AQE Exam Results

snowJo

My son got a score of 93. We live in Newtownabbey area and put Belfast High, BRA, Ballyclare High and Glengormley High down in that order. There was no point in putting down a 5th choice as it would mean travelling too much further and we didn't want him doing that. Alas, he didn't get any of his 3 grammar school choices and will be heading to Glengormley High. Disappointing after reading last year's cut off marks as Ballyclare high took down to 90. I just hope he will get into the top classes and away from the inevitable "messers" in the lower classes.

What I find hard to understand is the jump in some of the cut off marks this year. You would think there would be a similar range of marks/grades year in year out, but that notion has now been shattered. You just can't guess the system at all.

Never mind, GHS it is and we'll make the best out of it.

snowJo

Just saw this on the UTV website:-

Monday, 30 May 2011
Transfer tests 'leaked' to parents


A parent has claimed transfer test papers were leaked by a member of staff at a Catholic grammar school last year, ahead of children sitting the unregulated exams.

It is an allegation which the chairman of the Catholic Principals' Association says, if substantiated, would undermine the integrity of the whole unregulated transfer system.
It could also lead to numerous appeals and even judicial reviews of the use of the tests by schools when selecting pupils this year.


"If true, it provided an unknown number of participants with an unfair advantage in their preparation for the tests and would therefore call into question the accuracy and integrity of the results and grades of all of the pupils who have sat the tests," CPA chairman Fintan Murphy said.

GL Assessment, who provide the tests, have always been very clear that participants should never have prior sight of any of the tests and have consistently refused to provide past papers.
Fintan Murphy, CPA

Unregulated tests emerged within some schools after the controversial abolition of the 11-plus in 2008, to fill the void left by the lack of political consensus for an alternative system.
GL assessment papers have been largely adopted by Catholic grammar schools as a method of post-primary selection, with standard practise dictating that past papers are not used to prepare children for the exams.
That's because the questions are all taken from a main database and so those set for one test could reappear in the future.
But now the Catholic Principals Association says a parent has come forward alleging to have had access to the 2009 papers, prior to the exams being sat in 2010.
It is also claimed other parents had access to the questions - some of which the CPA says did then appear in the 2010 exams - and that the information was provided by a member of staff at one of the schools administering the tests.
"On Saturday, a significant number of pupils will have received letters confirming their rejection by grammar schools across Northern Ireland - largely based on their performance in the unregulated tests," Mr Murphy said.
"Undoubtedly, this will have caused much upset and distress for those 11-year-old children and their families.
"If it is confirmed that some children sitting these tests did so with an advantage over others - gained through access to official test papers - then the whole process of the use of the tests will be called into question. Not just this year, but for future years."
The information has been passed to the Department of Education and a call made for a full investigation into the matter.

© UTV News

flymetothemoon_2

Hello all - I have only recently discovered this very interesting forum & have found it almost theraputic to know that so many other parents have been as stressed as I have over the whole transfer process this year! I notice that some of you have quoted higher cut off marks for schools than last year and that has certainly been my experience. My child scored 96 in the AQE and was turned down by 1st and 2nd choice schools which last year had cut off marks of 94 (Belfast High) & 95 (B.R.A.) - their cut off marks this year were 99 (Belfast High) and 97 (B.R.A.) - we were surprised and disappointed! Thankfully, we did end up with 3rd choice but their lowest score also rose by 5 points this year. Meanwhile my friend's child who scored 95 did not secure a place in Antrim Grammar (where the cut off was 92 last year but 97 this year). Another friend with a score of 90 got her last choice which was Victoria College and even their lowest score has risen this year to 89 (it was 88 last year). I am really confused as to how so many schools have higher cut off marks this year when 206 less children actually sat the AQE (according to the Belfast Telegraph). I had been guided by the scores printed in the Bel Tel's very helpful article last year but am now wondering did they include special cases for some schools and not for others! I too, applaud Strathearn, for posting the outcome of this year's process on their website so promptly. All other grammars should do the same. Good luck to all.

ni-mum

flymetothemoon wrote: »

Hello all - I have only recently discovered this very interesting forum & have found it almost theraputic to know that so many other parents have been as stressed as I have over the whole transfer process this year! I notice that some of you have quoted higher cut off marks for schools than last year and that has certainly been my experience. My child scored 96 in the AQE and was turned down by 1st and 2nd choice schools which last year had cut off marks of 94 (Belfast High) & 95 (B.R.A.) - their cut off marks this year were 99 (Belfast High) and 97 (B.R.A.) - we were surprised and disappointed! Thankfully, we did end up with 3rd choice but their lowest score also rose by 5 points this year. Meanwhile my friend's child who scored 95 did not secure a place in Antrim Grammar (where the cut off was 92 last year but 97 this year). Another friend with a score of 90 got her last choice which was Victoria College and even their lowest score has risen this year to 89 (it was 88 last year). I am really confused as to how so many schools have higher cut off marks this year when 206 less children actually sat the AQE (according to the Belfast Telegraph). I had been guided by the scores printed in the Bel Tel's very helpful article last year but am now wondering did they include special cases for some schools and not for others! I too, applaud Strathearn, for posting the outcome of this year's process on their website so promptly. All other grammars should do the same. Good luck to all.

