Course Structure - Primary Education

The ABCIC education system aims at enhancing students' skills in Mathematics, English and General Ability through a process of testing and evaluation. Through these learning activities students can improve their subject knowledge and examination skills. ABCIC is currently giving online access to students in years 4 to 6.

The test modules at primary level are categorised into three areas, namely:

• Knowledge Tests
  
• Practice Tests
  
• Trial Tests

All these test modules contain multiple choice questions.

A full year's course comprises of 4 Levels (Year 6 - 2 Levels only) with over 2500 questions, which are graded to advance the student in a systematic manner. The number of questions a student will be exposed to within a course is much more than this as "CyberTutor" from time to time provides personalised revision papers. The "CyberTutor" monitors every answer, and based on this it provides the additional material to assist the student to improve on any weak areas. Students can progress at their own pace, and move from Level to Level and Year to Year. They can register for the Full Year's course at any time.

ABC Internet College gives access to registered students to do the dynamic multiple-choice question papers prepared from vast question banks. When students submit the test papers after completion, it instantly corrects and makes suitable recommendation (if required). One of the main attractions of the system is its ability to provide 100% personalised revision papers.

By clicking on the "free trial" button on the ABCIC Homepage the student can register online, and obtain the first two papers of Mathematics, General Ability and English for Year 4, 5 or 6, free of charge. This will enable the student to experience the operation of the ABCIC "CyberTutor" learning system before the parents decide to pay and register the student.

When a student registers for "free trial" papers, the student will be given a Login Name and a Password instantantly. It is important to use the same login name and password at subsequent logins, because ABCIC automatically creates a homepage for each registered student, and maintains performance data that accumulates during the course of study. The system analyses the performance of each student at every test and maintains records of the performance. Personalised revision test papers and practice test papers are based on these records. Hence, one should not share their login name and password with others if wanting to benefit from the personlised tutoring system. ABCIC testing methodology provides an "all-round" experience for students who are studying in Year 4 to 6 at Primary School. It is a tremendous helps for students preparing for examinations.

The questions in Mathematics, General ability and English are categorised into the following groups.

Mathematics
Numeration	Volume
Addition	Mass
Subtraction	Temperature
Multiplication	Time
Division	Three-Dimensional Objects
Fractions & Decimals	Two-Dimensional Objects
Money	Position
Area	Graphs
Length	Problem Solving
General Ability	English
Verbal reasoning	Volcaublary
Non-verbal reasoning	Spellig
Spatial reasoning	Usage and sentence
General knowledge	Grammar
	Comprehension

Knowledge Tests

These tests are designed to advance student's knowledge and skills in a systematic manner throughout the academic year. Currently there are more than 7,500 questions in the databanks and this is growing. The Knowledge Test questions are grouped into four Levels, at Years 4 and 5, and two Levels, at Year 6. An average student is expected to spend about 10 weeks at each Level.

ABCIC is characterised by a 'CyberTutor'. CyberTutor is an intelligent program, which act as an electronic version of a remote teacher who corrects the student's work and gives feedback instantly. The CyberTutor's feedback relates to the student's performance in each test paper attempted. A maximum of three attempts is given for each test paper, and the format of the feedback given is shown below.

Reporting Formats for Students

The student can proceed to the next paper when the test score is greater than 85%, or after 3 attempts. The parent and the student can review the student's performance in every learning activity the student has undertaken at any time during the course.

One of the main attractions of the Knowledge Tests is the invisible interaction made by the CyberTutor to strengthen the weak areas of the student. Primarily it serves two functions. It monitors every answer given by a student, and based on this it provides revision questions to improve on any weak areas. A student can go to the next Level only after successful completion of all the questions, including all the personalised revision questions. The CyberTutor also identifies topics in which each student is weak and direct to Practice Questions (only in Mathematics) to give more confidence in these topics.

Students can progress at their own pace, and are able to move from Level to Level and Year to Year gradually. Students can register for the Full Year course at any time of the year.

Practice Tests

Currently Practice Tests are available only for Mathematics. The Mathematics course is divided into 18 topics. At each Level of a full year course a set of practice questions are given under each topic to provide the student with more practice, and to build up their confidence. All the registered students can access practice papers.

Trial Tests

Trial Test papers are primarily designed to train students for competitive examinations. The number of questions and the standard of these papers and their standard is similar to the corresponding competitive exams. For example there are several competitive exams in Australia (Opportunity Class Test at Year 4 - NSW, Selective Schools Test at Year 6 - NSW, Scholarship exams and Basic Skills Tests Australia-wide). These papers are well structured and are suitable for any primary school exam all over the world.

Currently, Trial Test papers have been developed for Year 4 and Year 6 students. Only one attempt is permitted for each paper unlike in the knowledge tests. When the test paper is answered, a full result report is submitted immediately with answers and solutions.

Once a student has gone through the Knowledge Tests and the Practice Tests, Trial Tests give extra practice to develop examination skills and competitiveness. Students who register to do knowledge tests can access the trial tests.

Year 6 Trial Tests

This is known as BSG Test, and is split into 3 sections; Bronze, Silver & Gold.

Bronze

Two papers in each subject; English, Mathematics and General Ability

Silver

Two papers in each subject; English, Mathematics and General Ability

Gold

Level Two papers in each subject; English, Mathematics and General Ability

Methodology of the BSG test papers

• BSG test papers are available only at the completion of Year 6- Level 2 for those who register for the Full-Year course.
  
• Each test paper has 40 to 50 questions.
  
• Only one attempt is permitted.
• When a test paper is answered full results report is submitted immediately with answers and solutions.
• Since only one attempt is allowed, students are strongly advised not to try these papers unless they can spend at least one and a half hours.
• We generally recommend to finish a paper within 45 minutes.
• The student should be in a suitable environment to concentrate as if he/she is in an examination.
• The standard of the test BSG test papers are of very high standard but within the scope of Year 6 standard.
  
  Year 4 Trial Tests
  
  
• These papers are available only at the completion of Year 4 - Level 3 for those who register for the Full-Year course.
• There are three test papers with 30 questions in English, Mathematics and General Ability.
• Only one attempt is permitted.
• When a test paper is answered, full results report is submitted immediately with answers and solutions.
• Since only one attempt is allowed, students are strongly advised not to try these papers unless they can spend at least one hour.
• We generally recommend to finish a paper within 30 minutes.
• The student should be in a suitable environment to concentrate as if he/she is in an examination.
• The standard of the test papers are of very high standard but within the scope of Year 4 standard.