Support thread for parents of chilldren sitting the transfer test in 2011

beccasmum

PMUM I don't really know how this all works but apparantly this year's top mark was set at 124 instead of 130 as in previous years, something to do with age ranges of kids. It all seems very confusing but maybe that is how these standardised scores work, just seems that the goal posts keep moving and we hardly know what to aim for, That is why it is impossible to second guess cut off marks as it all depends on how well kids in each area performed and who applies to each school. I am just going to stick to my guns with my prferences and see what happens.

Pmum

Definately the best plan.
I just want to make sure everyone maximises their chances by doing their homework on what each school look for and making sure it is on the form. Some school Heads will not give as much guidance as you might hope so you need to be prepared.

beccasmum

Does anyone understand how this standardisation works? How can the maximum mark change from year to year?

Ex-Spendaholic

I tried to get information on standardisation back in year 1. I was told by AQE that it was carried out using a system devised by an expert in QUB. No matter how much I harped on I couldnt get the information.

Pmum

I have no idea of the actual formula they use but it must shift the average score and call it 100 and work out the rest from there.

Do we actually know that they deliberately moved the top mark or was it just that this years results were more tightly packed in the top end of the graph?

I was thinking the graph of the results could just have been more narrow at that end?

flymetothemoon_2

Beccasmum

I also tried very hard last year to get info on standardisation from a number of sources. It was a complete waste of time - at the end of it all, I was none the wiser. Even school teachers don't understand it! My advice would be to forget about it as you'll only end up with a headache!

beccasmum

I also went through this in year 1 and now have done it again this year and am no wiser. I never understood how no one in year 1 got anywhere near the reported top mark of 145. Now it seems it was never out of that at all. This still doesn't explain why they need to move the top score each year to suit the kids sitting the test. What is all that about?:eek:

flymetothemoon_2

Yeh, I know what you mean about that mystical figure of "145"

it seems to have been PIE IN THE SKY!

Pmum

Did they actually say that they moved the top mark or just that that was how it worked out?

I suppose if none of the youngest children got very high scores this year then the top result attained would be lower.

I suspect that you had to be young compared to most of the group taking the test and get a very high score to come out with a result of 127.

No evidence for this, just trying to guess.

beccasmum

The way it was worded was that the top mark was set at 124 this year, does that make any sense? Sorry I can't be of any more help.