Transfer Test* Support* AQE 2016-2017

May100

I think I'll keep an open mind to schools until I see how it goes. My DS best friends are aiming for the grammar schools too and I think that is encouraging him to go for it too. He doesn't realise though that even if they all get in, they'll be split in different classes etc.. The school arranges the classes alphabetically and their names aren't close to one another. He'll be travelling on bus with them etc.

May100

All very quiet. Anyone else browsing the thread. Come on - join in and we can support each other through this process..

Flashfriend

May100 wrote: »

All very quiet. Anyone else browsing the thread. Come on - join in and we can support each other through this process..

How's it going with you?

May100

Starting some tests in school Unsure whether they are real tests or just P6 revision as marks seem high. Have parent teacher meeting next Thur so that should answer my questions. Worked through the first CEA book bought out of Easons over the Easter holidays and didn't seem too bad. Not sure how we can silly mistakes sorted.

chicksy

First time for AQE for us so watching all this with interest. It will come round very quickly!
School has started with Fairfields and Windmill papers in the last few weeks.

May100

Welcome. .

I heard Windmill papers are hard and may be harder than real papers.

I have no idea what papers our kids are getting as no of questions varies. Did a Belfast telegraph freebie paper at home and DD got 45 out of 48. Two of the mistakes were careless and one was tricky question. They are just 45 mins instead of one hr.

Flashfriend

May100 wrote: »

Welcome. .

I heard Windmill papers are hard and may be harder than real papers.

I have no idea what papers our kids are getting as no of questions varies. Did a Belfast telegraph freebie paper at home and DD got 45 out of 48. Two of the mistakes were careless and one was tricky question. They are just 45 mins instead of one hr.

I don't think you have anything to worry about May100! If they are scoring above 70% in class at the minute then they will do fine. I copied out questions that my DD got wrong and got her to do them a few days later in bed at night as it was the only place with no distractions lol!!

May100

My DD hates going over the ones he got wrong. I try to tell him that when he gets them wrong then he is learning how to do better or tackle new types of questions / harder questions. He gets so annoyed with himself when he gets things wrong. He is finding it hard to get the papers done in the time and his writing has got very messy. Have parent teacher meeting this week. He is hearing a lot of stuff in school about how he needs about 90% to get score for one of his grammar choices (110+ was required last year, and last few places to prep kids / siblings). It is not coming from the teacher but from other kids who are getting this from home. Nearly every child has a tutor in his class. I think I'll log in here over the next few months and avoid the super pushy school mums.

dee1000

Hello


My son wants to sit the transfer test this year, he is IMO nowhere near ready for this.
I went through this 5 years ago with my daughter who got 103 in AQE and an A in GL. She done well, she worked hard but she was never ever top of her class she had to work for the results.
But I was very proud of her and cant believe i'm here again.
My son I would say had probably the same ability as my daughter is capable of doing ok if he works.
The difference is he cant be bothered and I don't want to fight with him every time I say to him you need to do something. Its so frustrating.
I want to add that he wants to do this he wants to go to the same school as his sister. The local secondary is brilliant it is a former grammar school and the results and reputation are great and to be honest after having my daughter at the grammar school for 4 years I realise that its not the be all of everything and don't feel so under pressure to get him into the school.
Anyway bottom line is he wants to do it, but not with work.
So at the minute he's still not doing full tests I would give him maybe 10 or 15 questions to do at a time. His english isn't too bad its definitely his stronger subject. The maths is the problem he still doesn't know what the question is asking at times. I'm so worried he will sit it and not do well. I would rather he didn't do it.
But we are still trying even though its a fight to get him to do anything at all. His school has not started any tutoring yet either, so not sure if they are going to start or not.


Anyway it would be good to speak to other parents to see what you are going through.
I hate this system but what can you do!!


Thanks for reading


Diane

neveranymoney

I'm in the same position as you, may100. Extremely pushy parents at school gates and I come home feeling quite deflated after listening to the barrage of questions (my oldest child is at the local grammar) and all the parents who agreed with me and the teachers pre Christmas time about tutors being unhelpful further down the line have all secretly dashed out and gotten one.

I'm allowing my son to go at his own pace with a few extra tests thrown in at home and if he's able for the grammar, he's able for it himself.
The level of work, homework and exam pressure my daughter is now under is huge and if he can't manage the AQE, I can hand on heart say he couldn't cope with that.