United States · Grades K to 12 · Stanford 10 and achievement tests

Stanford 10 math practice: compute, then apply

The Stanford 10 is an achievement test: it checks what a child has learned, against children across the country. For homeschooling families it is often the test that satisfies a state rule; for schools it tracks progress. Either way, the honest preparation is good math. The Stanford 10 splits math into two parts from first grade up, computing and applying, and a child strong in both is ready. This guide explains the test from Pearson's own materials, shows how three states use achievement scores, and gives original practice.

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In short

The Stanford 10 (SAT10), Pearson's Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition, is a nationally normed, multiple-choice achievement test for grades K to 12, with 2018 norms. From Primary 1 to Advanced 2 its math has two subtests, Mathematics Problem Solving and Mathematics Procedures. Many homeschoolers use it for state testing rules. Modern Age Coders, not connected with Pearson, teaches the grade-level math it measures, live online in our elementary math course, as a group of 15 to 20 or one to one.

Math that shows on any achievement test

Three courses that build what the Stanford 10 measures

Each one teaches both halves of the test: accurate computing and confident problem solving.

Elementary Maths for Grades 1-5 course thumbnail

GAV / 01

Elementary math, grades 1 to 5

The full grade sequence, computing and applying side by side.

Open the syllabus →
Middle School Mathematics Mastery course thumbnail

GAV / 02

Middle school math, grades 6 to 8

For the Intermediate 3 and Advanced levels.

Open the syllabus →
Mental Maths for Kids course thumbnail

GAV / 03

Number fluency, ages 5 to 10

Quick, sure number work for the Procedures subtest.

Open the syllabus →

The Stanford 10

What is the Stanford 10 test?

The Stanford 10 is Pearson's Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition, often shortened to SAT10. It is not the college-admissions SAT. Pearson describes it as a multiple-choice achievement test with national norms for grades K to 12.

From Pearson

Pearson's product page says the SAT10 spans "language, reading, math, science, and social science domains", is "Co-normed with the OLSAT8", and is a "multiple-choice assessment that has national norms and is available in print and digital formats".

Its program details give "Grades K-12 paper, Grades 3-12 online", a publication date of 2018, and "Fall and Spring grade-based norms". The overview flyer refers to the "2018 Stanford 10 norms update".

How the test is built

Pearson lists "Form A with 13 levels; Form D with 13 levels for hand scoring only". Schools and testers can choose "Complete, Basic, and Abbreviated test battery options", and the flyer describes an "Easy-hard-easy question format".

The test is untimed in principle. Pearson gives a completion time of "2.25-5.5 hours (untimed)", and its scope chart adds: "Stanford 10 allows flexible testing times. The testing times indicated above are guidelines".

Sources: Pearson SAT10 product page and the SAT10 overview flyer, read 31 October 2026. Stanford Achievement Test and OLSAT are trademarks of Pearson. Modern Age Coders is not connected with Pearson, Stanford University or any state agency.

Levels and math

Which Stanford 10 level is right for my child's grade, and how many math items are there?

Each of the 13 levels covers about one grade, and the math changes shape across them. Kindergarten levels have a single Mathematics test; Primary 1 to Advanced 2 split it into Problem Solving and Procedures; the high school TASK levels return to one Mathematics test.

Stanford 10 levels and Complete Battery math tests: items and guideline minutes (Pearson SAT10 Scope and Sequence chart, read 31 October 2026)
LevelGrade rangeProblem SolvingProceduresTotal math
SESAT 1K.0 to K.5One Mathematics test: 40 items, 30 min
SESAT 2K.5 to 1.5One Mathematics test: 40 items, 30 min
Primary 11.5 to 2.542 items, 50 min30 items, 30 min72 items, 80 min
Primary 22.5 to 3.544 items, 50 min30 items, 30 min74 items, 80 min
Primary 33.5 to 4.546 items, 50 min30 items, 30 min76 items, 80 min
Intermediate 1, 2 and 34.5 to 7.548 items, 50 min32 items, 30 min80 items, 80 min
Advanced 1 and 27.5 to 9.948 items, 50 min32 items, 30 min80 items, 80 min
TASK 1, 2 and 39.0 to 12.9One Mathematics test: 50 items, 50 min

Reading the grade ranges

Grade ranges are written as grade and month: 2.5 means the middle of grade 2. So a child tested in the spring of grade 2 usually takes Primary 2, and in the fall of grade 2 Primary 1. The tester or school picks the level.

The Abbreviated Battery is shorter: at Intermediate 1, the chart lists 30 Problem Solving items and 20 Procedures items. Ask which battery your child will sit.

What the pacing means (ours)

At Intermediate 1, 48 Problem Solving items in 50 minutes is 62.5 seconds an item, our arithmetic; 32 Procedures items in 30 minutes is about 56 seconds each.

Because Pearson calls the times guidelines, a child is rarely rushed. Accuracy matters far more than speed: careful setting out beats racing.

