Transfer Test AQE 2014-2015

flymetothemoon_2

Darcy_1 wrote: »

Hi- thanks for the tips. He is getting tutored and his tutor said to me that there was no point tutoring him in maths as he is really strong in this area and she would just focus on the English. I agreed with her but in mid September when he had been bringing home the AQE past papers from school I analysed (!) them and realised that his maths was really letting him down. I think the maths questions are too 'wordy' for him. Give him a really hard maths equation he will work it out but add words and peoples names into the mix it just doesn't work for him.
He has been averaging about 78% but when we go back over and count up the silly mistakes he could be getting 94%.
I just hope that he reads the question correctly next Saturday!

Darcy - your son sounds exactly like mine, great at Maths and I thought English was the subject that needed worked on yet he often scores higher in the English than the Maths. Isn't it frustrating. I am now convinced it is simply down to the way some of the maths questions are worded - they are awkward. In fact, some of the questions are almost back to front and therefore kids need to be able to turn them around & really concentrate on what exactly is being asked. I would not agree with a tutor just focussing on English because your son needs to be taught how to tackle the Maths questions in the right way. Personally, I think there is a lot less than can be taught for English and it wouldn't be as time consuming so maybe you should have a word with the tutor to see if she can fit in some techniques for Maths questions asap.

flymetothemoon_2

Busy_mum wrote: »

Where did you get all those lavender products please?

Hi Busy mum

Boots, TK Maxx and BHS

Can you smell Lavender Lodge from your house ???

Darcy_1

flymetothemoon wrote: »

Darcy - your son sounds exactly like mine, great at Maths and I thought English was the subject that needed worked on yet he often scores higher in the English than the Maths. Isn't it frustrating. I am now convinced it is simply down to the way some of the maths questions are worded - they are awkward. In fact, some of the questions are almost back to front and therefore kids need to be able to turn them around & really concentrate on what exactly is being asked. I would not agree with a tutor just focussing on English because your son needs to be taught how to tackle the Maths questions in the right way. Personally, I think there is a lot less than can be taught for English and it wouldn't be as time consuming so maybe you should have a word with the tutor to see if she can fit in some techniques for Maths questions asap.

Thanks. I think it's probably a wee bit late for the tutor as he only has one session left with her. I honestly don't know if the tutoring did anything to help him! Did many of your kids get tutored? Most children that my DS goes to school with do get tutored so you just kind of go along with the masses!! Tutoring is not cheap either!

Workingmumof2

Darcy, my daughter got tutored also and I agree that it hasn't made a massive difference. To be honest I have spent more time this past month with her going over tests and I think this has helped more than the tutor. I now realise tutors cant work magic and definitely feel more confident that when my second child is at this stage to try and support her myself.

flymetothemoon_2

Darcy_1 wrote: »

Thanks. I think it's probably a wee bit late for the tutor as he only has one session left with her. I honestly don't know if the tutoring did anything to help him! Did many of your kids get tutored? Most children that my DS goes to school with do get tutored so you just kind of go along with the masses!! Tutoring is not cheap either!

Hi Darcy - My son has been tutored for the past 4 weeks and I think it has steadied him after a every unsettled September. In principle, I am against tutoring as I think we have a lot of great Primaries that teach/prepare kids well and so long as the encouragement and help is also given at home, that should be enough. However, I know what you mean about feeling that you have to go along with the masses and I have also felt that if lots of other kids are being tutored then my kids will not be on a level playing field if they are not tutored. Unfortunately, the use of tutors for transfer tests has increased significantly since the introduction of AQE and GL. I deliberately sought out a male tutor for my son because he had flourished in the 2 years that he had male teachers in Primary School. He just seemed to respond to them better and was more engaged. This tutor has been good for getting him engaged and focused and has taught him little techniques for tackling both Maths and English questions which he doesn't seem to have been taught at school. My problem has been exacerbated by the fact that that my sons P7 teacher was pretty useless during September as she was unwell and then she went off sick and he got a sub teacher throughout October who was great but she will not be back after Halloween so we don't know whats happening next week - very frustrating at such an important stage :mad:

Darcy_1

Workingmumof2 wrote: »

Darcy, my daughter got tutored also and I agree that it hasn't made a massive difference. To be honest I have spent more time this past month with her going over tests and I think this has helped more than the tutor. I now realise tutors cant work magic and definitely feel more confident that when my second child is at this stage to try and support her myself.

I could have written this!!! The last five weeks I have worked with my DS and I feel it has really helped him. He is my first child going through this and it is all new to me. My other child is in P4 so I will be fully aware of what to expect when he gets to the dizzy heights of P7! My DS has been will prepared in school but doesn't realise that when a question in the test is asking you to do x that means to work out volume for example!

Darcy_1

flymetothemoon wrote: »

Hi Darcy - My son has been tutored for the past 4 weeks and I think it has steadied him after a every unsettled September. In principle, I am against tutoring as I think we have a lot of great Primaries that teach/prepare kids well and so long as the encouragement and help is also given at home, that should be enough. However, I know what you mean about feeling that you have to go along with the masses and I have also felt that if lots of other kids are being tutored then my kids will not be on a level playing field if they are not tutored. Unfortunately, the use of tutors for transfer tests has increased significantly since the introduction of AQE and GL. I deliberately sought out a male tutor for my son because he had flourished in the 2 years that he had male teachers in Primary School. He just seemed to respond to them better and was more engaged. This tutor has been good for getting him engaged and focused and has taught him little techniques for tackling both Maths and English questions which he doesn't seem to have been taught at school. My problem has been exacerbated by the fact that that my sons P7 teacher was pretty useless during September as she was unwell and then she went off sick and he got a sub teacher throughout October who was great but she will not be back after Halloween so we don't know whats happening next week - very frustrating at such an important stage :mad:

That is really good point about boys responding well to male tutors. I will certainly take that on board with regards to my younger DS. That is such a shame about the P7 teacher as you really want to hit the ground running in P7. I'm sure the parents in your sons class were up in arms about it. I'm glad though he had a good teacher in October and I hope he has an equally good teacher in November.

Mrs_mum

Oh gee, 1 week exactly to the first test!!!!

Busy_mum_3

Dear All - things are not going the best for us. Sadly our little dog was killed on the road last night. Children v upset. Hoping D will b able 2 focus & work this week for final revision.

Darcy_1

Busy_mum wrote: »

Dear All - things are not going the best for us. Sadly our little dog was killed on the road last night. Children v upset. Hoping D will b able 2 focus & work this week for final revision.

So sorry to hear this. Thinking about you all.