Transfer Test AQE 2014-2015

Mrs_mum

Oh goodness can't believe it is 2 weeks today until the first test!

flymetothemoon_2

My thoughts exactly Mrs Mum - ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO

Don't know about everyone else but my batteries are running so low that I can't wait to get to the end of November and it finally feels like it's in sight!

Thank goodness my wee man has remained focussed & has scored at least 80% in all his practice papers over the past few weeks, mind you he has really had to knuckle down to achieve this so I am just hoping he can keep it up for 5 more weeks

His school didn't send home any work or practice papers in the summer but has now sent home 2 practice tests for use at home over the Halloween break. So we will definitely do those and maybe another 2 as well! (My son will be delighted - lol).

Busy_mum_3

Dear All - yes it will be such a relief to get the tests started at last. My girl is doing well but I'm just hoping like you that she can keep up the drive & not lose interest. We have just one more past paper to do. I'm wondering what else we would need to cover - maybe a look over the other papers to remind/revise? Ideas welcome. Really like having you lot to chat to.

Workingmumof2

Hi I'm so glad to have found this forum for some well needed support at this stressful time. My daughter is doing both the aqe and GL tests this year. Was wondering if anyone had a rough idea of what percentage she would need to be getting to get over 105 as her 1st choice took over 104 last year. I know it will depend on peers though an estimate would help. She is averaging around 78%-80% though sometimes slightly higher or lower. Starting to panic this won't be enough😞

motherearth

Hi nice to have some others to chat to regarding the Aqe and
GL test this year. My youngest daughter is doing the AQE this year also, my other daughter sat hers back in 2009 which seems so long ago.
I wish all your little ones the best for the first paper coming up on the 8th so nervous thinking about it. Lol

Mrs_mum

I think the kids are all ready for it now, I don't think there is much more they can do. Daughters school gave them 6 practice papers for over the Halloween break so that will keep her going for the week.

Workingmumof2 try not to worry too much about last years scores, we really don't know what the schools will take this year. My daughters school did advise that parents and pupils stop talking about passing and failing. They told the kids there is no pass or fail, their score is their score and they should be proud of their score because of the effort they have all put in and it has really made me think and I have stopped using the words pass or fail.

Busy mum how did your daughter get on at her familiarisation day? Did it help with what she thought of the school?

I know flymetothemoon we just need them to stay focused for a few more weeks. Daughters school got the kids and parents to make out an action plan for the week before, night before, day of and day after the tests. I thought this was really good. Kids got to put down fun activities that they would like to do like going swimming, going to the park etc and parents got to put down how much work they wanted their kids to do and how they wanted the kids to eat a good breakfast on the mornings of the test etc and then both the parents and the kids had to sign it. I thought it was a good idea.

Mrs_mum

Hi motherearth, same to your daughter. How did your oldest daughter cope on the day of the tests?

Veggie_Northern_Ireland

Reading about schools explaining to children about scores (nothing's a fail) and making action plans etc makes me realised how much her school have really failed the children in the run up to aqe.:mad: After doing no practice work, they suddenly shoved so much work on the children that it was too much and now in the last few weeks before the tests they are spending their time in class "completing old worksheets for bits when they ran out of time", playing top trumps and colouring in, as she always completes work before the time she has had nothing to do and has been left sitting there. She'd be better of staying at home! :eek:

I love the idea of action plans to help keep the stress down, I've booked disney in ice for the day after the second paper and she has a club in Fridays that should keep her distracted from stressing. The main problem here will be getting her to go to sleep at a decent time the night before!

At the minute we're feeling ok about her scores and thinking that if she keeps up with where she is that it should be enough for her first choice... The grammar that will most likely be her second choice took scores down to 88 in 2013 so I'd imagine that is she doesn't get high enough for first choice she should definitely score enough for second choice. The school that took 88 is actually ranked higher in pupil attainment than the school that takes 99.

Good Luck to everyone for the last two weeks before the tests begin!

motherearth

Hi mrs mum, it seems so long ago and my elder daughter was one of the first year to change to the new system, ie the Aqe/Gl.
I just remember that we hadn't a clue about the whole thing.She seemed to take things easy and didn't seem stressed.
I don't know if it's worse this time because I do know what to expect.
Just trying to keep the wee one calm lol.
Her school are really good at preparing them which is a massive help, not long then at least they can relax as well as us lol

Workingmumof2

I think the action plan is a fantastic idea, will definitely devise something similar with my daughter focusing on fun activities we can do after the tests. She seems pretty relaxed about it, think it's us parents doing all the stressing. Good luck to all the kids for the 8th Nov.