Next term sees the introduction of a re-vamped English writing
test for year 6 children as part of the key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests.
The new test will assess children’s skills in spelling, punctuation, grammar
and vocabulary and has been introduced with the intention of encouraging primary
schools to give more focus to the teaching of these key skills.
The aim is for more children to make the transition from
primary to secondary school with the competence to communicate effectively through
writing and hence succeed across the breadth of subjects within the secondary
curriculum.
From 2013, a new marking structure for GCSE exams will give
credit for correct punctuation, spelling and grammar in key subjects. Mastering
these skills in primary school should stand the child in good stead for future
performance in public exams and into employment beyond.
The new test will comprise two papers, a spelling task and a
short answer paper, assessing pupils on correct use of punctuation, appropriate
grammar usage including knowledge of nouns, verbs, adverbs, prepositions and
the correct use of tenses and pronouns. The spelling task will test ability to
spell commonly misspelt words.
Supporting your child with preparation and practice might be
challenging for some parents, particularly for those educated in the 70’s and
80’s when grammar was not the focus of English teaching methodology. Tenses,
abstract nouns, past participle and subordinate clauses may seem like double Dutch!
For parents who wish to see what the new test will entail, sample
papers can be downloaded from the DfE website via the link http://bit.ly/Umf1ZD
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