ACE diagnostic tests before PACEs: a UK parent guide

Most learners entering Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) at Level 2 or above should take ACE diagnostic tests before starting PACEs. The results help identify a starting point in each subject and any earlier skills to revisit. Children beginning Kindergarten or Level 1 follow a different route: ACE recommends its ABCs pretest instead. For UK families, check the testing route with your curriculum provider before ordering a full set of books. ACE explains its placement approach.

Who needs ACE diagnostic tests before starting PACEs?

ACE says diagnostic testing places learners at their performance level in each subject from Level 2 upwards. Its ordering guidance says children ready for Kindergarten or Level 1 should not take those diagnostic tests; the ABCs pretest helps select an early reading programme. The broad rule in ACE’s FAQ that each learner should be tested needs to be read with that younger-child exception. Read ACE’s ordering guidance and its FAQ.

If your child is not yet reading, do not push them through an online test meant for older learners. UK-based TEACH says children under five or unable to read should ask its team about the right assessment route. It also asks families considering enrolment for a learner aged 14 or over to speak with the team first. See TEACH’s diagnostic setup guide.

What do the results tell you?

The tests look for skill and concept mastery, rather than giving one label for the whole child. ACE’s diagnostic site lists maths, English, reading and spelling as tested areas. It says identified gaps can lead to specific gap PACEs before the learner moves on at their performance level. A result in one subject should not automatically set the level of every other subject. See ACE’s diagnostic explanation.

For example, a child might be ready for one level of Maths but need a short review of an earlier English concept. A useful placement record would note each subject, the suggested starting PACE, any gap PACEs and the reason for the decision. That is an illustration of how to organise the information, not a placement recommendation for a particular child.

A practical starting sequence for UK home educators

• Ask your provider which assessment route fits the child’s age, reading stage and previous learning.

• Confirm how to access the tests today, and who will interpret the results. Do not assume an older setup guide reflects current availability.

• Keep the results by subject. Ask about any gap PACEs before purchasing a complete level.

• Agree on a modest first set of materials and review how the learner responds after starting.

TEACH’s UK enrolment steps include parent training, diagnostics and a child-specific prescription before a family orders the recommended materials. Families outside that programme should ask their own ACE supplier what support it provides. Read TEACH’s getting-started steps.

What if the online diagnostic test is unavailable?

At the time of this review, TEACH’s diagnostic setup page says the A.C.E. Diagnostic Test site is undergoing maintenance. The ACE diagnostic site itself displays registration and describes free online testing. Those pages do not establish that a UK family can complete the online route today. TEACH tells members needing help to email its team and also points to paper-based tests. Confirm the current route directly before making a plan around online access. Check TEACH’s live notice and ACE’s diagnostic site.

If you already have an older result, ask whether it still reflects what the child can do now. If a test cannot be completed, avoid guessing a PACE number from age alone. Discuss a suitable way to assess current skills with the provider.

How should you use the placement after testing?

Treat the prescription as a starting point to review, not a judgement about ability. Watch whether the child understands the first tasks, can explain their thinking and receives help when a concept is hard. Record the PACE number and any adjustment you agree with the provider. Keep assessment results private and share them only with people who need them to support the learner.

This placement question is different from the day-to-day workbook routine. For that routine, read our guide to how ACE PACEs work. If you coordinate a Christian school or learning group, the NexSteps schools overview describes operational records and family communication; it is not an ACE diagnostic service. The free toolkit can help a team review its wider record-keeping routine.

Start with the correct assessment route, confirm the provider’s interpretation, then order for the child in front of you. Review the first few weeks before committing to a large stack of PACEs.