Source: Pearson SAT10 Scope and Sequence chart (PDF), read 31 October 2026. Items and minutes are the chart's Complete Battery figures; the Basic Battery omits Science and Social Science, not math.

Scores

How is the Stanford 10 scored, and what is a stanine?

Pearson lists "Percentile Rank, Stanine, GE, and NCE by grade", plus Scaled Scores on a continuous growth scale. For homeschool families the stanine and the percentile matter most, because state rules are written in those terms.

Stanines and the percentiles they cover, by the standard stanine convention (our summary; check your own score report)
StaninePercentile range (approx.)Usual description
11 to 4Well below average
24 to 11Below average
311 to 23Below average
423 to 40Average
540 to 60Average
660 to 77Average
777 to 89Above average
889 to 96Above average
996 to 99Well above average

What each score tells you

A percentile rank compares your child with a national group in the same grade: the 60th percentile means doing as well as or better than about 60 percent of that group. A stanine squeezes the same idea into nine bands.

GE, the grade equivalent, is easy to misread. A grade 3 child with a GE of 5.2 has not learned grade 5 math; they did as well on the grade 3 test as a typical early grade 5 student might.

Composite or subtest?

State rules usually look at the composite (overall) score. New York's guidance is explicit: "The student's score on individual test subscores should not be considered in determining whether the program should be placed on probation."

For teaching, the subtests are the useful part. A child strong in Procedures but weaker in Problem Solving needs more word problems, not more drill.

Homeschool rules

Can the Stanford 10 be used for homeschool testing requirements?

In many states, yes, because state laws ask for a nationally normed or approved standardized achievement test rather than naming one. The rules differ, so here are three states, each from its own law or guidance.

How three states use achievement tests for home instruction (state sources, read 31 October 2026)
StateWhat the rule saysSource
VirginiaBy August 1, "evidence that the child has attained a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test", or an evaluation insteadCode of Virginia, section 22.1-254.1
New YorkProbation only if the composite "is below the thirty-third percentile on national norms" or shows less than one year of growth; alternative evaluations allowed every other year in grades 4 to 8NYSED Home Instruction Questions and Answers
Washington"a standardized achievement test approved by the state board of education is administered annually to the child by a qualified individual", or an annual assessment by a certificated personRCW 28A.200.010

Who may give the test

Pearson lists the SAT10 at qualification level B; its level A, by contrast, covers assessments needing no professional degree or license. Many homeschool families therefore test through a qualified tester or group.

In New York, the state's guidance says that with the superintendent's consent "a parent may perform these actions", meaning give the standardized test or prepare the written narrative.

Before you choose a test

Read your own state's rule first. A test that satisfies Virginia's stanine rule may need different paperwork in New York, and Washington asks for a test approved by its state board.

Other tests, such as the Iowa Assessments or the California Achievement Test, are also nationally normed achievement tests. Our Iowa Assessments guide covers the Iowa test; we have not verified current CAT details at a primary source, so we do not describe the CAT here.

Sources: Code of Virginia 22.1-254.1, NYSED Home Instruction Questions and Answers and Washington RCW 28A.200.010, read 31 October 2026. This is not legal advice; confirm with your state or district.

Practice

What is the right way to get ready for Stanford 10 math?

By working on both halves of the test: computing accurately (Procedures) and choosing what to compute (Problem Solving). Here is one pair that shows the difference, a short set and a plan, all ours.

A Procedures-style task (ours, grade 4 to 5)

Work out 3/4 + 1/8. The fractions need a common denominator. Eighths work: 3/4 is 6/8. Then 6/8 + 1/8 = 7/8.

Check by sense: 3/4 is a little less than 1, and adding a small eighth keeps it below 1. 7/8 fits. Procedures rewards exactly this: a known method, done carefully.

A Problem Solving-style task (ours)

A garden is 12 feet long and 8 feet wide. How much fencing goes all the way around it, and how much ground is inside? The hard part is choosing: fencing around means perimeter, ground inside means area.

Perimeter: 12 + 8 + 12 + 8 = 40 feet. Area: 12 x 8 = 96 square feet. A child who computes perfectly but picks area for the fence gets it wrong, which is why both halves need practice.

Eight warm-up problems for grades 1 to 6, labelled by subtest (ours; answers checked in Python)
ProblemTypeA good way inAnswer
47 + 38ProceduresMake 50: 47 + 3, then 35 more85
9 x 6ProceduresTen sixes minus one six54
3/4 + 1/8ProceduresChange 3/4 to 6/87/8
2.5 x 4ProceduresTwo lots of 4 is 8, half of 4 is 210
144 pencils packed 12 to a box. How many boxes?Problem SolvingSharing equally means divide12
Area of a 12 by 8 gardenProblem SolvingInside means area96 square feet
Next number: 3, 7, 11, 15, ...Problem SolvingFind the rule: add 419
Round 4,768 to the nearest hundredProceduresLook at the tens digit4,800
  1. Weeks 1 to 2 (ours). Find out the level and battery. Look through recent schoolwork and mark what is shaky, separately for computing and for word problems.
  2. Weeks 3 to 4. Repair weak computing, meaning before speed: tens and ones, related facts, fractions, decimals.
  3. Week 5. Word problems daily: read twice, decide the operation, estimate, then compute.
  4. Week 6. If your tester offers it, look once at Pearson's practice test so the answer format is familiar. Then rest; never cram the night before.

