Frequently asked

QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

Shop FAQs

Do I need an account to make a purchase?

No you do not need to have an account to make a purchase.



What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept Credit/Debit card payments or PayPal. All payments are processed securely by PayPal, however you do not need a PayPal account to make a purchase. When you are taken to PayPal's secure payment page you will be given the opportunity to either login to your Paypal account, or click the 'Check Out as a Guest' link to pay using your credit/debit card.



If I purchase the 'PDF Download' version how long before I can download it?

Immediately. As soon as you complete the checkout & make your payment you will be sent an email with links to download your files. Please check your spam/junk folder if you did not receive these emails. If you have any issues regarding this please contact us.



Are there any limits or restrictions associated with purchasing PDF Downloads?

The download link you recieve via email with be active for 30 days from purchase. All products purchased via our shop are unlicensed and for individual use (parents) only. You may not lend, share, print or duplicate our products for distributing to anyone else.



AQE explained

What is the format of the AQE test?

The AQE test (also called the CEA test) is based on three one-hour assessments which take account of the English and Maths components of the present primary school curriculum.



Does my child have to sit all three assessments

No. The result is taken from the best two scores, so only two assessments have to be sat. However, AQE strongly recommend that candidates take advantage of the option to sit all three papers, and the vast majority of candidates do so.



What is included in the assessments?

Each paper has 58 questions counting for 64 marks. There are 32 marks for English and 32 marks for Maths.



How are the AQE tests marked and scored?

The papers are marked over a twelve day period at two marking centres. Each paper is marked three times and there is a Quality Control Process which keeps a check on the system. In addition a further 20% of papers is marked again, and a further 20% is totalled again. In the AQE Office, all papers are totalled for a final time. The result is given as a standardised score, a whole number between 55 and 145, with a mean (average) of 100. The highest AQE score in 2016 was 128. Grades are not be used.



What is an age standardised score?

There could be almost 1 calendar year between the oldest and youngest child in any school year so an age standardised score takes this into account so that no child is disadvantaged because of their age. AQE have had a computer programme developed specifically for the company which calulates this age allowance. For each test, pupils are assigned to groups according to their age, calculated to the nearest month. This ensures that, for each paper, pupils are only compared with pupils of the same age and to the nearest month. A pupil who takes all 3 tests will have three age-standardised scores (one for each paper). The average of the best two scores is computed for each pupil. For pupils who take only two papers, the average of these two scores is computed.



GL explained

What is the format of the GL Assessment?

The GL Assessment consists of two standardised assessment papers taken in November each year. The tests are in multiple choice format (the child selects an answer from a number of possible answers and usually marks this on a separate answer sheet.) as opposed to answering in the standard way of writing their answer in a space. There is a Supplementary Entrance Assessment in December for children who may have missed the original test through for example illness. The Supplementary assessment is only held at specified regional Assessment Centres and not all of the original test centres are used.



What is included in the assessments?

The first paper, testing English lasts 50 minutes and the second paper, assessing Mathematics lasts 45 minutes. The aspects of English and Mathematics covered by the GL Assessment are consistent with the requirements of the Northern Ireland Key Stage 2 curriculum. Both papers are taken on the same day and there is a short practice session before each of the papers and, between the papers, the children will have time for a snack and a toilet break.



How are the GL assessment tests marked and scored?

The children record their answers on a separate computer marked answer sheet.The completed papers are marked independently by GL Assessment, who set the test and are based in England. The tests are all standardised and designed to ensure that each set of papers will produce the same outcomes for any given child. The Supplementary GL Assessment is developed to the same rigorous and consistent high standards and should not be any easier than the original tests. As with previous Transfer Tests, children receive a GL Transfer test grade, i.e. A, B1, B2, C1, C2 or D. You will also receive the Standardised Age Score achieved by your child in both the English and Mathematics assessment papers. The grades will be allocated on the basis of the combined total of the Standardised Age Scores and will have a scale running from 69 to 141 with 100 as the mean (average). In calculating the Standardised Age Score, the age of the child is taken into account but no child will lose marks because of his/her age.



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