The Stanford Achievement Test, also known as Stanford 10, is a standardized test that measures student achievement in subjects like reading and math. It's used to assess performance in elementary and secondary education, but it's not the same as the SAT for college admission.
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 the Stanford Achievement Test?
The Stanford Achievement Test Series, or Stanford 10, is a standardized test from Pearson Education. It's been developed over a century and was last updated with new norms in 2018. This test measures how well students do in reading, math, language arts, spelling, science, and social studies. Just to clarify, the Stanford 10 is not the same as the SAT college admissions test. They are very different.
Subjects and structure
The Stanford 10 covers core subjects like Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Language, and Spelling. If you choose the complete battery, it also includes Listening Comprehension (up to Grade 8), Science, and Social Science. There are three options for the test:
- Complete Battery: Takes 4.5-5.5 hours over two days and includes all subjects.
- Basic Battery: Excludes science and social studies.
- Abbreviated Battery: Lasts 2.75-3.5 hours and leaves out listening. Most homeschool families pick either the complete or abbreviated battery based on how much time they have and their state's rules.
Stanford 10 vs. other tests
One big plus of the Stanford 10 is that it can be untimed, making it great for students who need a little extra time. It gives more detailed reports than the CAT, which helps parents see where their kids excel and where they may need help. The Iowa Assessments are timed and require a bachelor's degree to administer, while the Stanford 10 can be taken online without special credentials. Plus, the Stanford 10 tests listening skills through Grade 8, while Iowa only tests it through Grade 3. Iowa does allow for testing multiple grades at once, which could be important for families with several kids.
Testing windows and norms
The Stanford 10 uses two testing windows: Spring norms (April 1 - July 31) and Fall norms (August 1 - December 31). If you test in October, you'll get fall norm comparisons. Spring norms show how students compare at the end of their grade year, while fall norms compare them at the start. This difference is key when you read the results. The 2018 norms are up-to-date, making it easier to compare your child to today's students.
The bottom line
For homeschool families, the Stanford 10 is a trusted, detailed assessment option. It's particularly good for kids who do better with untimed tests. You can take it online through various providers, and it offers more insights than simpler tests. The cost is around $45-60, which is reasonable for standardized testing. If your state requires testing and your child tends to work slowly, the Stanford 10 is worth looking into.
