Exploring Scholastic Testing

Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. offers products and scoring services for all types of educational assessment needs.

View and download the STS Catalog of Products

To go to our different sites, choose from the following links:

• STS Online Store – to purchase many STS products
• STSUsers.com – for registered STS customers
• High School Placement Test (HSPT®) product information
• Torrance® Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) production information
• Torrance® Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) – Scoring Prenotification
• STS – Authorized Research Use – Permissions Request
• Contact STS at 1.800.642.6787 or by E-Mail: sts@ststesting.com

TTCT Training – at The Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development

Want to learn more about scoring the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking  (TTCT) Verbal or Figural tests yourself? The Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development at the University of Georgia offers training for scoring the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) at your school as well as periodic workshops onsite at the University of Georgia.

Once individuals reach mastery, they will be issued a personalized certificate of proficiency by the Torrance Center.

Click here to learn about scoring the TTCT, scheduling, and prices.

It is vital to identify students’ strengths & weaknesses with Readiness Assessments.

Due to campus closures this past spring, it is now, more than ever, vital to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in terms of development of underlying competencies, which are essential for early school learning.

AVAILABLE The new Preschool Progress Screening (PPS). The PPS was created as a quick and easy assessment of general education exposure, experiences and growth skills that should be present or progressing in 3-5 year olds. It was designed to report on developmental milestones, drive classroom instruction and to preliminarily identify children who may be in need of additional support or services. The PPS allows teachers to evaluate skills in three developmental areas: Language, Concepts and Motor Skills. The PPS total score will provide a developmental indicator of “OK” or “Recheck.”

Also available is the Kindergarten Readiness Test. The purpose of the KRT is to determine the extent to which each of the underlying competencies in reading, mathematics and language have been developed so that instruction can be modified to meet the needs of each student. The 8 subtests may be given in 45 minutes. Scores and skill ratings for each individual subtest are measured along with an overall readiness score and rating.

For those entering first grade in the fall, the School Readiness Test (SRT) is available for administration. The purpose of the SRT is to allow teachers to learn as much as possible about each entering student’s ability and about any factors that might interfere with his or her learning. The eleven subtests, with an optional handwriting assessment may be given in 1 hour and 35 minutes. Scores and skill ratings for each individual subtest are measured along with an overall readiness score and rating. The overall readiness score is also related to a national percentile and stanine.

Springtime Sheltering at STS

Thoughts from our Managing Editor and new Homeschool Administrator Traci Johnson.

Hello STS customers and friends:

Like many of you, STS employees are sheltering in place at home with our families while we deal with the Covid-19 virus. In my case, I’m an editor and a brand new homeschool administrator for a 6, 11, and 15 year old.  Here are a few of the things that are helping me juggle work and school right now.

• Create a brand new schedule. I am 4 weeks into the work/school juggling act. In the beginning I had a grand ideas of the kids waking up at seven-thirty and being done with their work by noon. All that got me was three grumpy kids. So we adjusted. My kids have their weekend bedtimes unless they have an early meeting with a teacher.  We also allow them to linger in their pjs in the morning.  They are much happier and it gives me time to focus (alone) on my work in the morning.
• Create some accountability (and make it fun).  Our district has an online grading system where parents can view grades and assignments. I also have my kids keep an informal log of what they did each day. If they make it through the week without me hounding them about assignments, they get a reward. My kids like Chipotle and Starbucks so they get to place an order weekly.
• Go outside. We live in the Chicago area and last week was our first 80 degree day. I told my 6 year old to read outside and then she spent the rest of the day happily playing in the yard.  All of us walk, ride a bike or ride a scooter outdoors every day. Because we’re stuck inside most of the time, that outside time has become a welcome release.
• Find some help online. My older kids have regimented school assignments and meeting times, but my little one has tons of free time. Finding websites that offer her something to do has been a godsend. Attractions like the Shedd Aquarium offer virtual tours. My daughter has also done virtual safaris with the Cincinnati zoo. Some zoos even offer live feeding sessions on Facebook. Scholastic.com also has free learning resources for all grade levels that include books and videos.
• Have fun. The Corona virus is awful and sheltering in place is not how any of us planned to spend the spring. But I’ve found that it is important to plan some fun for your family. We’ve done movie nights, game nights, lip sync challenges, formal dinners. Anything to break up the monotony of quarantine. We don’t do this every day – parents are not camp counselors and kids do want some alone time. But we will never spend this much time together again so we want our kids to have some good memories of this tough time.
• It’s OK if you’re struggling. Actor Drew Barrymore said on the Today show that Corona parenting is not good days and bad days. It’s good hours and bad hours. That rang true for me. This is hard. Kids get bored. Parents and teachers are stretched thin. We’re all new at this quarantine thing. Last week my youngest daughter had movie day and watched Trolls all afternoon. Every day will not be equally productive.

So while the world is a lot quieter these days, all of us at STS are working hard at home. Call us if you need us. We’re still answering the phones and happy to assist you however we can.

