Experiences with Cambridge Primary Insight

[FromTheFirstOldFashionedWeWereCursed]

10yo DS is going into a potential secondary where he’ll be doing some exercises on the CPI software so they have more information about his academic strengths and weaknesses. It’s an unusual situation as he’s autistic and the school is a tiny independent which would be a pretty good fit for him socially and environmentally.

He’s academic but extraordinarily anxious and so I’ve tried to find details online to help me prepare with him - all I need are a few questions so he’s familiar with the format and doesn’t feel wobbly when faced with it. No matter what, we won’t be cramming! I haven’t had much success. Wondering if anyone here has used it, before I ask the school?

This company sell practice papers. I've used them for other things and the quality is pretty good. My daughter sat incas at her primary school and you're not supposed to prep for them as they assess natural ability but the papers are useful for those feeling nervous.

pretestplus.co.uk/incas-cem-practice-tests-years-1-6/

You could sign up for one paper (£49) so your son could have a dry run and feel more familiar with what he might see on the test day.

Reading/spelling

1. Word Recognition A word will be spoken through the headset and the student will use the mouse to select from the five options the word they have heard.
2. Decoding The student will hear a made up or unfamiliar word and from the options select the ‘word’ they have heard.
3. Comprehension Depending on how they have done on previous sections, not all students will be presented with comprehension questions. If they are, the student selects the missing word that makes the most sense in the context of the sample passage.

Maths

1. Number Type 1 Counting, informal maths, place value, fractions.
2. Number Type 2 Sorting, patterns, problem solving, algebra
3. Measure, Shape and Space (MSS) including 2D and 3D shapes
4. Data handling.
5. Addition - Presented to all
6. Subtraction - Requires an addition age equivalent score greater than 5
7. Multiplication - Requires a subtraction age equivalent score greater than 7
8. Division - Requires a multiplication age equivalent score greater than 8

Spelling
Over the headset the student will hear a word and, using the screen keypad, they have to spell the word they have just heard.

Developed ability

1. Picture Vocabulary Students will hear and see the word and select the correct picture match to the word from the options shown on screen.
2. Non Verbal Ability Students are asked to find matching patterns in a larger pattern.