How To Help Your Primary Child Do Better in Tests!
Is your child tested at Primary School?
Of course they are!
Want to help them get better results?
Of course you do!
Then read on...
English and Maths Exam Tips!
In this post I'm going to give you some actionable nuggets and tips to help your child improve their scores. It's mostly aimed at children from Year 2 up to Year 6, but may have some impact higher up too.
You'll find out:
- how your child can put more focus into the content of their writing
- how they can increase their marks by several percent simply by getting into 2 easy habits
- how they can save themselves time in the maths tests
- how parents can gently guide their child towards beneficial practices
and loads more!
So...
But the tests are only once a year aren't they?
Afraid not.
All UK children face tests (mostly in maths and English) at various points throughout the year.
There are the BIG IMPORTANT ANNUAL TESTS which usually come around May time, but there are many smaller tests, dotted throughout every week of the academic year.
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But think about it:
Which tests are more important?
Most people (including kids themselves) would probably opt for the annual tests.
But they'd be wrong!
In many ways, the smaller tests are significantly more important than the annual ones, because they provide instant feedback to the child and take them to the next stage in their learning.
How come?
If I tested you on your spellings, then gave you the marked sheet back, you would be highly likely to learn something about the words you spelled incorrectly (especially if I gave you really tough ones, because you're a fabulous speller!).
But if I gave you the same test, told you your score then walked off into the sunset, you'd have learned absolutely nothing, other than a random number!
My daughter has had this conversation with me.
Daughter: "Dad! I got 42 in the test today!"
Me: "Erm, OK."
Daughter: "Aren't you pleased?"
Me: "I don't know!"
What do I really want to say?
I want to ask how many was it out of. I want to know what the other kids in her group got. I want to know what the teacher was EXPECTING someone of her ability to get. Most importantly, I want to know what she got wrong so we can try to put it right!
The primary reason for annual tests is that they are focused on producing a 'snapshot' of achievement for recording and reporting purposes (some cynics might throw 'league tables' into the mix at this point, but I wouldn't dare!).
Are they less important then?
Well, no. Here's why...
The annual tests not only provide valuable information for parents, but if used properly, they help teachers to create longer term overviews of what to teach a particular group of children, by searching for patterns or commonalities discovered during the analysis of the test papers.
So we're agreed, all tests are important - if occasionally loathed!
So I thought it would be an excellent idea to ask an educational expert some key questions about tests, and:
Good news - learn from an expert!
Here's a reply! By Ros Wilson no less, a HUGELY influential figure in Primary English education in the UK.
Ros Wilson is the creator of BIG WRITING and VCOP (ask any Primary School child about this - or look on the walls of any Primary School and you'll see evidence of Ros's work.
As it turns out, Ros has some interesting things to say about English test preparation; tips that you'll be able to pass onto your offspring!
Are you ready?
Let's go!
Can you give me your TOP 5 exam tips for your subject:
Parents can help with this too.
You can't write a 'recount' if you don't know what differentiates it from other writing genres.
You can't circle the 'adverbs' if you don't understand and recognise the word 'adverb'.
Parents can help here by simply encouraging your child to try some of the online material at the BBC Schools website.
They're top quality, they're educational, they're fun and they're FREE!
Guess what?
Your child DOESN'T need to cram!
Let them be primary school kids - just give them a merry nudge in the right direction.
Parents can help with the next one too:
Parents can try Twinkl or Primary Resources to name just two.
Why not print some lists of describing words and stick them up in their rooms? Or adverbs, or verbs... you can make collections.
You can also discuss them 'on the go'.
All parents are familiar with this next one - so make it work for you:
Here Ros is referring to the current teaching practice of summarizing, reviewing and referring back to lesson objectives.
Parents can simply ask their child what they've learned during the day.
It's a natural enough thing to do.
But boy, it can really help! So pay attention to what they tell you (gives himself slap on the wrist here - I'm the world's foremost expert at nodding wisely yet taking zero content into my brain!).
Here's how you can make big gains in their writing without the tears:
Another one for teachers, but can parents do something too?
Well yes, kind of.
Even I, a grey-haired and haggard ex-primary teacher wouldn't subject my daughter to this kind of rigour.
But...
I DO encourage writing - in all forms - at every opportunity.
And if your little ones still resist?
Sorry folks, you've got to become part of the game and give up some of your precious time. 10 -15 minutes is enough in one sitting!
Leave notes for each other; help with a description; be the TF (come on, there might be kids reading this - you'll have to guess what that means!).
It doesn't have to be, in fact SHOULDN'T be, a full-on narrative fictional story.
Leave that to school. It's what they're paid for.
So there you have it.
Actionable tips to help you help your child to smash exams at primary school.
In the world of educational innovation, I may have all the credibility and authority of a two-bit-son-of-the-school-caretaker, but I’ve taught too many kids to remember and I WILL have my say:
So, just in the interest of balance, I've made mine applicable to maths.
Except possibly the first one. And perhaps the second.
Which is precisely why I don't call myself an expert.
But I know what you're thinking. Should I help my child with this stuff? Will I make things worse?
Well, according to a study done called "The Impact of Parental Involvement on Children's Education", by the government's Department for Children, Schools and Families (2008):
So you see, it isn't in dispute! As my dad used to tell me, 'Get stuck in!'.
This should earn them at least 5% extra marks!
Skim reading is the scourge of the modern era, and I too am drawn to its siren call.
It is, in fact, the SWORN ENEMY OF COMPREHENSION.
For years and years, kids have fallen prey to its charms, leaving many easy test marks on the table.
Doing this could gain them another 10% !
So unless you just enjoy the sound of peace and quiet while your child slogs away at past papers (which, it has to be said, does have its merits), then you've got to take some action with the golden information you've found out.
TIME is the big benefit with the next one:
It is expected that kids will be able to 'apply' their knowledge and skills to worded problems.
How?
- Multiplication - 'Just group those 23 pencils into 5 sets for me. I wonder how many will be left?'
- Division (and fractions!) - 'I've only bought one cake for your party. How many equal slices should we cut it into to make sure everyone gets a fair share?'
- Area - 'We need a rug to cover that stain you made when you spilled your drink. I wonder how many square cm it'll have to be?'
But wait, there's more from Ros:
Can you tell me the TOP 5 things you think the best-performing children do that the poor performers don't:
Ros says that the best performers:
a) Have correct Basic Skills (listed in answer above).
b) Have a wide vocabulary.
c) Are articulate talkers.
d) Read for pleasure.
e) Have an enquiring mind.
I especially want to highlight the fourth one in BIG BOLD RED LETTERS!
Why?
It's such a HUGE breakthrough when this happens. Trumpets should sound and fireworks should explode in the sky.
Because:
The time kids begin to read for themselves, unprompted, NOT out loud, is the time they become real readers.
Their comprehension will improve exponentially - because for the first time, they're reading for the precise purpose it was invented.
So there you have it. Short and to the point, but big ideas that could really help your child to make a measurable amount of progress.
Do you have any tips of your own? Mention them in the comments section - we'd love to hear from you.
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