Transfer Test AQE 2015-2016 *NEW THREAD*

Flashfriend

You have me worried now Samba68! What school is this?

Rainbowmac

Yeah just say don't think it matters on here

flymetothemoon_2

samba68 wrote: »

Lies, damn lies and statistics. One grammar (are we allowed to mention names here - not sure of the etiquette?) that had a lowest score of 86-ish had a lowest score of 103 last year so the 86 was obviously someone who had an issue on or around test day. The next lowest I'm sure was, again, around 103.
I was surprised at the open evening that the head mentioned the 86 as an incentive to apply with a low score as it's (depending on your viewpoint) likely to drag the school intake down.

The problem with some of the quoted and reported lowest scores in past years, was that they may have included SC cases and I don't even think the Belfast Telegraph thought to ask about this in the earlier years. As the years have moved on, many people are now aware that they need to ask a school what was the lowest score they accepted excluding SC. I'm still not sure that the Belfast Telegraph is asking this and therefore the lowest scores they have published may, in fact, be misleading and that is rather unfortunate for all the parents who just really want to know what the lowest score was excluding SC cases.

Apart from all that, there have been significant fluctuations in lowest scores for some schools since these tests began in 2009 and it could be that any school needs 5 to 10 points more or less compared to previous years, hence, my advice to everyone is just to stick to the schools you want and put them in order on your transfer form regardless of past scores. If you don't, your child may miss out on a place he / she could have got. This has happened to people. So don't try to second guess, just let the system work it out.

RikM

samba68 wrote: »

Lies, damn lies and statistics. One grammar (are we allowed to mention names here - not sure of the etiquette?) that had a lowest score of 86-ish had a lowest score of 103 last year so the 86 was obviously someone who had an issue on or around test day. The next lowest I'm sure was, again, around 103.
I was surprised at the open evening that the head mentioned the 86 as an incentive to apply with a low score as it's (depending on your viewpoint) likely to drag the school intake down.

Not quite how it works... what drags the scores down is a low number of applicants. That way the school has to go further down the scores to fill the places.

Most kids fit into the 95/105 band, because that's the way the scores work. If fewer apply, the scores drop below that band. So paradoxically, the school encouraging lower scores to apply is likely to push their lowest score up, because they will be likely to get more applications in the average band...

flymetothemoon_2

Yes, as RikM has said, what really impacts on the outcome is the number of applications a school receives and the more they receive, the higher their cut off score is likely to be. In years when schools receive a lower number of applications, they will usually have a lower cut off score as they just go down the names in rank order until they have filled all their places.
Hence, the reason why no one should rule any school out based on previous intake results because none of us can predict how many applications their chosen school(s) will get. If your child's score seems a bit low and your chosen school happens to get fewer applications than previously, your child may well get in.

BOBS

Does anyone else thing this week is dragging - 3 more sleeps

Top_secret

Couldn't agree more BOBS ��

LouB84

Just wondering if anyone is treating their child to a gift or perhaps taking them away at the weekend regardless of getting a high score or not??
My child didn't get all the test papers completed therefore he's not going to get a good result. Just unsure whether to get him something for trying it or do you not reward bad results??

BOBS

LouB84 wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone is treating their child to a gift or perhaps taking them away at the weekend regardless of getting a high score or not??
My child didn't get all the test papers completed therefore he's not going to get a good result. Just unsure whether to get him something for trying it or do you not reward bad results??

With our 2 DD's we gave them card and money the night before results - we note in to say how proud we were on how hard they worked / tried etc. and a few pounds for a wee shopping trip after we get results.

Flashfriend

I have booked my DD in to get her nails done on Saturday regardless of the results! I think every child should get a treat for being brave enough to sit the tests never mind results.