QTS Tests : Knock on effect for Students/Parents

does anyone know if the pass mark of 63% for the skills test has changed? or is it still the same?

My daughter is 17 years old and is having to pass these tests as well as finish college otherwise she will have her place at university for teaching retracted. Passed her numeracy first time and has one final attempt left for literacy. If she doesn't pass then what no university for her in sept. Don't agree with the 2 years lockout and not been allowed to start the teaching degree

The thing is, a lot of schools and universities set their own tests during their interview processes because they don't feel that the skills tests are helpful, relevant or rigorous enough. One of the government's own reviews recommended changes because the panel felt that the tests weren't quite right. They should be overhauled with schools and universities getting some input regarding the content and format, so that there is less of a need for further testing at interviews.

There are a lot of strong opinions and feelings on the rights and wrongs of the prof skills tests here but, whatever we think, it does provide a benchmark and consistency.
As a career changer moving into teaching after 28 years in a different profession I had to pass the tests which I think is a good thing. I know I have the right knowledge base now in literacy and numeracy for teaching and my ITT provider knows that too.
I would have hoped and thought that younger applicants (and presumably those more recently in education) would find it easier. Perhaps not?

I think they are a great tool to ensuring we have good standard Teachers but the stressed placed on passing this test can make confident students suddenly fail. I know currently going through doing my last skills tests (numeracy) the stress is horrid. Knowing I have given every single blood sweat and tear into getting where I am and failing now is horrible.

I agree. Although I personally think these tests are not a great measure of skill (in particular the English one), I do think that anyone training to be a teacher has the skills and knowledge necessary to pass them (at least, after a small period of revision in some cases). But the format of them results in a lot of stress for some candidates which can stop them passing. Particularly those with maths anxiety who may now have no support as the tests are taken before they start the course.

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If you have a degree im pretty sure you should be able to handle the stress of a pre-C grade GCSE maths exam.

the fact that people are being locked out of the profession by tests that a number of ITT providers, employers and an independent review panel have argued aren't really fit for purpose can't be ignored

More importantly, if you cannot handle the stress of an exam, how on earth are you going to handle the stress of teaching?Posted from TSR Mobile

I work in SEN schools with PMLD doing assessments, teaching and support and find it stressful based on how important the tests are. Its about failing at the final hurdle that gives me stress.

Which is why there's not one, nor two, but three possible attempts to pass the QTS tests. Anyone one their first and second attempts should feel confident enough by knowing that he/she won't 'fail at the final hurdle'. By the third attempt I think it's fairly clear that this was not the factor that made some people fail the test.

More importantly, if you cannot handle the stress of an exam, how on earth are you going to handle the stress of teaching?


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I disagree. I know people who very competently cope with the stresses of teaching, taking everything in their stride (and I know teaching is an extremely stressful profession in many ways) but found the tests pushed them close to their limits. These are very different situations...

The stress, as a poster mentioned above, results for many from the limit. Knowing that their entire life as they had planned it for years and invested so much in could be blocked to them, based on what happens in the next hour, is an incredibly stressful situation for anyone who lacks confidence in those areas. I personally don't like exams as an assessment method for this reason, but I guess that's a different topic! Some people who are very skilled struggle in exams because of the pressure placed on such a short while and their image in our society- if you think back to school, you should remember some people throw up or pass out in exam situations and those people generally get on just fine in jobs, and handling stress in general.

Also as I mentioned before, Maths anxiety affects a large number of people in the UK and sitting a test with no support network is not the best way to overcome this. With the chance to work on skills in the company of others feeling the same people can get over this very effectively, but the current set up just makes it worse, and excludes the people that the school system has failed in this area. I know of competent, skilled teachers who are good at both these key subject areas, who I believe may have realistically failed if they didn't have the PGCE team convincing them they could do it.

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We shall have to agree to disagree. Stress management is a skill that you can apply to a huge range of situations, and one that you never stop learning and developing.

I also feel quite strongly that the current situation is better, in that if you fail the tests you cannot begin your course, rather than the previous system where you can all but complete the course but the tests being the only thing that stops you gaining QTS.

It is quite well known that the QTS tests are required to start teaching. It someone has invested time and planning as you suggest, it would seem logical that they would also invest in getting support for their maths anxiety.

I am by no means suggesting that people who fail these tests wouldn't be wonderful teachers, but we do need a minimum requirement. Until we find a better way to define this, which we clearly need to, these tests will have to do.


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