more about the approved tests

Thanks to Cathy who gathered a lot of info on the tests. BUT, many tests on the list are not easy to get nor easy to find someone that would use these tests. Best bet is to find a group setting via a support group or a home school business.

1, The C.A.T./5® Survey: This is the short form of the Complete Battery. It is available for Grades 2 - 12. For the very shortest Basic Skills test, order the Survey and do not give the subtests social studies, science, word analysis (grades K - 3) or study skills (Grades 4 - 12). Requires 2 hours or longer and cannot be administered by the parent.

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2. Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPIV) - This is not something that a home school family could find helpful.

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3. Iowa Test of Basic Skills (group testing only) (ITBS)- Group administered achievement test battery; not sold individually
SPECIAL NOTE: This test is usually administered by home school support groups.

This is a top-rated nationally standardized achievement test designed to evaluate thinking skills. This test takes less time to administer than the Stanford and permits a wider grade range of students to be tested at the same time. This test is considered to be among the most difficult tests. Grades 3-8 may be tested together; grades 9-12 may be tested together. Qualifications for test administration: a 4-year baccalaureate degree in any field. Directions for administration are supplied at no additional cost. Tests are supplied and returned to suppliers for scoring. Tests are given orally through grade 2. Administered over a 2 day period (i.e. 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. with break for lunch for 2 days)
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4. Metropolitan Achievement Test The Metropolitan 8 tests student achievement from kindergarten through grade 12. The content of test questions ranges from foundation skills to critical thinking processes and strategies. Metropolitan 8 tests include reading, mathematics, language, writing process, writing, spelling, science, and social studies. I lost contact with the only person I knew that had this test for homeschoolers.

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5. Peabody Achievement Individual Test – Revised Version
this is an untimed test, but again, I cannot find anyone that has this for homeschoolers at a reasonable cost.

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6. Stanford Achievement Test (not to be confused with the SAT test for college admission) expensive

The Stanford 10 is the latest version in the Stanford Achievement Test Series. It contains content and multiple choice questions aligned with state and national standards. The test is administered untimed (within flexible guidelines). Areas of assessment include reading (sounds and letters, word study skills, word reading, sentence reading, reading vocabulary, reading comprehension), mathematics (problem solving, procedures), language, spelling, listening, science, environment, and social studies
A top-rated nationally standardized test for K-12. Listening skills are included for K - 8th grade. The test administrator must have a baccalaureate degree in any field, plus meet additional test administering guidelines. The publisher of this test has strict guidelines that must be followed when testing any relative. The test supplier can supply you with specifics before ordering the test. Qualifications for test administrators and directions for administration must be purchased.

This test can be purchased from Bob Jones University on an individual basis, but there are some hoops to jump through to be able to administer the test if you have no proof of prior experience with administering tests, including filling in a online application and, if need be, purchasing a CD on test administration.
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7. Terra Nova
TERRA NOVA 3 - through CTB McGraw-Hill - what I can gather from this website, the test can only be administered in group settings.

TERRA NOVA, the 2nd edition (CAT/6) - through CTB McGraw-Hill - same as above, only group testing
Terra Nova, The Second Edition (CAT/6) includes both multiple choice and constructed response items and measures important basic and applied skills. Test content reflects national standards derived from curriculum guides, teacher groups, and state frameworks. CAT Multiple Assessments include an integrated reading/language arts test along with mathematics, science, and social studies tests.

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8. Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement III (can be administered individually, but must be by a qualified examiner)
It is designed for people between the ages of 5 and 90. Many areas are covered in the basic achievement test: letter/word identification, passage comprehension, math calculation, math applied problems, spelling, writing, general knowledge.
The total test time varies, depending upon which tests are administered. The basic achievement test takes about 1.5 hours.