Tag: exam

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School

NAPLAN Starts for My Kids

Today my little girls sit their first test at school.

Both kids have been doing practice tests for days before today to prepare.

The test they are taking is called NAPLAN.

This test makes sure that kids have the basic skills of reading, comprehension, and maths.

NAPLAN started in schools in 2008 and the following years are tested: Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

The girls sit the first test for NAPLAN today. It is over 3 days and a big thing in their school life so far. I just told the kids to do their best.
The girls sit the first test for NAPLAN today. It is over 3 days and a big thing in their school life so far. I just told the kids to do their best.

I like the idea of testing and making sure each kid is on track. If they are not, more help will be given to a child that needs assistance with reading or maths.

The results are also helpful for more funding for the school so that the school can help all kids and ones that need some extra help.

One kid this morning looked rather upset and worried. I asked her why she was upset and she said, “I’m worried about NAPLAN Mummy”.

This is what I told my girls before they head to school to do their first major test: 

  • I’m proud of you both.
  • I love you both so much.
  • Do your best. Doing your best is all that anyone can ever ask.
  • Relax, take a deep breath and just pretend it is the practice test that you were doing with your teacher.
  • If you cannot read a question ask your teacher to read it to you.
  • If there are pictures that go with the question look to see if this helps you understand the question more.
  • Do the questions you can do first and see if you can go back and do others if you need more time.
  • I told both kids that they are brainy.
  • They are smart.
  • They are clever little kids that will do well no matter what.
  • It does not matter how they do on the test just that they give it a good go.

I just hope that my kids don’t get freaked out by this test.

I hope that they don’t lose their confidence and shut down for future exams.

I hope they don’t think they have failed. The girls might feel they have not achieved after this test.

One kid reads very well but not perfect, the other kid has some issues and finds some things difficult. I hope that the kid that has some issues with reading does not panic and get upset with what she is being asked on this exam.

As a mother I am sure that I am more worried by all this than they are at this stage. The twins are in grade three and there is plenty of time to get better at things. To be come an expert or a master at maths and reading.

However if there are issues with a child understanding the basics it is a good idea to learn now about what the difficulty is and to get help to fix the issue. The earlier you can help a child that has issues reading, writing, and other things the better their life and time at school will be.

I’m hoping that if there is anything found that we get told so that we can action things now rather than later.

Parents can remove children from sitting the NAPLAN test on special grounds. If you decide to do this you can write a letter to the principal and tell them why you wish your child not to sit the test.

I hope that all kids do well this week sitting the NAPLAN. It must be hard on kids with dyslexia or other issues. I hope that kids that struggle with some things at school don’t feel too stressed taking this test.

This test is over three days. Today is Language conventions for 40mins and then writing for 40mins. Wednesday is Reading for 45 mins, then Thursday is Numeracy for 45mins.  It is a big thing the next couple of days.

I even put love notes into their lunch boxes. The notes tell each child how smart and brainy they are, and also how much mummy loves them.

Good luck everyone.

Remember just do your best and that is all anyone can ask for.

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Categories
News

HSC Score Does Not Define You

Preparing for the Exam.Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Preparing for the Exam.Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Waiting to get your HSC results is very stressful. Will you get the mark you want? Will you be able to get into the course of choice? Students worry that if they don’t get the mark they need, they will not get into the right university course or other college. This will impact their choices and in turn make them not do what they wish to do or be.

I was exactly like this. I studied like mad, I crammed, I worried, I stressed and I did not do very well when it came to the exams.

I panic with exams. Some I did well at, but when compared to all the other kids in the state, but this exam my mark was scaled down. So I did not get the right mark to do anything I wished to do. I was very upset.

At first I had no idea what mark I did get as Australia Post lost my HSC certificate and my results. It got lost was their answer! This was before you could instantly get a result from a computer. I don’t remember getting the results by mail, and think I rang the HSC help line to find out what my mark was.

To find out was crushing and I cried and cried. I was miserable. My dreams were crushed. I did not join my friends from high school who all went off to university. I ended up joining the workforce.

I wanted to go to Film School at UTS and do a BA in Communications but did not get the marks, I did not even get the marks to get in at Bathurst or Macquarie for the same course. Devastated was not going to cover it. You could not speak to me about this.  I was a moody teenager, but I had my reasons.

Due to not going straight into university or another college, I got a job. I ended up being a receptionist for Film/TV and production companies and that allowed me to learn what I was interested in. I also volunteered at AFTRS (Australian Film & Television & Radio School) to gain experience and knowledge. I did short courses in filmmaking, script writing and production.

I applied twice to UTS and Macquarie for the BA in Communications and did not get in as a mature student. To be a mature student you have to be over 20 I think from memory.

It was not until I met a boy who became my boyfriend who helped me with my third application to university. This application worked and I got into do Communications at UTS.

I was overjoyed, happy and just ecstatic! I got in! I did it! Finally! My life is going to change for the better. Yippee!

This lovely boyfriend was a great help in my life at the time. I was very grateful for the help he gave me,  and the way he taught me how to answer things for university. So a BIG thanks to him.

I had about five years working before I got to do my undergrad at UTS in Sydney. It gave me a higher appreciation of what I wanted to achieve and I felt lucky to be there. Many other students were from well off families that seem to have everything handed to them. This was not the case for me and my friends. I put myself through university, I worked to go there, I used experience and knowledge to get accepted and it helped with doing well while there.

