted. BJU Press testing specialists can help answer any questions about state requirements.

The bottom line

BJU Press Testing is a solid choice for homeschool families needing standardized assessments. With over 30 years of experience, updated norms, and flexible online testing, they make it easy to meet compliance. Testing from home without needing an approved administrator takes away a big hurdle for many families. While you’ll need to contact BJU Press directly for pricing, the convenience and support they provide usually make it worth it. They also have test preparation materials, though these are not available for students in publicly funded schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lisa Thorsen
Written by
Lisa Thorsen

Co-founder, BetterSchool

Lisa is the co-founder of BetterSchool and a homeschool mom of three. BetterSchool administers the largest independent homeschool community in the country — over 350,000 families across all 50 states.

When COVID hit, Lisa and her husband pulled their children out of school and hit the road. Homeschooling wasn't the plan — it was a necessity. But somewhere along the way, the family fell in love with it: the time together, the ability to tailor lessons to each child's interests, learning at their own pace, the freedom to travel, eating healthy on their own schedule, and the countless other benefits that come with homeschooling.

As they traveled, Lisa kept discovering incredible hands-on learning experiences that most homeschool families had no way of finding. She built BetterSchool to make it easy for every family to find and book the experiences that make learning come alive.

Through her community, Lisa has helped hundreds of thousands of parents navigate homeschooling, while also helping local businesses find and serve the homeschool community. She is the former managing partner of a law firm focused on business law and mergers and acquisitions — BetterSchool is her second technology startup. She holds a J.D. from California Western School of Law and a B.A. from Penn State.

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BJU Press: A homeschooling resourceUnderstanding achievement tests for homeschoolers

Table of Contents

  • What is BJU Press testing?
  • Testing options
  • State acceptance
  • The bottom line
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