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Original poster

Can someone explain ISEB to me?

291 replies

Stircrazyschoolmum · 26/09/2020 15:32

Just that really.. a number of the indies are using ISEB this year due to Covid. I understand it’s online, multiple choice and covers English /maths/VR/NVR. But how in practice does this actually work? Is there paper to work out the maths on? Is it intuitive how to click on answers? What does adaptive mean in this context?!

We are at a state primary so it’s all gibberish.. it seems a good way to keep kids safe and reduce stress from multiple exams but if your DC has a bad day then all eggs in one basket?!?

OP posts:
WarmAndco3y · 04/12/2020 12:16

We haven’t even done it yet, not sure either what is contentious about what I posted.

Utility · 04/12/2020 10:43

Thanks SoniaMumsnet.
Apologies.
I didn't think that posting that the ISEB is similar to Atom, but that the English is less difficult, was contentious? It was a very generic observation.

ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson · 04/12/2020 10:36

Here? Why does autocorrect not know “hers”?

ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson · 04/12/2020 10:35

DD is sitting here tomorrow, I’ll post afterwards.

MumsRule20 · 04/12/2020 10:28

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just popping in to say that in the interests of fairness, it's best if people avoid posting actual exam content on this thread. Flowers
Is it not unfair for mumsnet to delete them? The posts were very non-specific as I read them myself yesterday. Is that not the point of a forum? The ISEB is adaptive so will be a different experience for everyone, but surely one has a right to share their experience and perhaps put others at ease because this is an unknown extremely stressful process this year?
MNHQ
soniamumsnet · 04/12/2020 10:13

Hi - just popping in to say that in the interests of fairness, it's best if people avoid posting actual exam content on this thread. Flowers

Letter79 · 04/12/2020 04:20

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MumsRule20 · 03/12/2020 21:51

Really good to hear how it went. Would be great to hear more feedback on ISEB pre-test if any others have sat this week. Daughter sits this Saturday. Thx

WarmAndco3y · 03/12/2020 21:20

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Utility · 03/12/2020 19:43

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NK590aaa7cX128066d0cb6 · 29/11/2020 14:43

I expect it depends on each school as some won’t be looking at the VR and NVR scores.

Would be great to hear more feedback on those who have sat recently or this week. My daughter has hers next Saturday.

FlyingPandas · 28/11/2020 13:58

And forgot to say good luck to all DC who are still to take the exam!

FlyingPandas · 28/11/2020 13:51

My DS sat the ISEB today...he had done some preparation (BOFA pre-tests not ATOM - I'm assuming they're the same kind of thing?) which I think was worthwhile, although he said the ISEB was harder than the pre-tests he'd done.

DS was asking me what I thought the pass marks would be and I had to say I had no idea. Does anyone know? My guess is that the schools will need to review all the test results before they set an actual pass mark (rather like they way they set grade boundaries for GCSE/A level once the exams have been done) simply because they haven't used the ISEB for entrance before so won't really know what they're expecting. Using their normal exams they'd have a reasonable idea as to how many would pass/fail, based on previous years' performance, but it's all a bit 'wait and see' this year...

Glad to get it over and done with though.

YellowOranges · 26/11/2020 18:34

Thank you! He’s sitting it day after tomorrow so it does seem quite late to climb on board the Atom train Blush

DS got back from school and was determined to have another go at the English and did much better this time round so I think is feeling happier. I’m just looking forward to when all of this is over!

Original poster
Stircrazyschoolmum · 26/11/2020 13:53

Hi @YellowOranges. Welcome to the thread! When are you sitting ISEB?

We found Atom a useful tool but mainly for pacing and technique rather than content. The grammar in the ‘real’ ISEB is apparently lighter. Depending on how much time you have I would do a mock test in each subject and then focus on the gaps/timing issues. There are more experiences on the girls indie thread if you fancy a read.

Best of luck!

OP posts:
YellowOranges · 26/11/2020 10:03

We signed to to Atom yesterday so a bit late to the party Grin

The mock English test DS took seemed very grammar heavy, which he found discouraging. Hopefully he was just thrown by the test format though

WarmAndco3y · 23/11/2020 14:25

@nospampls, thank you

nospampls · 23/11/2020 01:20

@WarmAndco3y

Correct, you only lose access when your subscription ends.

WarmAndco3y · 23/11/2020 01:04

But I assume you only lose access on the date your subscription runs out. So if I do the red tick now, I should still have access until the 10th of December, for example, if that’s when my subscription runs out. Is this correct? @nospampls or anyone else who might know.
I just feel, I might forget to cancel if I leave it.

nospampls · 22/11/2020 23:53

@starlilly88

Probably will cancel then. Do you lose all access to nucleus- all previous test scores etc?
Yes, you will lose access to all previous test scores although if you reactivate your subscription, all the old test scores will still be available.
EnolanotAlone · 22/11/2020 19:16

We also debated this issue, the tipping point for us was the increasing repetition of questions. Only after a few months the familiarity questions is eroding the true test factor quotient.

starlilly88 · 22/11/2020 11:24

Probably will cancel then. Do you lose all access to nucleus- all previous test scores etc?

MarshaBradyo · 22/11/2020 10:49

Stir you need to click a red cross in payments and you’ll get an email saying it’s cancelled and your last date of subscription.

If you leave it they take the money automatically

Original poster
Stircrazyschoolmum · 22/11/2020 10:38

Our Atom subscription runs out in the first week of Dec and we won’t be renewing. (I assume we don’t need to give notice - need to check t&cs!

We have a single paper test mid January and will use Bond books and past papers. They will get marks for working out in a paper based maths exam which isn’t reflected in atom.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 22/11/2020 10:07

I’ve been mulling over Atom and overall am relieved I saw it on this thread but wouldn’t stick with it solely by any means. For us one month paid is enough to get used to format and pace. He gets better scores now but that means he’s learning how to respond which may or may not help in actual test.

If it’s a paper test in January I’d switch to that after the ISEB.

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