The Teacher
Team Captain
Greetings Viewers
As a Year 12 co-ordinator at my school (a southside state high school), I've spent a bit of time watching students prepare for thia year's test under the guidance of experienced teachers as well external consultants.
Here's a few pointers I've picked up.......
General
This is not like any test you've done before, in that the QCS aim to spread out the marks across the range - from 66 down to 0. Firstly, they do this by setting out the paper very differently from what your normal teacher does. Who said we aren't on your side. For example instructions can sometimes be found across 2 pages. The marking values can actually be changed after the test - so a 4 star question becomes 5 stars if this helps with the spread.
Answer all questions - no responses are death.
Get the idea?!!!
Anyway the manipulation is the same for everone, so that makes it fair for everyone, doesn't it?
Equipment
Make certain you exactly the right gear for each paper. Schools don't set the rules and there are community supervisors in the room. If you think teachers are devoid of perosnality wait to you see these folk.
Short Response Item
There will be questions which involve analysing a picture/ painting/ photo and a poem - usally worth at least 4 stars each. Look carefully at what the question asks you to do - this is perhaps the most important point of the entire exercise - if they are for a narrative, give them one.
Maths Questions
Did you know that maths questions are based around year 10 srtudnets capabilities. Why? That's the last year that you all did the same level of maths.
Writing Task
Achieve the word limit.
Spend more time planning - write a draft, then give yourself 30 minutes to re-write the final copy. In reviewing - substitute 'big' words for 'small' ones.
For example - The cat sat on the mat, becomes the furry feline reclined across the red Persian rug as the late afternoon sun broke through the lattice covered window.
That's all for now.
Good luck
Dicko
As a Year 12 co-ordinator at my school (a southside state high school), I've spent a bit of time watching students prepare for thia year's test under the guidance of experienced teachers as well external consultants.
Here's a few pointers I've picked up.......
General
This is not like any test you've done before, in that the QCS aim to spread out the marks across the range - from 66 down to 0. Firstly, they do this by setting out the paper very differently from what your normal teacher does. Who said we aren't on your side. For example instructions can sometimes be found across 2 pages. The marking values can actually be changed after the test - so a 4 star question becomes 5 stars if this helps with the spread.
Answer all questions - no responses are death.
Get the idea?!!!
Anyway the manipulation is the same for everone, so that makes it fair for everyone, doesn't it?
Equipment
Make certain you exactly the right gear for each paper. Schools don't set the rules and there are community supervisors in the room. If you think teachers are devoid of perosnality wait to you see these folk.
Short Response Item
There will be questions which involve analysing a picture/ painting/ photo and a poem - usally worth at least 4 stars each. Look carefully at what the question asks you to do - this is perhaps the most important point of the entire exercise - if they are for a narrative, give them one.
Maths Questions
Did you know that maths questions are based around year 10 srtudnets capabilities. Why? That's the last year that you all did the same level of maths.
Writing Task
Achieve the word limit.
Spend more time planning - write a draft, then give yourself 30 minutes to re-write the final copy. In reviewing - substitute 'big' words for 'small' ones.
For example - The cat sat on the mat, becomes the furry feline reclined across the red Persian rug as the late afternoon sun broke through the lattice covered window.
That's all for now.
Good luck
Dicko
