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Relax, nobody sees the results but you and whoever you went to for the test. It doesn't matter how well your child will do compared to other home-educated kids or schooled kids. What matters (aside from meeting the letter of the law) is that you get some feedback on his strong and weak areas so you can better plan his next year's curriculum. His scores are nobody else's business. One more thing matters: that your child develop a confidence with taking tests. Most kids will eventually need to show a test score to somebody..., SAT and ACT for college admission, for example. Think of this annual testing requirement as practice.
Read the article on local test offerings and talk to the administrators. Regardless of whom you choose, I expect she will be sensitive to any nervousness you and/or your child may have.
As far as preparation is concerned, I would recommend explaining to the child what to expect and asking him to do his best. Your test provider can help you with knowing what to expect. I wouldn't personally spend time on practice tests, but I know some people have done so.
Oh, I should mention an exception to what I said about no need to show these scores. If a child scores exceptionally well on his 4th grade test (He has to hit at least the ninety-somethingth percentile), an opportunity exists to apply for special testing in fifth grade to qualify for some exclusive summer courses held at universities .for bright 5th and 6th graders.
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