Aquinas Writing Advantage’s
Middle School and High School Writing Assessments
The in-depth way to find out if your middle school teen's skills are coming along --
And if your high school teen measures up to first-year college-level writing skills (and what’s needed to learn before leaving high school)...
Writing Assessment and Placement Test
The AWA Writing Assessment and Student Placement Tests are designed to help you gain a clear understanding of the level of your student’s writing skills. With a passing score on the assessment, your student may skip the Homeschool Connections prerequisite writing courses. Any middle or high school student can take an assessment and get results in a report, with high-level feedback from a professional and recommendations for further study.
Who is the assessment for?
- The Middle School Assessment is for students in 6th through 8th grade. Email Mrs. Bonnie Donlon at [email protected] to find out more…
- The formal High School Assessment is for high school students, and because the assessment measures a student’s college readiness, is recommended for students in the 10th through 12th grades. Keep reading here to find out more…
How does the High School Assessment work?
There are three parts to this assessment. Your student will take a multiple-choice test, write a short essay, and answer questions in a questionnaire. Once completed, the Assessment Coordinator scores your work and contacts you with feedback and results.
What is in the High School Assessment?
Part 1: A MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
- A multiple-choice test is embedded into the online system.
- Your student clicks on the clearly marked link and takes the test online.
- Each question provides five possible answers. Your student identifies correct and incorrect punctuation and grammar and answers questions regarding correct writing in paragraph and essay form.
- Your student chooses the best answer and moves to the next question until all 40 questions are completed.
- When complete, the test is automatically scored and explanations are provided. * Within two weeks, the Assessment Coordinator sends you a report with areas of competence and areas that need practice, to master specific skills.
Part 2: A PERSONAL ESSAY
- After taking the multiple-choice test, your student writes an essay using the guidelines listed.
- The student uploads his or her essay into the “Moodle Rooms” Learning Management System (LMS) for grading and feedback.
- Grading is measured by the Advanced Placement type scoring system of 1 to 5, a 1 being low and a 5 being high, with a grade of 4 as passing (for this assessment).
- Within two weeks, the Assessment Coordinator sends you a report with areas of competence and areas that need practice, to master specific skills.
Part 3: A QUESTIONNAIRE
- Your student fills out the Questionnaire provided.
- The questionnaire is designed to find out more about your student’s experiences with writing; it is also a tool to assess his or her writing skills by the questions’ answers.
- The information in the Questionnaire is used within the Assessment Coordinator’s report.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This test uses the American English rules for punctuation and grammar, including comma usage. The test also follows the most recent guidelines for punctuation and grammar for the following academic style guides: Chicago Manual of Style, American Psychological Association (APA), and Modern Language Association (MLA). If you reside outside of the United States, please note that your use of commas and placement may be different from American English.
How it works…
To get a clear understanding of your high school student’s writing skills — and get a professional report with strengths, weaknesses, and clear direction for the future — click here to purchase the Full Assessment and click here for the Punctuation & Grammar Assessment only.
What it covers…
There are three parts to this assessment: a multiple-choice test, writing a short essay, and answering questions in a handwritten questionnaire. Once completed, the Assessment Coordinator scores your work and contacts you with specific, clear feedback and results. The Assessment measures the critical writing skills needed to enter college — including a specific level of punctuation and grammar, paragraph form, vocabulary usage, and clear linear writing abilities.
What’s the cost?
The full Assessment with the multiple-choice test, essay, questionnaire, and in-depth 20-page report with specific, detailed feedback outlining strengths, weaknesses, and exactly what to cover to complete writing well before entering college is $57. The Punctuation and Grammar only test with a report and feedback is $22.
The full assessment (FULL)—
multiple-choice test, essay, questionnaire, and report with feedback:
$57
The punctuation and grammar assessment (P&G)
with a report and feedback:
$22
What are people saying about the Assessment?
