KIP MCGRATH - SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EDUCATION

I have two children; one is starting Year 6 in September and will be doing the Transfer Test next year; the other will be starting Year 5.

Q. My elder child is one of the youngest children in her class. Will her age affect her final mark in the Transfer Test?

A. Yes. An age allowance is given but as this is dependent on the performance of all the candidates in each section of the test, and this varies from year to year, it is not possible to tell in advance of marking the papers how much allowance a child will be given.

Q. Will any allowance be made for her if she is not well on the day of one of the tests, perhaps with a cold, or if she is nervous and upset?

A. No. Parents must decide themselves how badly they think their child’s performance will be affected by their condition on the morning of the test. If they feel that their performance will be seriously below normal, they can withdraw the child who can then sit the Supplementary Test which takes place at a later date. If the child sits both tests and is e.g. unwell during one, they can sit the Supplementary Test but the test it replaces will be discarded.

Q. Is the Supplementary Test any easier or more difficult?

A. No. All the tests are designed to be of the same standard and the CCEA states that analysis of results over many years shows no discernable pattern of advantage or disadvantage to any child sitting the Supplementary Test. The main difficulty a child might experience in sitting the Supplementary Test is that they might be the only one in their school doing it and, as it takes place after Tests 1 and 2, it is likely that the rest of their class will be in ‘wind-down’ mode which will make it hard for them to stay motivated. There is generally an atmosphere of relief in Year seven classes after Test 2 and a child who has to sit the Supplementary Test may feel left out of the celebrations and find it hard to concentrate.

Q. Does my child have to sit the Transfer Test?

A. No, although if they do not sit the test it is unlikely that they will be offered a place in a grammar school even if they apply.

Q. What happens if my child’s school tells me that they are not going to put them in for the test?

A. It is the parent’s choice whether a child sits the test or opts out of sitting it. The disadvantage to the child of not sitting the test may be that they feel isolated from their friends and the rest of the class who are sitting it. A considerable part of September and October in Year 7 is devoted to preparing for the two tests by revising work covered in Year 6 and doing practice papers. Children who are not sitting the test may not be involved in this. If you are considering not putting your child in for the Transfer Test, it would be worth asking their school for information about the type of work they will be doing in lieu of transfer preparation.

Q. How can I help my child to feel confident and relaxed on the days of the tests?

A. As with any exam, attitude and preparation play a large part in how a candidate approaches exam day. Accepting that exams, tests and competitions are part of life both in and out of school, and a desire to try their best are important attitudes that parents can instil in their children. Obviously, some pre-test nerves are to be expected, but if parents try to have a relaxed attitude towards the tests and give their child support rather than pressure, children will find it easier to relax too and will be able to perform at their best level. To be successful, preparation for any exam needs to start some time before the exam itself and the same applies to the Transfer which tests the child on Year 5, 6 and 7 work. Most schools expect children to do some revision in the summer holidays before they start Year 7 and this usually involves some practice papers. Parents should encourage their children to revise for some time each week and to do the papers provided as not only will this keep their brains alert and tuned in, it will also give parents an indication of any areas of difficulty.