Prepping My Eldest for the EQAO: What Worked, What Didn’t, and Why We’re Doing It

As a homeschool parent, I’ve always been curious how our journey stacks up against the public school system—not out of competition, but out of curiosity. Are we hitting the same milestones? Is our learning approach holding up? So when the opportunity came for my eldest to participate in the EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) assessment, I figured—why not?

I’ll be honest: I still don’t know what the experience will be like. But I do know I wanted my child to walk into that test feeling prepared and confident. Here’s what I did, what helped (and what didn’t), and how I’m feeling as we approach test day.

Workbooks from Amazon: A Mixed Bag

The first thing I did was hit up Amazon for EQAO-focused workbooks. I wanted something structured that could give us a taste of the format and questions.

What worked:
The language and reading comprehension sections were straightforward, practice-based, and honestly helpful. They gave my child a chance to practice timed reading, multiple-choice questions, and written responses—skills we don’t always emphasize in our more flexible homeschool environment.

What didn’t:
The math workbook? Whew. Let’s just say someone skipped the proofreading stage. Some questions were worded so confusingly that I had to reread them twice. It was frustrating for both of us—but even then, it was useful practice. My child learned how to slow down, ask questions, and break down unclear problems, which is an important skill in itself.

🛒 (If you’re curious, I’ve linked the ones we used here with notes about which ones worked best.)

Support From Our Local School

One of the biggest blessings in this process has been the communication from our local public school. I was contacted by someone from the school who provided:

Sample EQAO test questions
Clarification about the test format
Reassurance that I could ask anything—and I did!

This was a huge help, especially as someone who’s navigating standardized testing from outside the traditional system. It helped ease my anxiety and gave me a clearer picture of what my child might expect.

So, Why Are We Doing This?

I know the EQAO isn’t mandatory for homeschoolers. I know it’s primarily used for data and doesn’t directly affect my child’s academic record. But for me, this was about checking in—on myself, on our homeschool approach, and on how well my eldest is grasping the core competencies that Ontario’s curriculum covers.

This test is one small moment in a much bigger learning journey. Regardless of the results, I’m proud of the growth, the resilience, and the love of learning we’ve nurtured at home.

If You’re Just Starting Your Homeschool Journey…

If you’re new to homeschooling or thinking about making the leap, I’ve created an easy-to-follow e-book to help you get started with confidence. It’s packed with insights, organization tips, and encouragement—especially for parents in Ontario, but it’s helpful no matter where you are.

📘 Grab my homeschool starter e-book here

Final Thoughts

Testing doesn’t define a child. And it certainly doesn’t define a homeschool parent. But it can be a useful tool, and I’m grateful we had the chance to engage with it.

If you’re a fellow homeschool parent wondering about the EQAO, feel free to reach out—I’ll share what I learn from the process. And if you’re preparing your own child, know this: your effort matters, your curiosity matters, and you’re doing an incredible job.

Let’s see how this goes 💛