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INCAS TESTING

15 replies

Concepta · 05/11/2009 14:58

Have any of your children done the incas testing - it is something we do here in Northern Ireland. If so what were your childrens results like. My daughter is a good reader but her reading level was pretty low and she isn't good at Maths and hers was about average. Just interested in what others have to say.

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Original poster
Concepta · 07/11/2009 17:47

Anyone???

OP posts:
mollybob · 08/11/2009 11:57

Yes - my daughter has just done this - we were quite pleased as she seems above age for both reading and maths but any one off test is surely a bit inaccurate.

where are you - nice to meet an NI MNetter

paranoid2 · 09/11/2009 18:55

Hi we have just had results for my Dt's. Dt1 way ahead at reading and above average at maths. Dt2 struggles and is behind but am actually pleased as he is not that far behind and has come on well. Mine are in P5.
I was reading up about them There is a lot of information on the CCEA site(at least thats where I think I found it). I'm sure you were told when getting your results but as part of the results there is a confidence level indicated which is about 6 months above and below your childs results. This means that on a good day or a bad day there is a high probability that your child would score within that range so if your childs reading age is say 6 months behind where it should be its still within expected levels because on a better day he could attain his expected level. I have heard of cases where the results didnt seem to bear any resemblance to how parents thought their children did although the tests do seem to take quite a bit into consideration. I thought Dt1 would score higher at maths and I thought Dt2 would score less. reading was about what I expected. What year is your child in? I was thinking about this as a friends DS did worse than expected and he is in p4 although the same age as my Dt's (apart from a month). Because her Ds had not covered as much he could not be expected to know stuff. Things like measuring that the Dts had covered in P4 he had not done yet. Also Dt2's teacher said that this impacted Dt2's score in maths because he had not covered as much as Dt1 although he is not as able as Dt1 and may not have known the answers anyway but the fact that he hadnt covered it may have had an impact.

mollybob · 10/11/2009 20:14

My DD is in P5

paranoid2 · 10/11/2009 20:32

I am in Bangor. Where are you both?

mollybob · 10/11/2009 21:15

also bangor! what school are your dc at?

dd is at rathmore and ds in 1st year at Methody

Original poster
Concepta · 15/11/2009 20:23

I am from Omagh - sorry I haven't been on mumsnet recently so thats why I haven't answered messages. My daughter had too low a score for my liking. She is 7.5 and her overall reading score was 5.8. Her numeracy was 7.7 so I was happy enough with it. The teacher said not to worry but I can't help but worry. She is a very quiet child and one of the youngest in her class. In her end of year assessment last year the teacher said on her report that she was above average in her reading but below in her numeracy. She can be slow at doing things so maybe she took too long when working on the computer. I don't allow her on the computer much at home as I thought that playing with toys etc was better for her eduationally. Now I'm beginning to wonder - is it because she's not used to the computer that she didn't do so well because she hasn't got the IT skills. I am going round the bend. The teacher says one thing and her results show another. Other parents are all telling me how well their children have done. I feel so helpless but I suppose all I can do is help her at home and hope for the best.

OP posts:
Fi66 · 02/12/2009 10:55

Hi Concepta. I panicked as well when my son's results came in, hence the search for more info. He was slightly ahead in numeracy but a wee bit behind in literacy and i expected it to be the other way round! I discussed it with his teacher who said it was just an assessment on the day and not to worry unduly, but that's easy to say! Having spoken to my son he seemed to think the literacy test seemed bigger, so it could just have fazed your daughter a bit as well -the school should tell you what areas she performed less well in. I'm trying to encourage my son to read more (outside of normal school reading) as i think word recognition was where he struggled a bit. There is plenty of info on the CCEA site but if you are still worried i'd arrange to see her teacher.
Glad to see there are a few NI mummies using the site

CREL · 06/10/2011 17:49

The tendancy is to panic when you get these results if they are below what you are expecting. I think you have to remember that the results don't always reflex your child's true reading and maths age. All children can have off days especially in a test. Also the tests are diagnostic, so they are just meant to let teachers know where the gaps are so they know what each child needs to focus on during the year. This article gives a helpful explanation :)
wp.me/p18sPG-64

smck69 · 07/12/2011 10:15

Hi, my daughter got a poor mark on reading.

I was wondering is there any practice webpages for these tests.

or does anyone know any good web pages to start practicing for the 11 +.

ainebaby · 07/12/2011 11:46

Hi,
I did an online search for InCAS mock tests but to no avail. I would love for a Wii game to be developed as it is similar in design - would also keep the child prepared for what is going to happen during the actual test.

I think parents would pay top money for one of these - any game developers should see a niche here.

I think it's unfair that the tests are carried out in September as the child has had a two month break from school and is then expected to remember everything they learnt in the previous year.

CREL · 10/12/2011 20:19

The word is that InCAS have lost the contract with the DEd so the tests will be changing again. It seems that there will be a similar computerised diagnostic test but know doubt the format will not be exactly the same as last year. Just when you have got your head around one system they go and change it again!!

CREL · 08/09/2012 11:58

kipmcgrathlisburn.wordpress.com/tag/incas-tests-northern-ireland/

Here is some more info on the replacement tests.

shaluintalk · 05/12/2012 12:30

Hi,

I wanted to know the level of questions they ask for year 3 and 4.
My kids are apllying for year 3 and 4 respectively and for that they have to go in for InCAS assessment. Please provide some useful guidance. How should I prepare my kids for this test and from where can I get the syllabus for their relevent level of assessment.

Please help

trinity0097 · 07/12/2012 06:40

Incas is an adaptive test, so they start with very easy things and get harder if you child gets them right.

It's a broad test that can be used from age 4 to 11 with the same starting point for all children on it.

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