Grade-by-grade help: first grade, third grade, sixth grade and eighth grade math tutoring, and our homeschool math curriculum guide.

Where your child is

Four stages from computing to problem solving

Our own description of how children connect the two halves of math.

Stages of using math (ours)
StageWhat it looks like
1. Computes when toldAccurate on a bare sum, unsure in a story
2. Spots key wordsPicks an operation from words like "total", sometimes wrongly
3. Pictures the situationDraws or imagines the problem, then chooses
4. Checks for senseEstimates first and asks if the answer is reasonable

For parents

Key-word tricks work until they do not: "how many more" can mean add or subtract. Asking "what is happening in the story?" moves a child to stage 3.

Look at the two math subtests separately when results arrive. They point to different kinds of help.

For children

Before you calculate, say what the answer will roughly be.

Draw it. A quick sketch of the garden shows the fence goes around the outside.

The catalogue

Math courses for grades K to 8

Live courses covering the math a school year expects, with stretch for children ready for more.

I

Kindergarten to grade 1

SESAT levels
II

Grades 1 to 5

Primary and Intermediate
III

Grades 6 to 8

Intermediate 3 and Advanced

How lessons run

Grade-level math lessons, all year round

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

After-school lessons that fit a homeschool week.

Weekends

Review sessions, one topic at a time.

1-on-1

For a gap found on a score report.

Both halves

Computing and problem solving each week.

Estimate first

Sense checks become a habit.

Our own problems

Never copied test items.

Homeschool friendly

Fits around your curriculum.

Honest about results

We never forecast a score.

Batch size

Fifteen to twenty, or private lessons.

Student work

Made by children in our math classes

Math projects and early programs from children in our classes. See student labs for more.

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Questions from parents

Stanford 10 math practice: questions answered

What is the Stanford 10 test?

The Stanford 10, or SAT10, is Pearson's Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition. It is a nationally normed, multiple-choice achievement test for grades K to 12, with 2018 norms, covering reading, math, language, science and social science.

Is the Stanford 10 the same as the SAT?

No. SAT10 is Pearson's short name for the Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition, an achievement test for grades K to 12. The SAT used for college admissions is a different test from a different organization.

What math is on the Stanford 10?

From Primary 1 to Advanced 2 there are two math subtests: Mathematics Problem Solving and Mathematics Procedures. Kindergarten levels and the high school TASK levels have a single Mathematics test.

How long is the Stanford 10 math test?

On Pearson's scope chart, the Complete Battery math at Intermediate 1 is 48 Problem Solving items in about 50 minutes and 32 Procedures items in about 30 minutes. Pearson says the times are guidelines and the test is untimed.

What Stanford 10 level is for grade 3?

Pearson's chart gives Primary 2 for grades 2.5 to 3.5 and Primary 3 for grades 3.5 to 4.5. A child tested early in grade 3 usually sits Primary 2, and later in the year Primary 3.

What is a good Stanford 10 score for homeschool?

It depends on your state. Virginia accepts a composite in or above the fourth stanine, while New York places a program on probation only if the composite is below the 33rd percentile or shows less than a year of growth.

Can a parent give the Stanford 10 at home?

Pearson sells the SAT10 at qualification level B, and state rules decide who may administer it. In New York, a parent may give the test with the superintendent's consent; other states have their own rules.

How can my child practice for the Stanford 10?

Practice both halves of math: accurate computation and word problems where your child decides what to calculate. Look once at Pearson's practice test if your tester offers it, but do not drill look-alike questions.

When can lessons be scheduled?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Are you connected with Pearson?

No. Modern Age Coders is an independent online school with no link to Pearson, Stanford University or any state. We teach math and never promise a score.

Elsewhere on this site

Related pages

More help for US families testing at home or at school.

Iowa Assessments math prep

The other common achievement test.

Homeschool math curriculum

Choosing books and a weekly rhythm.

OLSAT explained

The ability test co-normed with the SAT10.

Third grade math tutoring

Primary 2 and 3 math, taught well.

Sixth grade math tutoring

Ratios, fractions and early algebra.

Common Core vs traditional math

Why methods at school look different.

Related pages in this guide

Part of the guide: Homeschool and school math curricula guide

Homeschool testing and credit

Curricula we teach alongside

Comparing options

More guides: US state math tests by state · US gifted and selective school tests · US math placement and college readiness tests · US math and coding competitions guide

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