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Key takeaways
- 01Some programs place by level, not grade. All About Reading says its level numbers do not correspond with grade levels, and All About Spelling says most students, regardless of age or grade level, should start with Level 1 (retrieved October 2026).
- 02In Every Homeschool’s view, the new program’s own placement test is the place to begin when switching curricula. Singapore Math says it is common and perfectly appropriate for students transitioning from another curriculum to begin at an earlier level (retrieved October 2026).
- 03Some publishers advise starting lower. Christian Light recommends that a student begin testing below grade level, and All About Spelling says most students should start with Level 1 (retrieved October 2026). This is publisher guidance, not a universal rule.
- 04Many of the tests listed here are free. The publishers offer them as PDF downloads or online tools. Christian Light and ACE also sell printed copies (retrieved October 2026).
How to use a placement test when switching curricula
Each test in this directory belongs to one publisher’s program and shows where in that program a student could begin. In Every Homeschool’s view, the new program’s own placement test is a better guide to a starting point than the grade label of the program a student is leaving. Singapore Math advises reviewing the Scope and Sequence of the series and level under consideration, because its placement tests assess representative skills and do not cover every topic taught in a level (retrieved October 2026).
Publishers describe this in their own terms. Singapore Math says it is common and perfectly appropriate for students transitioning from another curriculum to begin at an earlier level (retrieved October 2026). All About Reading says its level numbers do not correspond with grade levels (retrieved October 2026).
On the question of placing lower when in doubt, follow the publisher’s own guidance rather than a blanket rule. Christian Light recommends that a student begin testing below grade level and continue until the student scores too low to continue to the next grade (retrieved October 2026). All About Spelling says that most students, regardless of age or grade level, should start with Level 1, and that some students with a phonics background might begin with Level 2 (retrieved October 2026). Teaching Textbooks gives different guidance: it suggests not placing a student a level down for a score just under the recommended score, because such a student is “almost assuredly ready” for that grade level (retrieved October 2026). Read the instructions on each test before deciding.
Math
| Program | Direct link | Format | Free | How the publisher says to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math-U-See | placement.mathusee.com | Online placement tool (yes/no questions; sample problems if the answer is unclear) | Not stated | Answers to yes/no questions about the student’s mastery of math concepts lead to a recommended placement and links to materials, and a Placement Specialist is available by chat. In Demme Learning’s school placement test, a score of 0% to 79% places the student in that level, 80% to 89% in the next level, and 90% to 100% leads to the next level’s test (scoring guide). |
| Teaching Textbooks | teachingtextbooks.com/placement | Downloadable PDFs (Math 3 through Pre-Calculus) | Yes | If unsure, take two tests starting with the higher level. The publisher suggests not placing a student a level down for a score just under the recommended score. |
| CTCMath | ctcmath.com FAQ | Standard and comprehensive placement tests for each topic, grades K-8 | Not stated | When a student completes a test, the parent receives a report detailing any lessons that may need to be reviewed. |
| Singapore Math | singaporemath.com placement tests | Downloadable PDFs (Dimensions Math K-5, Primary Mathematics) | Not stated | Tests should not be timed or scored; allow at least one hour per test; pay attention to how the student solves problems, the mistakes made and the concepts that are difficult. |
| RightStart Mathematics | rightstartmath.com/placement-test | Online interactive placement test | Yes | An interactive tool to place a student in the right level and curriculum; questions about results can be sent to the publisher’s team. |
| Math Mammoth | mathmammoth.com placement tests | Downloadable PDFs (grades 1-8, end-of-year format; a concise test for grades 1-3) | Yes | No strict time limit, to reduce test-taking stress; questions are grouped by topic so gaps are visible; families can send the point counts for each test item to the publisher when in doubt. |
| Horizons (Alpha Omega) | aop.com assessment and placement | Downloadable PDF readiness evaluations (math grades 1-6, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I) | Yes | Grades 1-6 take about 30 to 60 minutes and Pre-Algebra and Algebra I about 45 to 60 minutes. Grade 1 is taken orally and includes scoring and re-teaching strategies; the other evaluations include scoring and evaluation instructions. |
| Beast Academy (AoPS) | beastacademy.com placement tests | Downloadable placement tests (four per level, one for each unit A-D) | Yes | The publisher recommends choosing a level by age and says the placement tests can help choose the right level; each test covers three chapters and includes grading instructions and complete solutions. |
| Art of Problem Solving | artofproblemsolving.com choosing a course | “Are you ready?” pre-tests and “Do you need this?” post-tests (PDFs linked from the course list) | Not stated | Offered for many courses to help determine which course is the right fit. |
