Transfer Test AQE 2015-2016 *NEW THREAD*

Rainbowmac

Hi all me again
We have done a maths gl test 15 today . We are doing both exams did an aqe through the week but my ds can't seem to get past 71% still silly mistakes
Not sure what to make of it or if he has any hope in scoring well
Reassurance anyone

Flashfriend

Rainbowmac wrote: »

Hi all me again
We have done a maths gl test 15 today . We are doing both exams did an aqe through the week but my ds can't seem to get past 71% still silly mistakes
Not sure what to make of it or if he has any hope in scoring well
Reassurance anyone

Don't give up yet. The marks here have dramatically improved just this week. I don't know if these marks will continue but I now know she can do it when she tries! There is still time for your DS to get higher marks.

Cherryscone

3 weeks to go folks

Mammy64

We choose the grammar school route because the local high schools do not offer the range of subjects that we have found offered in the grammar schools. One language (spanish) in the high school as opposed to up to four languages offered in the grammar schools; separate biology, physics, chemistry in the grammars as opposed to double-award GCSE science. There's no comparison really if your child is high achieving and is looking at university entry.

Our P7 son is sitting the tests in November. His school report band is 115-120 so he is above average in ability. The classes at his school were streamed until last year when the new principal took over, ditched the streaming for 'all ability' and has significantly downgraded the preparation and support for the transfer test this year. The experience our elder son in Yr9 had at this school prepping for the test was so different and so much better than what is being done in the school now. There's no weekend tests being offered for the kids to do, there's no homework (which is a huge difference) and the teacher taking the test class refuses to send the papers the kids do in class home for parents to revise.

The prep classes did not begin until September compared to them starting at easter in previous years under the previous principal. Prep has been minimal, most of the kids in the class I'm told are getting scores as little as 45% at this late stage. The teacher is actually a special needs teacher brought in to take these classes which means he is accustomed to bringing kids from the bottom up to average, he is not up to taking kids of above average ability and pushing further up the scale. It is showing in the poor progress the kids are making. We are lucky in that we can tutor our son ourselves at home but what really annoys me is that the new principal is clearly withdrawing support for the test and is doing it by downgrading the prep for the test this year. The teacher claims giving the kids extra homeowork for the test is not good for them....seriously!

Either the schools get behind this test 100% or not at all; what our P7's are getting in 2015 is a half-baked effort by a principal more concerned with upsetting the education dept than supporting these kids, and a teacher who has no idea how to work with high-achieving kids as opposed to 10 yr olds who can barely read. These kids are there wanting to do these tests and are prepared to put the work and effort in and they are stuck with a teacher is not prepared to do the same.

northdown23

That sounds like an absolute nightmare. As if it isn't stressful enough. At least you can do work with your child at home. I have aged since February this year. My daughter is just passed 10 in April there and from week to week she can have a score of 45% right up to 82 % depending on the test. I have done CEA papers with her at home unsupervised and she is capable of high 70's every time. Just wish this nightmare was over but it wont be until May next year !

Mammy64

Your daughter is doing remarkably well, is her school supporting the test with prep classes or are you working solely with her? if the latter then well done!

My gripe is the huge contrast in the way our school supports the test in 2015 as compared to how it was supported up until 2014. What was a programme of tuition that extended over several months leading to the tests now numbers a matter of weeks with little to no teaching being done. The attitude from the principal and the teacher is clear in that they dont agree with the tests and that they are offering the bare minimum just so they can say they are offering support. Frankly it's a waste of time.

The stats also speak for themselves...prior to 2014 under the previous Head and transfer test teacher, 95-98% of our P7's who did the test got their first choice of grammar school and this figure has been steady since 2010 give or take 1-2%. Last year under the new Head and this new teacher and their downgraded system, only 52% of our P7's sitting the test got into a grammar school. That's a very sudden significant decrease and it reflects the changes they made. Not good.

All the best to your daughter, just keep her plugging away to keep her hand in, make sure she practices doing the test for one hour and it's useful to give her a watch so she can time herself, that's what we've done with our little guy. Try not to stress it, come test time the kids always seem able to pull one out of the bag and do better than they expected

northdown23

thanks Mammy64 for the kind words. Yes her school are doing a bit - twice a week and they get the tests home. They are not expected to do corrections tho which I feel is very important. I really hope she does pull it out of the bag on the day as she wants it so much ! I feel for you not getting the support from your school / principal. Schools are not allowed to coach them as you know but they all do it and they do it differently. Just a shame its our kids that have to suffer. The whole thing is a mess ! Stress on the child and the parent.My eldest daughter did it 5 years ago and got 105. She couldn't have cared either way but was fortunate to get a good mark. My youngest wants it so bad and I fear there could be disappointment. Good luck at your end. Speak soon :-) :-)

Rainbowmac

North down my ds turned ten in June the youngest in class doing the test . He seems to be holding his own gets a few really good scores depending on the test and his mood . He seems to be sitting around 70+ mark at the minute . He's capable but lazy immature according to teacher but he wants this and I also fear disappointment .
I have to realise it's not the end of the world if he doesn't get into grammar school for him or for any child actually if the child wants to learn then they will
At whatever school route that they take . Our school sends a test home once a week and did a summer pack the rest I've been muddling through with him . I'm just still happy that all this hasn't put him off school completely !! 😊

Busy_mum_3

MiaMam wrote: »

Good morning! Is anyone else working their way through the CEA practice papers and finding them increasingly difficult? My DD did paper 15 this morning and only got 60% and she's a bit upset.

We've 5 of these papers left to do but I'm wondering should I stop doing these as they may damage her confidence? She's doing really well in the past aqe papers in school so don't want to upset her! Some of the questions were quite hard and she found the previous one tough too although managed to get 80 in it. Or maybe she's just having a bad day!!!

Is anyone doing the latest Belfast Telegraph tests? X

Hi Miamam

I have a lot of experience doing the CEA papers with two kids (daughter last year & son this year). I think they are fantastic for spring/summer practice but I feel that the English is much more difficult than the past papers - hence two weeks ago (having just bought a new pack) I ditched them for the reasons you have outlined (son's score & confidence had dropped) - I see no reason to give child harder comprehension exercises than necessary at this late stage - better to focus on improving their weaknesses. Also to be getting good scores in past papers & then doing badly in CEA tests is very demoralising for the child. I think you should explain this to your child about those CEA papers so she doesn't worry (I had to do this).

My nephew's primary have a policy of giving easier tests coming up to the real thing in order to boost confidence (eg in last week I will give one or two past papers he has done before & got a good score in to ensure he does well).

Don't know if it's wise to do BT papers in a timed manner as I think they are only 45 minutes which might be confusing. It might be useful to pick out the things child needs to polish up on.

Easons sell a pack of three AQE practise papers which are similar to the real thing & I thought quite good.

This is my second year in a row doing the tutoring myself & I think I am reaching my limit!!!! Argh!!!!! This forum has been such a support. Thanks to all.

All the best

Busy_mum_3

Dear All

I am stuck with a past paper question - can someone please advise?

Past paper 2013 paper 2, Saturday 23rd Nov page 20, question 47
Sequence 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34
Does anyone understand this sequence?