STUDENTS have had mixed reactions to the new-look Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy Test which was conducted with external invigilation for the first time Thursday.

The examination created a level of excitement and tension among some children who sat the exam, while others saw it as just another day at school, teachers in primary schools said.

“Some are excited but some are nervous,” Millicent Alexander, grade four teacher at Seaward Primary and Junior High in Kingston told Career and Education shortly after her students resumed doing the test after a break.

Alexander said the children reacted differently to the exam – some determined to do well, while others took it lightly.

“Because they know that they have at least three more chances to do the exam, some of them are not taking it as seriously as we are expecting them to,” she said. “However others say they don’t want to be repeating it with the grade four children next year.”

Under the new policy, students who do not master the grade four test to be certified literate and numerate, will not be allowed to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

However, students not passing the first time around will have another three chances to do the exam before they do the GSAT in grade six.

But if they are still not successful after all these chances, students will have to spend another year in primary school.

Principal of Seaward Primary Arlene Thomas said the school always conducted the grade four test under exam conditions – the only difference Thursday was that the invigilators were from the Ministry of Education.

She said the parents were aware of the change.

“We have had a parent teachers meeting to sensitise them about the process, so they are aware. They know that if they don’t pass it by grade six they will be barred from the GSAT,” she stated.

Thomas said the fact that the school operated on the shift system affected its performance as the children spent a shorter time at school than other schools. She hoped the new emphasis on the grade four test would improve the scores.

“I think the greatest problem is the lack of involvement of the parents. They don’t take the children’s interest to heart until it’s time for the GSAT,” she said.

A total of 112 students were scheduled to do the exam. The literacy test comprises three sections, namely: word recognition – students are given 40 items to match picture with word or word with picture; reading comprehension – students are given 30 questions on narrative, expository texts and formatted materials such as schedules and documents; and writing tasks – students are required to fill out a form and do one piece of extended writing.

The numeracy test has two sections. Section one covers multiple-choice questions and section two has questions that require students to show how they worked out the answers.

Over at Melrose Primary and Junior High, there were no problems in administering the test, for which 75 students were registered.

“It went extremely well. I had no complaints from the invigilators,” grade four teacher Avary Campbell told Career and Education.

She said the parents were in support of change which will not allow illiterate students to move on to high school.

“The parents are supportive of it because they believe their children should be able to read before they move on, but I realise that although they are willing, some are not literate enough to give their children the help they need,” she said.

More than 47,000 students were registered to do the exam islandwide.