Transfer Test* Support* AQE 2016-2017

candy_kid

My daughter was sent home with 4 papers and a sheet of things to revise, 2 papers done and her marks are lower, it's plain to see she is rushing to get the papers done.
At this stage I will just be glad when it's all over.

Carebear82

Can I ask Candy Kid what things she was told to revise - Our teachers have just said to chill and relax over holidays which I understand but I don't want her to relax too much!

candy_kid

We were asked to revise prime and cubed numbers. Fractions,decimals and percentages, and also 4 papers quite a lot to do.

dee1000

Hi everyone


Just wanted to let you know that we have decided not to go ahead with the tests. My DS came home with 6 papers for over the holidays. He completed the first 2 and his results were lower again.
Then when we were going over the papers he started to cry and said he had enough. I had a good talk to him and he has decided he is going to go to the all abilities secondary school, it was a former grammar school and does not take entrance tests. It has a good history and no major problems there with great GSCE results.
I have to say I am relieved, I really don't think he would have got a high enough grade for the grammar school and possibly would have got lost a bit if he had made it in. My daughter attends the grammar so I know they push them in a way my that my son could not cope with well.
This had to be his decision and I support him.
Thanks to everyone on this board for the help and advice and I really do wish your kids all the best on the day and hope they all get to the school of their choice.


All the best


D x

fizzyfluff

It's the best for him Dee, Kids need to be placed where suits them best. I know my eldest is suited to a grammar, where as I won't do this with her little
Sister as she'll crumble under the pressure of the tests and would fight aginst the work ethic of a grammar.

candy_kid

Well 4 school papers now complete over the holidays, her first 2 papers marks were lower she was just messing about and just wanted to get the papers done, so I photo copied the next 2 and set her down, she did 1 paper and I did the photo copied paper, her marks came up again I timed her for the hour and made made it feel like the real tests.

she is still losing about 5 marks through silly mistakes, I don't think I can fix this at this stage but any sugestions would be appreciated.

neveranymoney

Ours have been disasterous, totally not in the zone doing them at home. Nearly a full page wrong and when I said to go back and look at it again, he got them all right!
Very silly mistakes that will make or break the end result with us
I wonder what the teacher will be doing this week in school and giving as homework as well?
Some of the work we got home over the Halloween break was very difficult and I felt it was confidence knocking so it's a fine line between keeping the momentum going and denting any sense of 'I can do this'.

May100

Back home today from holiday in Spain. Getting worried everyone working so hard except by DS!. He only got 2 school tests to do over holidays. We did one and he wasn't very focused. He always does better in school. The 2 tests for the holidays seemed tricky ones. Doing the other tomorrow. He was scoring high before the half term break but was getting tired. I hoped the break would recharge his batteries - now I am stressing that he will have slipped back. Just wish this was over.

May100

Hi Dee
Good decision. The child's individual's needs come first.
My friend got to about this stage last year. with her son. Her son's marks were low 70s and he would have needed mid 80s to get into the grammar in our area. He was home in tears and classmates getting 80s and 90s. So decided to pull out of AQE. He now has half term done and parent teacher meeting in very good high school and is very happy and doing very well. They are pleased with their choice.
May 100

Jomidd

Hi May100,
Can I ask how your friend knew her son needed mid 80's to get into a grammar in her area? I've been trying to work out the average score for my son as the grammar schools in our area have a high score intake but surely you can't judge it as someone factors are taken in. My sons teacher said if he is getting above 75% he should get the score needed to get in to the grammar he wants.

Dee I think your doing the right thing for your son, you would rather have him shine at his local high school than struggle all the way through a grammar.