Victoria College have also posted the scores that were admitted this year, 91-125 - your friend must have had special circumstances to get in with 90.

flymetothemoon_2

Hi ni mum

Good to hear that Victoria College has now posted the scores on its website. I should have added that my friend's child is going to be boarding and I don't know the criteria for that but presumably the criteria are different for boarders. Mind you my friend said they told her by phone that the lowest they accepted thie year was the 22nd percentile which (they said) equated to a score of 89 - things just keep getting more confusing. Thank goodness I am not going through this again next year!

rolo1_2

Congratulations to all the children who sat transfer tests this year.

I think one of the main reasons that cut-off marks appear to be higher this year is that last year some parents 'assumed' a certain score would not be good enough and therefore did not apply for 1st choice school. This did backfire as I know of loads of cases were the child would have got first choice had they applied. This years intake have the benefit of seeing last years cut-off marks, so more have applied, thus pushing up the cut-off score.

For those P6 parents now going through this, my advice is to stick to your preferences in strict order, and do not base your decisions on this years or last years cut-off scores (just use as a guide) - Let the clearing system work it all out.

flymetothemoon_2

Hi Rolo, I totally agree with you that parents going through the process this year should definitely stick to their prefences in the order they want the schools as that is what we did this year even though we knew our child's score was near the cut-off for some of the schools we wanted. Our Primary Headmaster would only say that he thought people needed to have a score in the 90s to be in with a chance. Unfortunately we know of lots of kids who scored in the 90s (between 91 and 95) & did not get into any of the grammars in North Belfast/East Antrim area. This has been a very bitter pill for them as most would have got into the grammars last year. Perhaps next year our Primary Head will be saying 'you need a score in the high 90s'.

rolo1_2

Flymetothemoon - Yes I agree, however on second thoughts headmasters should be saying nothing!! - Scores give an insight but it is all down to the numbers who apply. One thing is for sure if you don't apply you wont get in.
Even with a score in the 80's I would still stick to rank order of choice, nothing to lose at all, and you never know!! - Cut offs will change again for next year as some parents will again 'assume' based on this years cut-off mark................

BallyclareMum

flymetothemoon wrote: »

Hello all - I have only recently discovered this very interesting forum & have found it almost theraputic to know that so many other parents have been as stressed as I have over the whole transfer process this year! I notice that some of you have quoted higher cut off marks for schools than last year and that has certainly been my experience. My child scored 96 in the AQE and was turned down by 1st and 2nd choice schools which last year had cut off marks of 94 (Belfast High) & 95 (B.R.A.) - their cut off marks this year were 99 (Belfast High) and 97 (B.R.A.) - we were surprised and disappointed! Thankfully, we did end up with 3rd choice but their lowest score also rose by 5 points this year. Meanwhile my friend's child who scored 95 did not secure a place in Antrim Grammar (where the cut off was 92 last year but 97 this year). Another friend with a score of 90 got her last choice which was Victoria College and even their lowest score has risen this year to 89 (it was 88 last year). I am really confused as to how so many schools have higher cut off marks this year when 206 less children actually sat the AQE (according to the Belfast Telegraph). I had been guided by the scores printed in the Bel Tel's very helpful article last year but am now wondering did they include special cases for some schools and not for others! I too, applaud Strathearn, for posting the outcome of this year's process on their website so promptly. All other grammars should do the same. Good luck to all.

Hi There - just discovered this forum - very interesting. My DS got 96 and got into Ballyclare High School. However several of his classmates did not with scores of 94 and 95. His friend got a place in Antrim Grammar with a score of 90 (no special circumstances). Has a friend who is still awaiting placement even though a sibling at first choice grammar and a score of 96. Absolutely crazy - no continuity anywhere. Did anyone hear what the cut off for Carrick Grammar was?

flymetothemoon_2

Hi There - just discovered this forum - very interesting. My DS got 96 and got into Ballyclare High School. However several of his classmates did not with scores of 94 and 95. His friend got a place in Antrim Grammar with a score of 90 (no special circumstances). Has a friend who is still awaiting placement even though a sibling at first choice grammar and a score of 96. Absolutely crazy - no continuity anywhere. Did anyone hear what the cut off for Carrick Grammar was?


Hi Ballyclare Mum - very well done to your son. You're right about the lack of continuity though & I am very surprised at a child getting into Antrim Grammar with a score of 90 as my friend's child did not get in with score of 95 and the school have said their cut off was 97 this year. Makes me wonder how truthful the schools are being in all of this! After all, who's checking up on them? They could be telling parents anything. As for the poor kid on 96 still awaiting placement - that is a nightmare. 96 is a good score - if you don't mind me askin', what school is his sibling at. Is this the school he is still hoping for? I don't know anyone in this postiion. Haven't heard cut off for Carrick Grammar but I know of several parents who have rang schools and asked the cut offs and the schools are readily giving out that info.