Does Terra Nova scores correlate with the Scholastic Acheivements Test?

[joeokw]

My son is in 8th grade he just got back his terra nova scores.. I was wondering if anyone out there has noticed their kids percentile scores of these tests are similair.. I know the terra nova tests for what is learned school and the SAT's tests for abstract skils.. just wondering

Thank you

 

[nativetxn]

I've never heard of the Terra Nova test. Just bumping this up for you.

 

[FOJMO]

I've never heard of Terra Nova either. Here in Florida, we have what they call the FCAT test (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) to assess student achievement of the high order cognitive skills in Reading, Writing, Math and Science.

All students in Grades 3-10 take the FCAT Reading and Math of each year. All students in Grades 4, 8 and 10 take FCAT Writing and FCAT Science is administered to students in Grades 5, 8 and 10.

The schools are graded on the results of these tests.

Is this anything like the Terra Nova?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Well I've at least heard of the Terra Nova, but I don't know the answer to your question. Our school discontinued Fall Terra Nova testing this year in favor of a new test that is supposed to be a predictor of how the student will perform on the end of year State Assessment testing.

You are right in that the tests are designed for completely different purposes. Also keep in mind that when a school gives a Terra Nova test, they are testing the entire student population.

The SAT/ACT type tests however are generally given to college bound students (or hopeful college bound) students. Some of the lower scoring students will never take the SAT/ACT tests, so the population of test takers will generally have higher grades and be higher scoring students as a whole than with the Terra Nova. So --- I don't think you can compare the Percentile scores of the two tests.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I'm not familiar with the Terra Nova tests, but if they test what is learned in school, they would be similiar to the ACT tests.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I'm a BSI teacher who often utilizes the Terranova scores to determine if a child needs Basic skills. I also administer the test! The terranova test are test that rate knowledge and content along with writing skills, abstract thinking and problem solving(to some capacity). In NJ, we also offer ASK and GEPA which are even more geared to abstract thinking and opened ended questions. I think the company that created the terranova test has purposely geared the test to evaluate things other than isolated skills and to make the students think!

 

[joeokw]

thanks all... just a stab in the dark.. I gave the old college try to this question...I will find out soon anyway withe PSAT's