Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 7 Paperback – December 25, 2006

This was our first year homeschooling (5th grade & 7th grade) and we weren't sure what to expect when it came time for end of grade testing. This book is NOT a curriculum book. Instead, it covers the types of topics and questions your child might encounter on a standardized test. There are no lessons in here -- it's a book of test-type questions. If your child can manage to answer the questions in this booklet, he or she will surely do fine on standardized testing. There is more in here than was on either of my children's CATs this year, and that's a good thing! By using this book I knew we were on the right track for their grade level, which was the point of the purchase. I bought two for each grade level. I used one from each grade throughout the year as a rough teaching outline and subject practice, and one at the end of the year for practice with testing to make sure they remembered the stuff they learned earlier.

If you are an educator, you have heard that everyday for 10 months of every school year. I bought this and did a review every Friday with my middle school reading classes. Their other teachers reviewed the other subjects presented. I think it helped. Kids seemed to enjoy it and many became more relaxed with the concept of test taking.

To give my son - who had never taken a standardized test - a taste for the types of questions, the format/arrangement, etc, this book did the trick. It was just the right amount of work. He looked forward to doing it each day. I only was disappointed that it didn't include timing (at least the mini tests). I set my own times when we wanted to practice that skill, and it was fine.

Great in prepping my homeschooled son for his standardized end-of-year test, uses same format as that test & therefore made the transition easy w/ less anxiety. Also helped me identify which subject areas needed a little more attention before proceeding to the actual test so that he was extra ready for it. Thanks.

I've used these test prep books every year with my daughter. It helps to see where we are and brush up on the areas we might have neglected through the year. She does great on test every year and I think these have really helped to give her confidence and practice.

Great for helping my 7th grader get ready for testing - and to help me see how things may be worded differently than curriculum she is accustomed to. She got used to filling in those bubbles too.

We have a friend that is homeschooling her child and she had to see where exactly she was in school. This book came in handy.

Based on the reviews I purchased this book for my 7th grader as a summer study guide. I'm very disappointed with the Social Studies section. We began with the Social Studies section. My son and I quickly became frustrated with the material when essay questions were asked of the reader and no information within the reading passage was provided for the student. Case in point...pg 91...Marriage in the US...question #4 asks the students to "identify one way American society discourages divorce." The passage does not list anything. Yet there is an answer...to expensive. Also question #3. "Identify one way American society encourages marriage...the answer is tax breaks which is not listed in the passage.Summary...the other sections seam to be accurate but the social studies section leaves a lot to be desired.