It’s that time of year when the SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland is in full swing! Your child is nearly at the SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland finishing line! Not long to go now. Even though we are nearly there, it’s important not to drop the ball now. Yes, relaxing is essential, but it is crucial to keep your child’s brain ticking over this last week before Paper 2. In this blog post, I am going to share some tips and activities for what you can do during the week break between transfer test papers 1 and 2 to keep your child motivated, in the zone and prepared to tackle Paper 2.
Even though the test days are nearly over, it doesn’t mean your child’s transfer test journey is over! We still have results day, post-primary applications, and preparation for entering secondary school to talk about! So even though my new book is called, ‘A Complete Guide on How to Prepare and Empower your Child for the SEAG Transfer Test,’ it also goes beyond this time and will help you prepare your child for the next steps of their educational journey. Get your copy now by clicking here!
6 tips and activities to help your child thrive between Papers 1 and 2
The time between Papers 1 and 2 is a strange place, almost like ‘No-man’s land.’ After months and months of hard work, your child is almost at the finishing line! After completing Paper 1, they probably feel like they are done. It’s important during this week’s break to keep their spirits high and feeling motivated! I always say to my students, ‘You’re halfway there! One paper down, one to go!’ Also, the promise of a special treat after the last paper always brings some excitement! I am going to take you through my 6 tips and activities that I recommend to help your child thrive and be confident learners between Papers 1 and 2.
English Activities for the week between Papers 1 and 2
Your child will probably not be happy about this, but in the week between Papers 1 and 2, it is essential to keep those English skills that they have developed churning through their minds. The best way to do this? Keep doing transfer test style English activities and that means, you’ve guessed it, comprehension and spelling, punctuation, grammar activities and reading. During this week, continue to remind your child that they are nearly there, and this is the last bit of English work they will have to do for a while. Well apart from reading at bedtime, this is a transfer test preparation activity that they should continue to do each week.
Comprehensions
During the last week of transfer test preparation, get your child to complete two or three SEAG-style comprehension activities. These can be half multiple choice, half open response, fully multiple choice or fully open response. Both types will help your child practise the skills needed to complete the test comprehension. You can use past papers from the older transfer tests or any revision materials you have purchased, a tutor has supplied or that school has sent home.
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Activities
The spelling, punctuation and grammar activities from the SEAG transfer test have quickly become notorious for having sneaky marks and sneaky crafty moves. There are so many different errors and grammatically correct concepts to be on the lookout for that they can be easily missed. This is why tip 2 is to continue to practise these transfer test-style activities. Continue to develop and improve your child’s ability to identify spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. You can do this by using past GL papers if you have them or smaller English activities that have a mixture of the skills needed to complete the spelling, punctuation and grammar activities.
Reading
This is the point on the list that should stay a part of your child’s life for years to come! Reading before bed is an exceptional way to develop your child’s reading skills and explore language. But it is also a way for your child to relax and unwind to ensure they have a good night’s rest.
Maths Activities for the week between Papers 1 and 2
There are so many more maths topics that your child will come across during transfer test preparation and the maths section of the tests. You don’t want to cram too many topics into the week between Papers 1 and 2, but this is a great time to brush up on any areas that your child still struggles with. Remember, just because a topic appeared in Paper 1, it doesn’t mean that it won’t appear in Paper 2. You also can complete one more, just one more, SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland sample paper just to keep your child’s brain in “test mode.”
Revise any topics your child struggles with
During the week between SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland Papers 1 and 2, make sure you do a recap or short review of the majority of the maths topics. I recommend going over, area, perimeter, volume, angles in triangles and quadrilaterals, 3D shape nets, map scale, ratio (just in case!) mean, mode, median and range, fractions, percentages and decimals. These are a few of the more trickier topics that can pop up in Paper 2. There is no way to predict what questions will be on the paper. However, if your child struggles with a particular topic, it is good to go over it before Paper 2. If a topic came up in Paper 1, it can still appear in Paper 2.
Times Tables and Number Facts
Being able to quickly recall the times tables and number facts such as prime, square and cube numbers can help with your child’s ability to answer maths problems swiftly and easily. If these number facts are fresh in your child’s head for Paper 2, it can help them to complete questions more quickly compared to if they need to start rhyming off in their head or writing down the times tables. Keep these fresh in your child’s mind the week between Papers 1 and 2, by continuing to practise the times tables and number facts casually. For example, in the car on the way to school or getting ready in the mornings.
Relax and unwind
Even though we are coming to the end of the transfer test exams, and we need to keep the energy and preparation levels high, your child does need to relax and unwind before Paper 2. So yes, we are going to continue to prepare by revising and practising different maths and English topics. However, make sure your child has sufficient relaxation time before Paper 2. This can be something so simple as going for a walk, going to football practice or watching a movie on the sofa (as long as it’s not too late at night). Allowing your child to have this downtime before Paper 2, can help reduce stress or feelings of anxiousness before test day.
Good sleep routine
A good sleep routine is key for everyone, even you parents! There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. We are all guilty of sitting up far too late on a school night or watching just ‘one more episode’ of a new Netflix show. But getting into a good sleep routine during the week is a top tip to ensure your child is well rested and feeling tip top before Paper 2.
Now I don’t just mean an early night on Friday before the test. No, no, I mean the full week or more, before Paper 2. This will ensure your child is rested throughout the week and when Saturday morning comes, it’s not a struggle to get your child out of bed for Paper 2. There’s nothing worse than trying to focus on a task and your eyes start to close. Your child will probably be feeling nervous enough as it is going into Paper 2, without feeling drowsy or sleepy as well.
Last tutoring sessions
If your child has had a tutor to prepare them for the SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland, then chances are this will be your child’s last week with their tutor. Honestly, this week is always so emotional for me because I have been with these families for years and built some lovely friendships during this time. Before your child’s tutor comes for the last session, make sure you communicate with them any topics your child wants to go over or some areas your child feels they want to practise. This will give your child’s tutor time to prepare some resources or revision materials to bring with them for this last session.
Keep motivation levels high
One of the most important things to do the week between Papers 1 and 2 is to keep your child’s motivation levels high. Continue to praise them for their efforts so far, and tell them about all the lovely things you will do after Paper 2 and what Primary 7 will look like for them after the tests are over. Keeping your child motivated is key during this time as it is easy for them to become unmotivated and distracted.
More information on tips and activities for the week between Papers 1 and 2 of the SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland
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SEAG Tests : How to prepare for the spelling, grammar and punctuation sections
I can’t believe it’s that time of year again when I am talking about the week between the SEAG transfer tests. I don’t know about you but the time has flown. Take a moment and appreciate how far your child has come this last 8 – 12 months. They have worked so hard and put in so much effort. They’ve given up their free time, weekends, and days of their summer holidays and they deserve a well-earned break. As do you parents as you have put a lot of effort in as well!
Once Saturday lunchtime comes, it’s time to celebrate! Make sure this week between Papers 1 and 2 counts. I hope these activities help your child to get extra preparation for Paper 2 but also to relax and unwind as well to make sure they are in fighting shape for the LAST transfer test paper! Good luck to all sitting the last paper of the SEAG transfer test Northern Ireland!
