anyone with kids in p6? exam help plz!!

JosieJoBelfast

My daughter went through it this year and fingers crossed she will get her school of choice.

This process is definitely more stressful for the parents than the kids - that is the experience in our school and in my house. The kids did have a bit of nerves, but were a credit to themselves and mature beyond the years and took it in their stride. There is so much testing within the schools anyway that I found the students in our school were resigned to it being another test.

I did the fretting, worrying, not sleeping and kept my daughter away from the mania that was going on.

We were fortunate that our school when they went back after the summer did do some tests with them and the school did some preparations - children were so sick of English and Maths by the end of it.

As for over the summer, as the kids are 10 or 11, the Principal was adamant that they got a summer holiday and break from studying - so he suggested that we pick 4 weeks during the holidays and that is the start of the revision.

We used old 11 plus papers - just the maths and english parts and the PMP publications and from Learning Together (they have a website) and allowed her to pick which 2 hours a week she would do her tests in. Gave her control. We didn't have a private tutor - her dad and I spent time with her if she needed it. Didn't want overkill on the testing or for her to peak too early.

Ignore the scaremongering of the press. As long as the adults/media and politicians don't hype up the high stakes testing and make it seem like life and death which frightens the kids. Make the kids feel reassured, supported and nurtured they should come through the process alright and fingers crossed get the result desired.

I hope that you find the actual testing process and run up to it 'stress free'. The school where we sat the test Methody, did a great job in my opinion managing the process of sitting the tests and communicating about the process etc.

What I have found stressful is the uncertainty regarding what the scores received mean and then suppositions and rumours that have been caused due to lack of further clarification from AQE. This is where I believe AQE can improve.

Just be thankful you weren't the guinea pigs from year 1 and that all parties will have had a chance to learn and improve.

I wish all this Years P6s well in the whatever test they choose - my nephew is doing it this year - so I hope the come through it unscarred with the result they want.:)

Ex-Spendaholic

Application process for AQE tests opens 14 May. See AQE website for details. www.aqe.org.uk

JosieJoBelfast

AQE website states - "Registration forms will be available from Monday 14th May 2010 from the following locations:" - there is no such date!!!

So much for the tests not running in to December again!!!

BOBS

JosieJoBelfast wrote: »

AQE website states - "Registration forms will be available from Monday 14th May 2010 from the following locations:" - there is no such date!!!

So much for the tests not running in to December again!!!

that really instills our confidence in them if they cant even get a date right.

butterflymum

Is everyone/anyone's school charging for a Summer test pack to be used as revision over the holidays? If not, are they giving packs out free.

Also, if applicable, which pack/s are being offered and do they cover only one or both styles of test?

BOBS

butterflymum wrote: »

Is everyone/anyone's school charging for a Summer test pack to be used as revision over the holidays? If not, are they giving packs out free.

Also, if applicable, which pack/s are being offered and do they cover only one or both styles of test?

We have been told that there will be a summer test pack available to 'buy' - not sure of cost yet. Think it only covers for the AQE test.

JosieJoBelfast

Last year in our school - the sent home flyers from commercial organisations who were selling practice booklets/papers - these were quite costly. Try and borrow some from last year's P7 parents if they haven't already passed them on. This was for AQE only, we had no students doing GL.

The school also made up booklets of old 11 plus papers minus the science.

Ex-Spendaholic

Just found this website which is a project between the Lisburn Grammars. Not a lot on there yet but may be worth bookmarking:

http://www.transfer2010.org/

bluegem

Hi,I have a daughter in p6 and was wandering when Grammer schools have their open evenings.
Jx

Glenkeen

Hi there

I have a son in P6 and one in year 9 - chalk and cheese.

The younger is an air head and we were quite worried about his levels of concentration etc with regard to preparation for the tests.

However in three weeks he's gone from 46 to 67 in his marks in tests set by his school. No tuition (not paid anyway!!) just his Dad and I.

Easons in Donegal Place Belfast (upstairs) sell packs of practice tests - CEA practice tests includes 4 tests with separate answers price between £5.50 and £7.99.

Also try online maths tutor who will provide English and Maths papers at no cost.

Also try the Ballymena Academy website or one of the schools doing the PPTC exams - they have a specimen maths and and English paper to download with direction on the completion of the paper which is multiple choice.

Keep your eyes peeled as well as the Belfast Telegraph sometimes gives out free sample tests on the approach to the exams and these come with answers.

You could try the AQE website as you are interested in Regent but as they charge to sit the exam they might not be keen to supply samples.

Hope some of this helps. Our school also runs a summer revision class so again keep your ear to the ground.

As long as you are supportive and do a small amount each day trying to make it fun or interesting (I used to do the trest with my older child complete with coffee and jaffa cakes to get us through the hour - and we turned it into a competition with great results) you will find she should come on and simply target and extra point or two with each test she does.

Good luck with the test and the job hunting!!

Joyce