Information on the administration of tests for centres - Appendix G - Teacher guidance to students before the test

Expectations:

It is the intention that students are able to take World Class Tests in a relatively informal manner in order that they can perform to the best of their abilities. To this end, there are limited instructions on the question papers and none on the computer-based components. However, it is a prerequisite that the invigilator for the tests takes a short period of time to talk through the requirements, layout and completion of the paper or computer-based tests as given on the following pages. This will allow students to feel comfortable with the requirements of the tests and the way in which they should be completed.

The following are points that the invigilator should talk through. They are not a script and can be delivered in your own words. The intention is to provide an opportunity for the students, whether nine or 13, to understand what is required.

Written component for nine year-olds

Before the test begins ensure that:

students are sitting comfortably and the correct distance apart;

each student has the correct paper for nine year-old mathematics or problem solving;

each student has the appropriate identifying label stuck to the front of the test paper;

students have a pencil, ruler and eraser. They may use a black pen as well if they wish;

calculators are not to be used by nine year-olds.

Get the students to open the test paper and check that they understand the following:

pencil icon: where they should write their answers;

boxes: where they should show their working (for mathematics this is a clear box, for problem solving this is a squared box);

additional pages can be found at the end of the booklet - these can be used for extra working;

the shaded grey area on the right-hand side is not to be written on.

In addition, you must:

not talk to the students about the content of the actual questions - you may point out pictures and items of interest though;

make it clear that it must be their own work;

check that everyone understands what they have to do.

The length of time for the paper is 1 hour. Students do not have to do the questions in the order that they are given. They should try to do all of the questions but may leave the ones they get stuck on and come back to those later.

Tell the students when to start the test.

Tell the students when they have five minutes left.

Written component for 13 year-olds

Before the test begins ensure that:

students are sitting comfortably and the correct distance apart;

each student has the correct paper for 13 year-old mathematics or problem solving;

each student has the appropriate identifying label stuck to the front of the test paper;

students have a pencil, ruler and eraser. They may use a black pen as well if they wish;

calculators are available for use by 13 year-olds.

Get the students to open the test paper and check that they understand the following:

pencil icon: where they should write their answers;

boxes: where they should show their working (for mathematics this is a clear box, for problem solving this is a squared box);

additional pages can be found at the end of the booklet - these can be used for extra working;

the shaded grey area on the right-hand side is not to be written on.

In addition, you must:

not talk to the students about the content of the actual questions - you may point out pictures and items of interest though;

make it clear that it must be their own work;

check that everyone understands what they have to do.

The length of time for the paper is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Students do not have to do the questions in the order that they are given. They should try to do all of the questions but may leave the ones they get stuck on and come back to those later.

Tell the students when to start the test.

Tell the students when they have five minutes left.

Computer component for nine and 13 year-olds

Before the test begins ensure that:

·students are sitting comfortably at their machine, and that the machines are switched on and the correct distance apart;

each student has the World Class Test screen showing;

each student has the appropriate identifying label stuck to the front of the corresponding booklet for problem solving or the work booklet for mathematics;

students have a pencil, ruler and eraser. They may use a black pen as well if they wish;

calculators are available for use by 13 year-olds; calculators are not to be used nine year-olds.

Get the students to open the answer booklets and check that they understand the following:

For problem solving, they will need to write their working out and explanations in the booklet. The following icons are explained on the first page of the booklet:

this means that you have to do something on the computer;

this means that you have to write something in the booklet;

this is a tab on the screen to indicate which page of the question on the computer you should be on.

For mathematics, if they need to do any additional working out, it can be done in the work booklet.

When you are ready to start:

tell the students to enter their student ID number into the box. This is shown on their label. Click on the [start] button;

they will then be asked to confirm their name - if the correct name does not come up, check their ID number;

once they've entered their ID number, they will get a message to say that the computer is being checked;

tell the students to start the test by clicking on the [Start Test] button but finish the introduction first.

Check that the students understand the following:

when they select (click on) an icon from the question menu, it will take them to the relevant question. Initially the icons have a yellow background;

when they finish a question, they click on the Q for Questions button to return to the main menu;

when they return to the menu, the icon will have a white background to show that the question has been attempted. They can go back to the question as often as they like;

if they re-enter some questions for a further attempt, and then exit, they will get the message, 'You have changed your answer. Your new answer has been saved';

if they do not re-attempt the question, their previous answer has been saved;

when the students finish the test, they must click on the e for End Test button. This will give them a message to confirm that they are finished;

click on [Leave the test],

this brings up a message informing the student that their answer file is being written to disk.

Please do not allow students to re-enter the test once they have finished because the test will write over the answers they have given.

The length of time for the test is:

1 hour for the nine year-olds;

1 hour and 15 minutes for the 13 year-olds.

There is a timer in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

Students do not have to do the questions in the order that they are given. They should try to do all of the questions but may leave the ones they get stuck on and come back to those later.

Tell the students when to start the test.

Tell the students when they have five minutes left.