Traci Johnson
Managing Editor
Scholastic Testing Service, Inc.
1.800.642.6787
www.ststesting.com

We invite feedback or sharing of your own ideas and experiences on this topic.

High School Placement Test (HSPT) Testing Tips

For many high schools, the High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a critical element of the application process.  So with the High School Placement Test in full swing now, here are some helpful tips to share with your students:

• Read each question carefully and bubble in all answers on the answer sheet provided with a #2 pencil. Carefully erase any answer you wish to change.
• Each of the 5 sections is timed so pace yourself. Test administrators should announce when time is halfway completed to let you know if you are working at a pacer to complete the section.
• For each question, choose the best answer. If you are unsure of an answer, take your best guess. The number of items answered correctly determines your score. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.
• Remember, calculators are not permitted in the Quantitative Skills & Math portions of the HSPT. Students may write in the test booklets or scratch paper should be provided to do your work.
• If time remains, go back and check your answers.

Hopefully these tips will allow for a successful HSPT testing. Please note, STS does not offer any type of prep material for the High School Placement Test.

Any questions, call our office at 1.630.766.7150.

High School Placement Test (HSPT)

An Admissions Test for Those Entering High School

If you are looking for an admissions test for those entering high school, look no further. STS offers the High School Placement Test for eighth graders testing to determine student admission, placement and scholarship awards based on HSPT performance. The rigorous content of the HSPT helps prepare students for the demands of a high school curriculum.

In 2.5 hours testing time, the HSPT provides national normative measures in the following cognitive and basic skills areas: verbal and quantitative skills, reading, mathematics and language.

Cognitive skills quotients, standard scores, national and local percentiles as well as grade equivalents are standard features of the HSPT.

For more information on how your school can benefit by using the HSPT, visit out website at: https://ststesting.com/hsp/index.html

You may also call our office at 1.800.642.6787 to discuss your testing needs.

Early Childhood Screening and Kindergarten Readiness

AVAILABLE in the next few weeks is the new Preschool Progress Screening (PPS). The PPS was created as a quick and easy assessment of general education exposure, experiences and growth skills that should be present or progressing in 3-5 year olds. It was designed to report on developmental milestones, drive classroom instruction and to preliminarily identify children who may be in need of additional support or services. The PPS allows teachers to evaluate skills in three developmental areas: Language, Concepts and Motor Skills. The PPS total score will provide a developmental indicator of “OK” or “Recheck.”

Also available is the Kindergarten Readiness Test. The purpose of the KRT is to determine the extent to which each of the underlying competencies in reading, mathematics and language have been developed so that instruction can be modified to meet the needs of each student. The 8 subtests may be given in 45 minutes. Scores and skill ratings for each individual subtest are measured along with an overall readiness score and rating.

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking

Creativity…can be nurtured….is available to all…can be measured …E Paul Torrance, PH. D

“Creative thinking abilities,” as used in the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, Figural and Verbal Forms A and B, refers to that constellation of generalized mental abilities that is commonly presumed to be brought into play in creative achievements.

The highly reliable TTCT are the most widely used tests of their kind. These instruments are used for identification of the creatively gifted and as part of gifted matrices, effective in multicultural settings, and for special populations around the world.

Order now to assist with your assessment and identification needs.

For more information, call 630-766-7150 or email us at sts@ststesting.com.

Preschool Progress Screening Coming in August 2019

Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. is pleased to announce we will be introducing our Preschool Progress Screening (PPS) in August 2019. The PPS was created as a quick and easy assessment of general educational exposure and growth that should be present or progressing in 3-5 year olds. The PPS allows teachers to evaluate skills in three developmental areas: Language, Concepts and Motor Skills. Individual testing should take place twice a year so teachers and parents can see how the skills have developed between the two screenings.

If you wish to be sent a preview of the PPS when it becomes available in August, please email Amy Mahrenholz at amym@ststesting.com.

In the meantime, we still have the Kindergarten Readiness Test and the School Readiness Test.

The latest editions of the Kindergarten Readiness Test and the School Readiness Test will benefit educators by:

• providing as much information as possible about each student’s abilities
  showing how underlying competencies have developed
• assessing a student’s Overall Readiness Score as related to a national percentile and stanine
• tracking individual and group results by providing a Class Record Sheet and Class Summary Report (on paper or digitally)

For more information on any of our products, call us today at 1.800.642.6787. We are here to answer any of your questions.

Looking for an Online Assessment in the areas of Language Arts, Math or Science?

Did you know that STS publishes an online assessment called the Learning Standards Assessment (LSA)?

The LSA is an online testing tool for grades 3-8 in the academic areas of Language Arts, Math, and Science. It allows for maximum flexibility by:

 

• Offering group or individual administration
• Pick which subtests to administer
• Complete each subtest in 30 minutes or less
• Receive normative and diagnostic student reports

 

To view a demo on administration of the LSA, go to www.ststesting.com.

Call us today at 1.800.642.6787 with any questions you may have and also to get current pricing.