New exam format, 2014 ?

[Sunshine 11]

So, now the results are out for this year, I hope they will put us 2014s out of our misery and publish clear and concise guidance on the test for next year, pleeeeease

[angel66]

I heard from my tutor test will be :
VR
non-vr
and English and Maths

Please don't take this as a 100 % but heard this twice from 2 different people ???
Good luck anyway !

[11nonplussed]

I second that sunshine 11 really keen for some clarity now. 2014 now seems not so far away

[Stressed?Moi?]

Yep, us too. Would be nice to get some clarity I must admit so at least we will know what we are dealing with. Sounds like it'll be pretty challenging, but I guess that's the idea.

[chumba]

Me too! Do you think the dates will be the roughly the same for the test and results? DD1 due to take the test next year and I've felt quite stressed just reading the posts about this year, comparing scores, ranks, dates and times of e-mails/posts. I quite like the sound of the new test if it is more than just VR, but looking forward to some actual information which is more than rumour! Started reading the Birmingham threads recently and realised the date was moved to earlier in the year recently and hadn't considered this before....... So many things to think about.

[Sunshine 11]

I heard from my tutor test will be :
VR
non-vr
and English and Maths

Please don't take this as a 100 % but heard this twice from 2 different people ???
Good luck anyway !

Thank you Angel. What I mean is what % will each element take. For English what will be the format, and the time ? will there be an extended writing element, if so, how will they go about marking it ? this cannot be computer marked and is subjective.

Will the change affect how long we will have to wait for results ? for other aspects of english are we talking English comprehension, cloze, synonyms etc etc etc.

For math, similar questions, what exactly do they mean ? will it still be multiple choice.

I think we now deserve much clearer guidance than just "some sort of CEM" and afterall, they still haven't formally announced the change !

Very frustrating that they are keeping us in the dark.

[Sunshine 11]

Me too! Do you think the dates will be the roughly the same for the test and results? DD1 due to take the test next year and I've felt quite stressed just reading the posts about this year, comparing scores, ranks, dates and times of e-mails/posts. I quite like the sound of the new test if it is more than just VR, but looking forward to some actual information which is more than rumour! Started reading the Birmingham threads recently and realised the date was moved to earlier in the year recently and hadn't considered this before....... So many things to think about.

OMG hadn't even thought about the date changing, better hold of booking any hols !

[RedVelvet]

Me too! Do you think the dates will be the roughly the same for the test and results? DD1 due to take the test next year and I've felt quite stressed just reading the posts about this year, comparing scores, ranks, dates and times of e-mails/posts. I quite like the sound of the new test if it is more than just VR, but looking forward to some actual information which is more than rumour! Started reading the Birmingham threads recently and realised the date was moved to earlier in the year recently and hadn't considered this before....... So many things to think about.

OMG hadn't even thought about the date changing, better hold of booking any hols !

Personally I'd prefer it at the end of yr 5. At least the children can then enjoy the summer.

[chumba]

Yes, I would be happy with earlier too, although my DD not 10 until August, so would be better called a 10+ for us We are all in the same boat, I just want to know to stop me imagining things!

[RedVelvet]

When our DS1 took the test 2 years ago up until Easter we just made sure he was happy with tables, reading lots and his mental maths was sound. This is probably what we'll do with my DS2 in year 5 now, regardless of the test content. For us it is getting in the habit of timed work that has always been key, rather than content.