Preparation for the National Benchmark Tests, South Africa
Soon your son or daughter may have to complete an academic literacy test as part of an application for admission to university. In view of the scarcity of places on offer, universities are increasingly using such tests as an additional criterion for access. Such tests include the Academic and Quantitative Literacy component of the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs).
‘n Klompie vriendelike matrieks het vandag in die saal van die Hoërskool Linden vergader om voor te berei vir die akademiese en kwantitatiewe geletterdheidskomponent van die Nasionale Normtoetse. Hierdie toetse, beter bekend as die NBT’s of National Benchmark Tests, word toenemend deel van universiteitstoelatingsveresistes. En Lindeniete vat nie kanse nie — as so ‘n toets geskryf moet word, wil hulle weet wat om te verwag. Dit was ‘n kwessie van: “Wys ons die hekkie en ons spring oor hom”. Continue reading “Slim Lindeniete nou nog slimmer”
Can or should you prepare for the Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) component of the National Benchmark Tests? Of course you can. Why would you not prepare? Why would you not seek to become familiar with the unusual format of such tests? Why would you not grasp the opportunity to gain an understanding of what academic literacy means? If you do an example test and check the correct answers, you will certainly develop your ability to use academic language. And that ability is exactly what the AQL component tests! Continue reading “NBT AQL preparation: yes or no?”
Vandag het die Graad 12s hul welverdiende Vrydagmiddag-ontspanning opgeoffer om ‘n beter kans te staan vir universiteitskeuring en/of plasing. Die Nasionale Normtoetse (Engelse benaming NBTs) se taalkomponent is waarvoor die leerders vandag hul vaardigheid geslyp het. Dit staan bekend as ‘n toets van Akademiese en Kwantitatiewe Geletterdheid (AKG) en moet bepaal of studente die nodige taalvaardigheid asook basiese syfer- en grafiese begrip het om in die akademiese wêreld te kan presteer. Continue reading “Bethlehem se Witteberg en Voortrekker Graad 12s oefen saam vir die Nasionale Normtoetse (NNTs)”
Today some bright kids from Hermanus and Malmesbury attended an academic language worskhop at the brand new Master Maths Centre, located at the corner of Dirkie Uys and Hope Street (just behind Standard Bank). Continue reading “Smart Grade 12s become even brighter”
By attending an academic literacy workshop today at Crawford College, Pretoria, learners made certain that they will perform at their best when they have to write a test of academic and quantitative literacy, such as the National Benchmark Test (AQL component), as well as internationally recognised language tests such as TOEFL and IELTS. These tests are used by most universities for different reasons: admission, placement, or identifying risk – with a view to timely intervention. Continue reading “Crawford Grade 12s are taking no chances”
Leerders van die Hoërskool Waterkloof het so pas, vir die derde agtereenvolgende jaar, hulself ‘n 10–20% voordeel besorg deur te oefen vir akademiese geletterdheidstoetse wat deur sekere universiteite vereis word. Continue reading “Klofies doen dit weer”
Navorsing deur Dr Kabelo Sebolai, adjunk-direkteur van die Taalsentrum op Stellenbosch Universiteit, toon dat goeie matriekuitslae in Engels geensins ‘n waarborg onder eerstejaars op universiteit is van akademiese taalvaardigheid, of van die breër konsep van akademiese geletterderdheid nie. ‘n Veel sterker korrelasie word gevind tussen goeie prestasie en die uitslae van akademiese geletterdheidstoetse. Continue reading “Engels-matriekuitslae is nie die beste voorspeller van sukses vir eerstejaars op universiteit nie”
Die jaar het nog skaars begin, en vir die Graad 12’s van 2019 lê daar in 2020 klaar ‘n gesukkel voor. Wanneer hulle later vanjaar aansoek doen om universiteitstoelating word daar vir hulle ‘n toenemende skaarste aan plekke voorspel, en veel meer intense kompetisie om ‘n studieplek te kan verseker. Nasionaal is daar eenvoudig meer aansoeke as wat daar beskikbare plekke is. Wanneer universiteite moet besluit watter aansoeke van voornemende studente aanvaar moet word, gaan hul al hoe meer op die uitslae van taaltoetse soos die akademiese en kwantitatiewe geletterdheidskomponent van die Nasionale Normtoetse (NNT’s) en soortgelyke toetse steun. Die uitwerking daarvan sal veral merkbaar wees by kursusse wat hoë aansien geniet, en vir dié wat hoog in aanvraag is. Continue reading “Gestoei om plek op universiteit: akademiese taalvaardigheid ‘n voordeel”
The scarcity of places for students at university is likely to be felt more acutely in 2020, and the Grade 12s of 2019 will no doubt be affected when they apply to study. The number of places available as opposed to the number of applications is a national issue. Given the scarcity, universities will increasingly use language tests such as the academic and quantitative literacy component of the NBTs, as well as other, similar tests, to decide whether places should be offered to prospective students. This will be felt more acutely in the case of prestigious courses, and the ones that are in high demand.
There is a mistaken belief that one need not, or cannot prepare for academic literacy tests. This is simply not true. Continue reading “Scarcity of places at university: language test results crucial”
