Overcome exam nerves
Exams are never scary when a student is confident and well prepared.
ARRENDELL Education’s programs provide the ‘missing pieces’, which allow students to fully grasp concepts and to achieve success in a variety of exams; the HSC, NAPLAN or special entry exams.
Our teachers are highly qualified at sharing the right exam strategies specific to each exam, to help achieve the best results.
Merewether Selective Exam Preparation and Scholarship Entry
- Application Period Opens: usually around October the year prior your child sits the exam. You must apply online, no later than mid November (specific date to be confirmed by NSW DET) at schools.nsw.edu.au/shsplacement.
- Parent Notification: February of the year your child sits the exam. A letter will be sent to applicants advising the examination venue.
- Selective Schools Placement Test: usually held early May (beginning of Term 2)
- Notification of Placement Test Results: usually July – August
Families choose Merewether High School because of its academic standing and the enhanced opportunities the school will provide for their children. Merewether High School is an academically selective high school, catering for students from a wide geographical area within the Hunter Region. The school offers a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum, focusing on high expectations of student academic achievement. Students attending Merewether High School are often characterized as high achieving and gifted students.
The preparation courses are designed specifically to help students to gain entry to Merewether High School or obtaining a scholarship at an independent high school.
Entry into the Hunter regions only academic selective school is very competitive, with only approximately 10% of all candidates offered positions: https://www.theherald.com.au/story/6193905/merewether-highs-minimum-entry-mark-on-the-rise/ “A Newcastle Herald analysis of Department of Education data shows students needed to achieve at least 191 out of 300 in the Selective High School Placement Test last March to secure one of 180 year seven places at Merewether High this year (2019).”
Therefore, any advantage that a student can gain from thorough and focused preparation, will increase the likelihood of success in gaining entry.
Our high calibre of teaching staff help prepare students by focusing on the required skills core to the exam; reading, writing, maths and critical thinking. Students are also provided guidance and practice with the typical aptitude type questions found within the exams.
While enrolment in the Preparation Courses is non-selective, almost all students enrolled in the ARRENDELL Merewether Preparation Courses, either gain entry into Merewether or benefit significantly with enhanced skills to manage the rigors of high school within other school settings, including the independent school sector.
For further information on ARRENDELL Education’s Merewether Selective Exam Preparation Classes simply call 4942 3000 or email office@arrendell.com.au – be quick, as there are limited seats available!
NAPLAN Preparation
Beat the NAPLAN jitters
While NAPLAN was never designed as a pass or fail type of assessment, the process can be unnecessarily daunting for young students.
To help children feel adequately prepared, ARRENDELL Education offers support and exam techniques to enable each child to do their best. Our NAPLAN tutorial sessions help reduce the stress of NAPLAN by providing students with a variety of activities aimed at developing exam technique and confidence.
Students work on:
* Language conventions of spelling, grammar and punctuation
* Reading and comprehension
* Creative writing
* Maths and problem solving
These sessions run in conjunction with the normal tutorial sessions, and are usually held during Terms One, as NAPLAN is now held at the end of Term One.
Opportunity Class Preparation
Preparation and persistence are key...
Opportunity Classes are available at a select number of local schools and cater for high achieving children in Years 5 and 6 of the public school system. Some schools may also offer extended learning classes e.g. ELAN; Extended Literacy and Numeracy.
Acceptance into these classes is based on academic achievement in Years 3 and 4, as well as a placement test which is usually conducted in July of Year 4.
The placement test involves assessment of English (Reading), Mathematics and Critical Thinking. Entry is dependent on the test, plus, the student’s performance in English and Mathematics which will be provided by their primary school.
To improve your child’s chances of Opportunity Class placement, ARRENDELL Education offers programs which deliver the skills they need to be exam-ready. Our tutorial sessions share the structure of the test and help children to develop skills in the areas they will be specifically tested on.