| Life of Fred | lifeoffred.com where to start | Guidance pages with sample questions (arithmetic, first-year algebra, second-year algebra) | Not stated | Start with Apples if the addition tables are not known cold and with Goldfish if the multiplication tables are not (page). A student who knows the tables and is in at least fifth grade starts with Fractions (page). For a student who knows arithmetic, five sample questions help decide between starting with Fractions and Decimals & Percents and moving on to the Pre-Algebra books (page). |
Reading, spelling, and language arts
| Program | Direct link | Format | Free | How the publisher says to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All About Reading | allaboutlearningpress.com reading placement | Online placement test (Levels 1-4) | Yes | Two parts, a reading assessment and a skills assessment; a parent or teacher completes the entire test with the student, who should not work independently. |
| All About Spelling | allaboutlearningpress.com spelling placement | Online placement test | Yes | A mastery-based, not grade-level, program (FAQ); most students, regardless of age or grade level, should start with Level 1, and some students with a phonics background might begin with Level 2 (placement page). The test is completed with the student, who should not work independently. |
| Logic of English | Foundations resources; Essentials resources | Downloadable PDF assessments (Foundations and Essentials) | Yes | Foundations A is for students starting to read and Foundations B for students who know the sounds of A-Z and can blend and segment one-syllable words; the Starting at B Assessment determines the starting point. The Essentials placement test determines the best level of spelling analysis and vocabulary instruction and whether to begin with the Pre-Lessons or Unit 1. |
| IEW (Phonetic Zoo spelling) | iew.com Phonetic Zoo placement test | Three placement tests by grade band, with a PDF download | Not stated | Giving one or more of the three tests determines which Phonetic Zoo level (A, B or C) the student should begin with. |
| IEW (Structure and Style writing) | iew.com curriculum pathway | Pathway chart (PDF) | Not stated | The chart lists Level A for grades 3-5, Level B for grades 6-8 and Level C for grades 9-12; IEW says the Year 1 Structure and Style for Students courses assume no previous experience. |
| IEW Fix It! Grammar | iew.com Fix It! Grammar info | Information and placement guidance for the six-level sequence | Not stated | Students with little or no grammar background should begin in Level 1 (Nose Tree) regardless of their age. |
| Christian Light | christianlight.org diagnostic tests | Downloadable PDF diagnostics (Math and Language Arts, Levels 1-4 and Levels 5-8) | Free PDF downloads of tests and teacher’s manuals; printed copies sold | A teacher’s manual is needed for testing. Begin testing below grade level and continue until the student scores too low to continue to the next grade; placement is determined by the number of correct answers on the corresponding test. |
Latin and classical
| Program | Direct link | Format | Free | How the publisher says to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memoria Press (Latin) | memoriapress.com which Latin program | Guidance article | Not stated | Describes each Latin program in turn with grade ranges: Prima Latina can start in second grade with a fluent reader, Latina Christiana is geared to grades 3 through 5, and no one can skip First Form. |
| Memoria Press (Simply Classical) | memoriapress.com Simply Classical readiness assessments | Downloadable readiness assessments (Levels A-C and Levels 1-12) | Not stated | The readiness assessments are placement tests. Scoring Yes or Emerging on about 80% of the items in a category means the student is ready for that level; all levels can be adjusted up or down by subject. |
Complete programs and level-choosers
| Program | Direct link | Format | Free | How the publisher says to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonlight | sonlight.com placement tests | Reading, language arts/phonics and Spelling You See assessments, plus math placement tests | Yes | For families new to Sonlight, the placement tests help choose the best Sonlight level for the student; a Sonlight Advisor can give a personal recommendation on placement. |
| BookShark | bookshark.com choosing guide; placement tests | Online level chart by age, plus reading, language arts and math placement tests | Yes | Pick a level using the age chart; if unsure which topic to choose, the publisher recommends the middle level for the child’s age. A Quick Reading Assessment helps select a Reader level for Levels A through C. |
| Accelerated Christian Education | aceschooloftomorrow.com testing materials | Diagnostic tests accessed online through aceconnect, and printed diagnostic tests | Online diagnostic free; printed tests sold | The publisher says each student should be tested before beginning the program and is then assigned curriculum at the student’s performance level in each subject (FAQ). |
Publishers that do not provide placement tests
Shurley English states in its homeschool FAQ that it does not provide placement tests. It says the level selected usually depends on grade level, reading and comprehension level, and maturity level, and that it normally recommends starting children in their appropriate grade levels (shurley.com homeschool FAQs, retrieved October 2026).
Publisher pages move; if a link no longer resolves, the publisher’s support or curriculum-help page is the next place to look. Report a broken link to editor@everyhomeschool.com.
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