ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) are Australian examinations created by EAA (Educational Assessment Australia). They are not based on the New Zealand curriculum and are independent tests that sit outside of our learning programs. We recognise that students who wish to sit any ICAS exams need to access them through a school, and therefore we provide the opportunity for students to do so, if they wish.
ICAS are paid assessments for Year 4-6 students, and students can opt into any number of them; there is a cost involved in sitting each exam. ICAS now also offer an 'Introductory Paper' in some subjects that year 3 students can choose to sit.
Amesbury School will be offering all 6 ICAS exams again for Year 4-6 students this year: Science, Maths, Writing, English (reading), Spelling and Digital Technology. We will also offer the Introductory Paper in the four subjects ICAS are offering at this level: Maths, English, Spelling and Science.
We ask that parents who are interested in entering their child for any ICAS exams attend a short meeting at school to discuss the content of exams and the role of the school in these exams. During this meeting we will cover what the school will and won't do in terms of ICAS exams. If parents agree with these expectations, students can then be entered for the exams. If you have already attended this meeting in previous years, you do not need to attend this meeting as you are already aware of this information. This meeting will be held on Friday 9th March at 4pm in the library. Attendance at this meeting is necessary if you are considering entering your child for any ICAS exams, unless you have attended the meeting in previous years.
During the information meeting we will also cover admin issues around the exams, such as cost, dates, general schedule and ICAS rules around examinations (they have a strict code of conduct around administering the exams). If you have attended this meeting in previous years and will not be attending the meeting this year, we will send out 2018 ICAS information once you email me to express interest in entering for any exams this year.
Please note that ICAS have increased their prices for all exams slightly since last year - each exam cost has increased by $1. This year ICAS is continuing to use this same pricing structure as the last couple of years: a minimum of three entries per subject area per school is required. Schools entering fewer than 3 students will be charged the entry fee applicable to 3 enrolments. This means that if your child is one of only one or two students entering a particular subject area from Amesbury, the cost of three entries will either be shared with the other student entering the exam, or you will be charged for three entries.
Please note that we will be registering Amesbury School students for all 6 exams on March 19th. Students will not be able to register for exams through Amesbury School after this date, as this incurs additional admin time and expense.
Click here for the link to the ICAS website if you would like further information regarding ICAS exams. If you are interested in entering your child/ren for any ICAS exams this year, please email me (urs.cunningham@amesbury.school.nz) to let me know. If you have not previously attended a meeting with us regarding ICAS exams, I will email you our ICAS 2018 Information Sheet once you have attended the meeting on March 9th. If you have previously attended this meeting, I will send you the information sheet once you let me know you are interested in registering. To confirm your registration please email me by 18th March to let me know the ICAS exams you would like your child to enter.
Warm regards, Urs Cunningham
