Do you think children in Year 7/8 should be taking exams?

Interesting article from a middle school bringing back exams in Years 7 and 8

adriancotterell.com/index.php/2018/02/17/bringing-back-exams/

Plus until year 10 we only had 1 exam per subject so a week was long enough to cover it.

Yes- but the non-selective secondary over the road did this too, many friends went there, so did most of the other secondaries and there was some movement between the schools each autumn based on end of year exams. It built up gradually from 1st year (now year 7) with shorter exams and got to 1.5-2hrs by year 10. There were lots of aspects of that school and the others in the area that weren’t great, and actually it wasn’t good for me as an overall experience, but in terms of exams it was fairly typical at the time and worked well.

Was that a selective school in any way, Slightly?
30-60minute exam sounds feasible, per subject. But a lot of modern GCSEs are 1.25-2 hrs in a session, and each subject is 2-4 exam sessions.

We always had these 35 or so years ago. The whole school had a week of exams+ silent revision sessions every summer. First year had 1 hours exams with extra ‘playtimes’ built in too. Exams were held in our own form rooms with our form teacher for first 3 years of secondary- they would sit and mark exams while they invigilated so it worked for everyone, when we got to O levels/cses it meant there was no big scary thing, we just got on with it having developed some good exam techniques over the years, and also knew that failing an exam was not worth killing yourself over, life still goes on. I would hope that these days schools with pupils with extra learning requirements could make arrangements so that they can be helped too, they often still need to sit exams at some point so appropriate arrangements could be helpful there too.

They do take exams at DC secondary, but maybe the proposal is for something more obviously high pressure (?). Invigilators & big exam halls & all quiet for 1.5-2.5. hours?

For the kids struggling with impulse control problems linked to immaturity, this is too much to ask an 11yo to sit a yr11 style exam (& for schools to find the resources to invigilate them).

I have a DS in year 7. They will have end of year exams from this year, and they also had a mid year exam in maths. They also sat CATs at the beginning of year 7.

Our son's school had end of year exams each year from year 7, plus regular progress tests and end of topic exams right from the first term of year 7. The EOY exams were always done in exam conditions and they were told revision techniques etc right from year 7. Now he's doing his mocks in year 11, he has no stress/worries about exams as he has had so much experience, and his revision has been plain sailing as he's had plenty of experience as to what revision methods work best for him. I really thought that was the norm and am quite surprised that some schools don't seem to do much in the way of tests/exams - I'd have thought that would cause the kids a lot more stress suddenly facing exams when they've not had much exposure to them in earlier years.

I had them at xmas and summer from year 7 in the 80s. Dc have them once per term from year 7.

I have 3 kids at secondary school. They are assessed (tested) every half term (6 times a year) which is plenty. In non-exam years (y7,y8,y9,y10) one of those will be in the hall like GCSEs. In y11 they have more exam-style test conditions.

At our school they start in y7 so the kids get used to not the atmosphere and exam rules like not having mobile phones and having a clear pencil case. Normally my kids have their mobile phone in their blazer pocket so need to get into the exam routine of handing it in or having it in their bag instead.

Eagle but there are actual exams going on in the exam halls from the start of May till the end of June. If the rest of the school are going to have end of year exams all in the exam hall, they'd have to have them squashed into July or probably before Easter.

I would bet that most schools already have end of year exams.

Even when you hold exams in classroom there can be disruption - at least there were occasions at my secondary where they cordoned off certain corridors for external exams and end of year tests.

I personally don’t think the disruption is a reason not to do end of year exams.

Ideally exams halls and formal class room exams should be experienced as I had both with end of year tests.
.
However actual exam conditions are obviously the most important thing. No talking talk, timings, restrictions on what you have with them all of which happen short tests she gets now.

However tests now are end of topic or at most end of term - D1 has had no end of year exams where you have to go over stuff and longer term revision isn’t covered yet at school.

So yes I do think DD1 is less well prepared than I and DH were at similar age.

Exams can be held in classrooms. Certainly until now my school has held end of year exams during lesson time.

What is wanted here? Experience of exams, or specifically experience of exams in an exam hall?

Unfortunately the 'exam room' is used for PE and drama so getting pupils used to the exam room means massive disturbance to timetabled lessons.

This was the case for my secondary 20 years ago which did end of year tests every year for every subject.

It was the case for the primary I was in as well it only had one hall.

It's a current issue for DD1 current secondary school with welsh tests.

All the rooms were fully timetabled and classes had to be shifted around.

It was still a good experience to have exam condition well before formal exams despite all the disruption.

I should add that my elder daughter went to a different school, which did have end of year exams from Year 7. The Year 10 ones were a lifesaver for her - she had been told by her teachers she was doing fine, but her memory issues meant she hadn't retained enough long term, and she did very badly on her school science exams. It was the wake up all she needed, and she started making revision cards that summer in order to catch up, and ended up getting As in her GCSEs the following year - a technique which has carried her through to success in university. For her, mocks would have been too late to allow her to catch up.

Mine had the 11+ - DD was just 10 (Aug birthday).

Then EOY exams from end of Y7

Don’t agree with pressure stress or outcomes of 11+ at age 10 but do agree with EOY tests at age 12. Builds up good revision habits etc.

It’s the importance that is placed on the outcomes that provides the stress/pressure IME

Unfortunately the 'exam room' is used for PE and drama so getting pupils used to the exam room means massive disturbance to timetabled lessons.

Yes, when you do something regularly it becomes ordinary. There is a theatre to formal exams which can be daunting if you're not used to it. Regular tests are also good, but getting students used to the "exam room" and also regularly practicing their exam technique and timing will only help when it comes to the "real thing".

I'm not sure anything been done about teaching revison either - the tests are end of topic or end of term and they don't revisie for the welsh tests.

I know some schools who don't do end of year exams until year 9, but they DO test very frequently - end of topic tests, half term tests etc.. just no big "end of year" exam.

I don't know about yr 9 yet but yr 7 and yr 8 this is what DD1 school does bar the main statutory welsh tests held every year.

I was sitting formal exams end of every year from about yr 4 in primary and every year for most subjects in secondary ie in the main halls with proper exam conditions.

Without the welsh tests I don’t think my children would have experience the full exam conditions till much later perhaps even GCSE years.

What I really dislike is that some teachers do not give regular homework but do give tests during the term with little notice. This means that students do not have the regular opportunity to practice and digest what has been learned, ask questions if they don’t understand but somehow they have to grasp it and cram it all in for a test that has a lot riding on the outcome. It also means that if there are any issues the teacher does not know until they do badly in a test. I feel this is unfair as often quite sets and levels are decided on these assessments when really regular homework plus assessments would be better.

Yes, why not? We did summer exams from aged 7 onwards. After a while you get so used to them, they just don't bother you anymore. And exam technique like read the question carefully, don't panic, pace yourself and don't go back and change things at the end through nerves, become routine.
It's just practice.

Not sure why we would have to 'imagine' our 11 or 12 yr olds revising for exams
All mine have had exams at the end of Yr7 - I presumed everyone did. We certainly did, long before 'Yr7' was invented.
Why wouldn't you ?

I think it's a great idea to do exams from a young age, it means it is more natural to them when they are older.