Can someone explain ISEB to me?

[Stircrazyschoolmum]

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?!?

I think the info about time is provided to the schools, per ISEB website. I do not know whether it makes a difference to the scores but I had assumed not. I think that whether it is relevant depends on the school and what they are looking for. E.g. in a very selective school, between a handful of borderline candidates and all other things being equal, it could be important.

They definitely do know the timings. When DS sat ISEB a couple of years ago one of the schools that offered him a place told me his overall score wasn't what they'd usually expect as he'd done poorly in one section but got outstanding scores in others and had done the whole thing in under half the allocated time. He got interviews at all of the schools we applied for so I assume the others must also have looked beyond the overall score. We were applying to very selective schools and most had their own second round tests so were really only using ISEB as a first sift which may have made them more willing to look at those who got odd or spikey results.

I am pleased relieved DS had completed ISEB. DS was delighted to say the style was the same as Atom, but he didn’t feel the questions ever became as difficult as the random nor as technical As Atom. English And VR were relatively easier than he had expected. Atom does expose you to questions far beyond the curriculum.
I did overhear that the school / invigilators can access the results 10 days/ 2 weeks after the exam. I would be curious to see if this is in-fact true or an urban legend .. Has anyone else heard this?

@EnolanotAlone

I'm really glad your DS had a good experience and I bet you are celebrating tonight having it over and done with!!

There was a PP who got her DD's score from the school but I can't remember if that was the secondary school or the primary. I have heard informally that the schools don't appreciate you hassling them for the scores... and I'm guessing the 'data owner' is the first school you apply to that has the test? (For example, at least two schools we have applied to won't have their own ISEB until after xmas but will use scores from applicants who have applied to schools with earlier cut offs.)

I'm not sure where in the country you are based - do you have multiple schools that rely on ISEB or a mixed bag. (Sorry.. only asking because I'm nosy and its a good distraction, but I hope you get what you want!!)

Saw an ISEB youtube video about the pre-test and it seems like the schools gets a pretty detailed report on the scores (score, stanine, percentile and ranking of the cohort).

I heard that some prep's adminster the tests over 2 days - surely this gives those DC a minor advantage? - only needing to focus/concentrate for slightly over an hour versus those doing all four sections in one sitting.

Regarding prep school children having an advantage as they sit the test over two days... Yes by definition this test is unfair as it is taken at different dates over different settings, unlike traditional exams. However it is also unfair for prep school children as they tend to sit the test earlier in November, up to 1-2 months before others sitting the test at the secondary schools. 1-2 months of extra preparation adds WAY MORE to the overall score than 1-2 months of age standardisation which is peanuts. Those sitting the test later also have the advantage of benefiting from the feedback from those who sat the test earlier.

Does anyone know if spatial reasoning (3D) is included in the real ISEB NVR ?
Thank you

Dropped DS for his ISEB pre-test just now. He seemed quietly confident after clearing the Sutton grammars test, so hopefully that will translate to good performance today and generates some good options for now (we have three schools that use ISEB this year on our list).

Hi after this testing process can you as a parent see the results and the detailed results ? Thanks

Goodluck @GrammarHopeful - i found this part strangely calm and nerve wrcking.

@whyohwhy I don't think so. Secondary schools have to fill in a request form for access to candidates results to be sent to them by email from the ISEB according to their website. On this basis I can't imagine that the host primary school or parents will be able to obtain the data. The data owners are the secondary school who have preregistered the candidates and paid for the service.

@Stircrazyschoolmum we have 3 schools running with ISEB, and one non ISEB, however due to a clash with dates and an early cut off, school offered to run ISEB early.

Interesting - but do you know a parents or as the children have a right to see what stains held on you?
I guess it makes sense.

I am also concerned that we have banding tests for state tests clashing with iseb tests for private schools.

I am unsure what to do in that scenario.

@whyohwho you only sit the ISEB once then the schools share the results so you just sit it on a different day to the banding tests. Parents don’t get to know the scores.

@EnolanotAlone you sound in a similar position to us, I was panicked initially but now really keen to have it done!

My DS due to sit ISEB shortly and Atom has been really good for him, he prefers the online testing. However he also has a paper based exam in January. Should I stick with Atom or just practice with the books? He's not so good with the books and want to ensure he's good with all formats. Need to decide whether to renew Atom for another month

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

@WarmAndco3y

Correct, you only lose access when your subscription ends.

@nospampls, thank you