Year 8 maths testing
Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators
Year 8 maths testing
DD is in year 8 in the top maths set at a good comprehensive.
They use past GCSE papers for the 3 start, mid and year end assessments. They have moved on from foundation papers to the higher papers for the end of yr7 and the one she did this week, even though the pupils haven't been taught the majority of the content yet. She scored 20/100 ; top mark was 49 and lowest 14.
The first time it really knocked her confidence, but now she is more relaxed (probably too much so)
Is this normal? The school insist GCSE grades have improved since moving away from internally-set assessment papers, I can't understand why they don't test them on the material they've been taught.
Thoughts welcome
They use past GCSE papers for the 3 start, mid and year end assessments. They have moved on from foundation papers to the higher papers for the end of yr7 and the one she did this week, even though the pupils haven't been taught the majority of the content yet. She scored 20/100 ; top mark was 49 and lowest 14.
The first time it really knocked her confidence, but now she is more relaxed (probably too much so)
Is this normal? The school insist GCSE grades have improved since moving away from internally-set assessment papers, I can't understand why they don't test them on the material they've been taught.
Thoughts welcome
Re: Year 8 maths testing
As a maths teacher I am surprised they don't use KS3 papers so they can give them a NC level. We don't use GCSE papers until Year 10 ...
Re: Year 8 maths testing
Odd!
How are the children learning anything from thus process and hiw is it informing staff ?
Think I'd push for a more detailed explanation. Results may have improved but is that because of this unusual approach or despite it?
How are the children learning anything from thus process and hiw is it informing staff ?
Think I'd push for a more detailed explanation. Results may have improved but is that because of this unusual approach or despite it?
-
pleased as punch
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:45 pm
Re: Year 8 maths testing
My child's school did this too and confidence was a big issue until the children got use to this. I struggled to hide my horror when told the first result mark by my daughter! The second time she sat one and announced an appalling mark, I asked her how she felt about it before knowing how to reply! 
The idea (so I was told) was to be able to judge how a child was thinking and working out answers. This would be (apparently) evident by how they went on to tackle more challenging work that they had not yet been taught. TBH she is flying at Maths, so perhaps it does work. 
The idea (so I was told) was to be able to judge how a child was thinking and working out answers. This would be (apparently) evident by how they went on to tackle more challenging work that they had not yet been taught. TBH she is flying at Maths, so perhaps it does work.