SCA students participate in taking standardized tests each year. We use the SAT, or Stanford Achievement Test, which was originally developed over 80 years ago. Standardized tests help us to know how individual students and grades are performing compared to other students in classrooms across the United States. Standardized testing also helps us to evaluate our curricula, methods, and teachers, so we can make improvements to our school programs.

We want our students to be relaxed and as prepared as possible when they do their testing, so we recommend the following things:

1. Get rest. Tired brains do not think as well as rested one. Be sure to set a bed time and stick to it during testing days.
2. Eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of fluids. Breakfast helps to get a student’s metabolism moving, and it helps to stimulate the mind to start waking up to think through the day. Students who do not eat and drink enough fluids will find themselves getting tired and losing focus earlier than necessary.
3. Help ease testing concerns. Some students get nervous or fearful about taking The subjects the SAT tests on will cover areas, such as Reading, Mathematics, Language, Spelling, Listening (K-9th), Science, and Social Science. Encourage children to do their best. There will be questions asked that are above the present grade level of the students. Encourage your child to do his or her best “as unto the Lord,” to not get stuck on any one question (keep moving), and to not give up. There will be breaks between testing sessions.