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

cashcrisis

We're doing both AQE and GL, my daughter did them both last year. She did well and is at our first choice grammar and hoping we'll do the same this year too!! She has had tuition over the summer, which has helped but it's the careless mistakes that will be her downfall rather than not being able to do it. It's so frustrating when she's so capable but doesn't bother to read the question properly so gets it wrong!

As for the conversions - I showed them a ruler so they have an idea of what 1mm looks like and 1cm etc, then at random moments (got to keep drumming it in) I would ask how many mm in a cm? and hold my fingers together (very small gap for mm slightly bigger for cm) and when they can visualise it it goes in better. It's easier for them to do the conversions.
Same for litres and ml - show them drink bottles in 500ml, 1 litre, 2 litre.`

May not help your child, but I was a bit desperate at the time

dprovan

cashcrisis

thanks for the great tip. That makes perfect sense and I will give that a go.

one2escape

Small update I spoke to the guys at AQE and was told to put down his ADHD and they will be sending another form out. Not sure what happens with that though

RikM

Tiny_Mum wrote: »

I know I'm going to sound incredibly dumb but could someone explain the marking system to me. My dd is doing practise tests at the moment each one marked out of 80 but if 145 is the max score how do they work that out?:(

I don't think anyone (except the exam body, hopefully) really understands how the marks work...

They standardize the scores so that the average mark comes out at 100, and also adjust them for age to try and even out the differences between pupils at the start and end of the year. Quite how they do that is not explained. The maximum mark is 145, but I don't think there is a chance of anyone ever getting that, unless they are one of the younger kids and get perfect marks...

In practical terms, that doesn't matter. If your child is getting above average on the practices, then she will probably be average or above on the test. Grammars seems to be taking pupils from around the average mark in the last couple of years (some above, some below, and it varies a bit from year to year).

But you need to know that the marks they get in the practice papers may bear no easy relation to the actual marks in the tests, even if your daughter performs as well on the day as in practice.

ezmode

Since many of the schools stopped actually teaching our children (I shan't go into a rant about politicians - though I blame them)...

I really suggest tutors if you have the means. I was tempted to try it myself on a more serious level but many of the techniques I use in math are out-dated.

They usually cost around 20 quid an hour here in Derry. A few companies have started doing it recently as well! Sent mine to Kip McGrath, not sure if its around out where you are though.

adscetera.com/ads/kip-mcgrath-education-centre-lisburn-english-and-maths-tuition-for-children-aged-6-16/

Anyway, hope it all pans out. Some of the advice above my own is spot on.

dee1000

RikM wrote: »

But you need to know that the marks they get in the practice papers may bear no easy relation to the actual marks in the tests, even if your daughter performs as well on the day as in practice.

Hi

The above quote has just seriously worried me
How on earth does a parent know how their child is doing. If my child is getting say between 45-50 on practice papers <out of 64> this means with the two best papers her mark could be between 90 and 100. If she does as good on the day her score may be totally different :mad: Does this mean her score may be greater or lower :eek:
This whole process is driving me nuts and if my child wasnt so keen to go to a certain school she wouldnt be doing it.

RANT OVER

Dee xxxx

absoluteutopia

ezmode wrote: »

Since many of the schools stopped actually teaching our children (I shan't go into a rant about politicians - though I blame them)...

I really suggest tutors if you have the means. I was tempted to try it myself on a more serious level but many of the techniques I use in math are out-dated.

They usually cost around 20 quid an hour here in Derry. A few companies have started doing it recently as well! Sent mine to Kip McGrath, not sure if its around out where you are though.

adscetera.com/ads/kip-mcgrath-education-centre-lisburn-english-and-maths-tuition-for-children-aged-6-16/

Anyway, hope it all pans out. Some of the advice above my own is spot on.

Wouldnt entertain Kip McGrath, any muppet can set up a franchise. they are far to workbook focused as well, costs me nothing to give the kid a workbook and some lessons

Tiny_Mum

Thanks for that. Was actually at the school tonight and it was obvious that I wasn't the only one who was a bit flummoxed.

fieldofpoppies

Hi there went through this process in 2009 with my eldest - no problems as he was on the 'top table' in his class. However my younger son has dyslexia and it is an absolute nightmare! You have to complete another form on top of the one you fill in originally to get extra time. I know that some of you who do not have children with learning difficulties will be thinking "oh yeah extra time" but having had a child who did not need it - it is no joke. I have completed the form but have still heard nothing so we don't know if our child is getting extra time or not - nightmare!!! Currently they are working to the normal time and marks are really low because he does not have enough time to complete but out of the questions he has time to answer he gets them right. We have been paying a tutor for years and as she says if a child is bright they get frustrated because they know they can do it but can't communicate it whereas if a child is not bright they will not worry because they haven't got the intelligence to work it out. My son is extremely frustrated!! I can't stand the thought of him not going to a grammar school - we will have to deal with that when we come to it. This system was fine for my eldest who is intelligent and could cope with it but not for my youngest who is intelligent but because of the dyslexia is slow.:-(

one2escape

Starting to get real now :eek: Just got the dates

• 12 November 2011, 10am
• 26 November 2011, 10am
• 3 December 2011, 10am.