Not getting what you want right away is not that bad. I know it feels miserable and horrible at the time. The HSC is just an exam and if you don’t get the right outcome there are other ways to achieve your goal. I managed to get to where I wanted with not giving up and doing other things that steered me in the right direction. It just took a little longer to get there.

So if you don’t get the mark you need, don’t beat yourself up about it. You can still achieve without the mark you need. I know you will not be able to get into the course you have been drooling about, but maybe in the next couple of years you can give it another go. As a young person your interests and likes change so much, maybe not getting into university or a certain course was a blessing?  Due to being sent in a different direction you might have found your passion for something else.

Don’t stress and just do the best job you can do. It is not the end of the world.

It is just a test that does not dictate the rest of your life. I am living proof of this! I even went on to do a Post Grad Degree in Project Management from Sydney University.

Some great articles from the Sydney Morning Herald about the HSC:

Did you do well in your HSC? If not what did you end up doing?

Did you go to university eventually?  Not getting the mark you needed did it steer you in a different direction and if so are you pleased that it happened?

 

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Categories
University Study

Power Hungry or Bored?

On way to the uni for the exam
On way to the uni for the exam

Today I went to the university for my contracts exam, I navigated the large campus and with some other student I found the place for the exam.
I did manage to get to the right building but could not see where there the exam would take place. I looked online via my wonderful iPhone (the girls and hubby gave it to me for my birthday this May – I have a sparkly pink case chosen by the girls) and ended up with the same information that I copied down at 4am this morning; this information was still no help to me.

With about 10mins left to find the place to sit this exam I was starting to get a bit concerned. I had been in the city for hours and now I might be late. Oh no this cannot be happening, after of course a much needed toilet break I headed out the door the way I had come in. I asked the first person I saw and he seemed to be in the know and I followed him. Thank god, I found it. Well? Really I followed and found it but still the same outcome. So no point dwelling on if I did it or someone else did.

Now to find the seat number for my exam, if you have never sat a university exam they give you seat numbers to make sure it is you and you have turned up for the test. I found the right number and sat at the right desk and waited. The man at the front told everyone to put their bags and belongings under their chair. I did as asked. However I left out my two pens, a notepad that had never been written in, a piece of paper that had my seat number and other info that I needed, and of course my reading glasses (that were still in their case).

Before proceeding with this exam you need to fill out the answer booklet with your details, Name, Course code and number, Student ID, Paper code, and Seat number. You also need to detach a part of the paper so that they can take it and you have to sign this as proof you were you and not someone else sitting your exam for you.

I did not have my student number on me but remembered that I had it on my phone as I logged in to get the room number of the exam. I was going to turn it off but wanted to get the student number first and then I was about to switch it all off. One of the ladies that was monitoring the exam, (it was not just contracts that had their exam today two other faculties had exams in there as well) noticed I had the phone and I explained what I was doing and then told her I was turning it off and packing it away. While she was explaining this and I agreed and told her that was what I was doing,  she then told me that I needed to pay attention to the man that was giving us all instructions. I then explained that I was but she was talking to me as well. I found this rather frustrating, being told to listen to someone and them telling you something else.

Just before the exam started another person that is overseeing told me that I cannot have my glasses case on the desk. I then explained that I had my reading glasses for the exam and I needed them. She said that glasses were fine just had to lose the case. So I did.

We had 10 minutes reading time and then our 2 hours started. In the 2 hours we were then allowed to answer and to write responses, but during the reading time you cannot do anything but read.

Once the exam started not even 10 minutes in, a man who is overseeing the exam came to collect the piece of paper that I had signed to prove it was me sitting the exam and asked where my student id card was? I explained that I don’t have one as I study online and that I have a drivers licence if that would help? I also mentioned that the exam had already started and why is he doing this now not later or why was this not done before? His answer was that he did not notice.  I stopped the exam, got the drivers licence and then he did his thing and I had to leave it on the desk until I completed my exam.

Where to go for the exam and other info for paperwork
Where to go for the exam and other info for paperwork

One of the ladies that were keeping an eye on the students came up and remarked on my piece of paper with the room number, paper code and so on. She looked at it on one side, then the other and thought it very suspicious and told me I could not have it on my desk. I did not understand where the threat to the exam was but went along with it and put it under the desk (you will see the menacing piece of paper as I have added it as an image for this blog post – you can even see I have used it to test my pen as well)

Then a younger lady that was also helping with making sure that there were no funny business looked at my notepad and asked if I could open it. It is blank I said and showed her. I told her that I did not know if I might need to write notes of work or ideas out and that are the reason for it. She decided that too had to go and it joined the crowd under my desk.

I am not sure how I went but think I did o.k, only time will tell. I managed to finish with 40 minutes spare and was able to drop off my specialisation form to the right people for next year’s graduation. I did leave a couple of questions and went back and looked at them, but could not remember the answers. I believe I gave it a good go and tried to answer and give more information for all questions.

Not sure what the people that were overseeing this exam thought, where they bored and wanted to be seen to be doing something? It was just rather bizarre, removing things that are no threat to cheating or anything like that at all.

I must say my hand and arm is very sore from writing so much in a short space of time. I find when I do exams I don’t write very well as I am so used to typing all the time. Do you have this issue? Also have you faced something similar in an exam? It did feel a bit like harassment but not sure if they were just to eager to do their jobs. What are your thoughts? Send in your comments. Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.