Eulie Mantock, Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) teacher at St Richard's Primary School in St Andrew, is warning parents against forcing their children to cram for the examination this late in the game.

The GSAT, which guides the placement of students in secondary schools, will be held this Thursday and Friday.

According to Mantock, the examination is not about swotting but more about the concepts that students will need to apply to various topics.

"It serves no purpose trying to get them to memorise," Mantock told The Gleaner yesterday. "You should have been doing that long time ago."

Not difficult

The teacher, who has had several scholarship winners over the years, said GSAT was not a difficult examination.

"As long as students are prepared and they go through the curriculum, once they understand the concepts, they should be able to answer the questions," she said.

Mantock said the parents were more nervous than the children, adding that her students were very calm and not worried about the GSAT.

"My problem is to get them to be less energetic. When they are at school, they play in the schoolyard and just don't remember that they have an examination," said Mantock.

Almost 50,000 grade-six students are registered to sit the examination, which is in its 10th year.

Students will be assessed on their performance in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts and communication task.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com

Doctor's calming tips

Psychologist Dr Asquith Reid recommends:

Teachers can help to calm their students by assuring them that they believe in their potential.

Special relaxation exercise for students so they can learn to identify when they are in a relaxed mode and choose the relax mode rather than the anxious mode.

Get them involved in fun activities, like going to the movies or going on an excursion.