Transfer Test AQE 2014-2015

Mrs_mum

Hi folks, just some info for ya that I picked up today. Belfast high school accepted a few 98's by using their criteria this sept but it was only a handful and BRA accepted 99. Also, I was speaking to a member of staff in the AQE office and she said that if you are using past AQE papers to practice you should be looking your child to get a score of 75% in them, this isn't an exact figure but it has been a good figure to go by in the past (this is for a score of 100).

Veggie_Northern_Ireland

Thanks for the info on AQE Offices advice Mrsmum, it gives me a little bit more peace of mind to hear that 100 is hopefully mid 70%s.. Fingers crossed my sister will be sitting in low 80%s by the time of the tests.

Yeah BRA seems to have sat at 99 for the past few years.. I saw about 3 years ago they took mid 90s tho.. Let's just hope it doesn't raise this year. At the minute bra is the only school we've seen and she's got her mind set on it.. That might change after all the open days.

Mrs_mum

Yes the AQE office had mentioned BRA had accepted 94 before but nothing like that figure in a while. Daughter wants to go to BRA also but this could change in January when they view the schools. Daughter did a past AQE paper tonight and finished the paper 20mins early and got 80% so I'm hoping that her little hiccup is over. I would be happy if she sat around this score from now until November, fingers crossed.

Mrs_mum

Carrick grammar, lowest score they accepted this sept was 93 and Ballyclare high's lowest was 97.

kyral

My two are at Antrim Grammar which uses the AQE. However, as from 2015 they will be accepting applications from potential pupils who have GL results. Not too sure how they are going to manage this.

http://antrimgrammar.org/news/post.php?s=1970-01-01-year-8-admissions-2015

Mrs_mum

Hi kyral, Victoria college also accept both and they a seem to put the scores into bands so I'm assuming Antrim Grammar will do the same. It means the kids who sit both tests will have the oportunity to use their better score from either tests but it also would mean the child would have to sit 4 exams. It would be interesting to see how many sit both.

flymetothemoon_2

kyral wrote: »

My two are at Antrim Grammar which uses the AQE. However, as from 2015 they will be accepting applications from potential pupils who have GL results. Not too sure how they are going to manage this.

This is an unusual move by Antrim Grammar. Wonder are they doing it to attract more applicants for the school and keep entrance standard high ? Has their lowest score accepted under AQE been dropping??? Articles have appeared in the Press in previous years casting doubt as to how any school could possibly equate GL scores with AQE scores when the two tests are so different. My friend's child did both tests in 2010 and got an A in GL but only ninety something in AQE. He thought the AQE process and tests were definitely harder. His 2nd child will be sitting both tests this year and he is hopeful of an A in GL but says the practice tests his child is completing for AQE are not going nearly as well. Victoria College has been accepting both but has been publicly criticised for doing so due to the differences in tests. Unfortunately, I think this situation introduces some discrimination as most of the kids who sit both tests are from one side of the community and they may gain an advantage over the kids from the other side of our community who will generally only sit AQE. What a disappointment that all
schools did not agree on one testing system from the start !

Mrs_mum

It is disappointing that there isn't just one test that is accepted by all grammar schools but if any of the schools that we are interested in for our daughter did accept both AQE and GL we also would let her sit the GL to give her the best chance. I don't know enough about GL that I could comment on its level of difficulty but as far as I am aware it is multiple choice which may suit a lot of children better and I do like the idea that the maths and English are two separate papers as sometimes I think it is hard to switch your brain back and forth between maths and English questions (or maybe that's just my brain, lol).

kyral

I don't think AGS acceptance scores have dropped or for that matter increased by any less/more than any other school. The school is also fairly well mixed as regards the religious aspect, probably more so than the 'integrated' school which sits adjacent to it lol.

I would imagine its more to do with increasing their pool to 'choose' from, therefore eventually raising their performance results.

I just wish they'd move with the times and let the boys play football instead of forcing rugby on them. Would make my life so much easier lol.;)

Mrs_mum

Lol kyral, not playing football was a major gripe with my husband when he went to grammar school. But then again, I think with him everything about school was a gripe:)