Here are a few words from parents like you…
“Thank you for the very thorough assessment result for [my student]. We are enrolled in Recorded Courses and will do as much as we can with the suggested course of study. I wish we had known of Homeschool Connections sooner!” ~ Nancy M., parent
“Thank you so much for your detailed input. This is so very helpful to us as we continue on our journey. The assessment you provided is thorough and professional, done with excellence.” ~ Jennifer G., parent
“I just wanted to say thank you for such a detailed report, and for taking the time to discuss a plan for my son.” ~ Paula S., parent
“I appreciate your feedback on the assessment. It affirmed the direction I planned for this year’s English credit.” ~ Amy P., parent
“Thank you for the thorough writing evaluation report!” ~ Vicki C., parent
To read more parent testimonials, go here.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long will the tests take?
The time that the test takes depends on your student. There is no time limit for the multiple-choice Punctuation & Grammar Test. Regarding the Essay and Questionnaire, it is highly suggested to upload all documents into Moodle within TWO WEEKS of signing up for the service.
2. Who grades the test?
The Punctuation & Grammar Test is automatically graded within the Moodle system; the essay and questionnaire are graded by the Assessment Coordinator—a professional teacher of writing.
3. What is a “passing score” for the Punctuation & Grammar Test?
If using this assessment to pass out of AWA’s prerequisite writing courses, students must obtain a score of 90% for to “pass.” Students who do not obtain 90% must take the prerequisite courses in recordings (through Unlimited Access) or “live.” For information on Unlimited Access, click here.
4. Who grades the essay?
Mr. Nick Wilson, the Assessment Coordinator for the Aquinas Writing Advantage program, will assess your student’s work and prepare a detailed Final Report for you regarding your student’s current writing skills and a plan to prepare for future courses and gaining exceptional skills in writing. Mr. Wilson has both education and experience in teaching and assessment in writing. You can find detailed information on Mr. Wilson’s skills here.
5. How is the information on the questionnaire used?
Mr. Wilson will use the information, in combination with the quiz and essay, to help suggest your student’s future course of learning for writing. Recommendations will be sent to you in a final report within two weeks of obtaining all of your information.
6. If I am using the assessment to test out of Homeschool Connections’ high school writing classes, what determines a “passing score”?
To pass out of Punctuation and Grammar and Simplified Writing 1 prerequisite courses, the student must obtain a score of 90% on the quiz. To pass out of the Rhetoric and Writing course, the student must obtain a “clean essay” comparable to a score of 4 on the AP English Language and Composition courses.
7. Is there anything else to do after the test is completed?
YES! When all sections of the assessment are completed — the test, the essay, and the questionnaire—you will email Mr. Wilson at [email protected]. To receive your final report, this step must be completed. Thank you.
8. After finishing the assessment, I’ll get a report. What will the report look like?
You will receive a Final Report noting scores in the quiz and comments on the essay. Strengths and weaknesses will be noted; suggestions for improvement will also be added. Your final report will be in paragraph form.
9. Beyond using it for HSC class placement, what can I do with this assessment?
This assessment can be used as a supporting document for enrollment in outside courses in writing, as requested by potential schools. A suggested scope and sequence of courses will also be provided to the student. (A scope and sequence is a plan of what and when to take courses.) Families are not required to take the courses with Homeschool Connections (you can take courses elsewhere), but if you choose to follow the Aquinas Writing Advantage program and sign up for courses, we will continue to provide support for your student through LIVE and recorded classes (Instructor Access).
10. I’m ready to sign up—what do I do?
When you click on the link, you will be taken to PayPal. After payment is made, the Assessment Coordinator will contact you via email with how to get access to the test page in Moodle.
The full assessment (FULL)—
multiple-choice test, essay, questionnaire, and report with feedback:
$57
The punctuation and grammar assessment (P&G)
with a report and feedback:
$22
For specific and personal answers to your questions, feel free to contact the Assessment Director Nick Wilson directly at [email protected] or call Toll Free 1-888-372-4757. We’re happy to help!