QTS Skills tests-numeracy

[historysock]

Hi,
I'm in the middle of the process of applying for PGCE to start September-schools direct (secondary school-History). Interview next week.
I'm ok (ish) about the interview-but I looked on some of the practice tests for numeracy last night-which if successful at interview I will need to pass before September and oh my goodness! They seem so hard!! This is a career change for me-I haven't done Maths like that since 1996 and even then I had to resit my Maths GCSE after only getting a D first time around (came out with the required C). Box and Whisker diagram anyone? Algebra? Fractions into decimals. Long division 🤷🏽‍♀️
I honestly think I have no chance of passing this bloody test . The literacy one seems reasonable-but the Maths!!
Has anyone done these recently? Was it as hard as it seems? And what are the best resources to use-even the advice on how best to prepare is confusing!

Yes, they're looking at scrapping the tests because GCSE passes should demonstrate enough numeracy and literacy, which would be fine if they actually meant that people were functionally literate and numerate.

I have high grades in maths and science for GCSE. It's certainly not a reflection of my current levels of working knowledge. I probably couldn't remember half the material. It did me good (as someone who was numerate) to refresh my skills.

Equally, the number of trainee teachers who we get who have passed the skills test and have firsts and upper second class degrees but can't use apostrophes correctly or get the correct homophone is worrying. That's before you sit in a lesson where someone tells students that affect and effect are different spellings of the same word . Who knows what we'll get without the tests.

I know we have a shortage of teachers but I would much, much rather there was a greater emphasis on solving the retention problem and get good teachers back into the classroom than throwing money desperately trying to get bodies into ITT and lowering the bar so any Tom, Dick and Harry can have a go (which only acts as a drain on the experienced and competent teachers who have to drag them through the training and NQT year and then have to work twice as hard plugging gaps caused by poor teaching).

Yes, that sounds bitter but I can't for the life of me understand how education is improved for kids by lowering the bar for teachers.

Even though I did find the numeracy test challenging it is only testing stuff that a teacher should definitely be able to do. The pace made me panic, though!

Anyway, I totally agree with Lola - rather than lowering the bar further and further the powers that be must start to seriously look at retention.

Agreed, Lola.

Definitely subscribe to Numeracy Ready as mentioned by pp. I found that really helpful. Also check out GA numerical on youtube. He goes through the questions and the methods and shortcuts that may not seem obvious to begin with.

I passed GCSE maths with a C in 1990 and qualified to teach 3 years ago, so there was a massive gap with no maths at all! I was terrified of the maths test but passed first time by using the resources I have mentioned.

I did mine over 5 years ago now but what I found really helpful was writing down all of the times tables before I began the test on the mini whiteboard I was provided with. That way I was able to complete the long division questions much quicker.