For a young student, admission to secondary school is of course an important educational step. The latter requires a certain preparation not only in the academic but also in the psychological sense. This preparation is particularly important when it comes to passing admission exams for a private school or a specialized program such as the international one. Given that the entrance exams start at the very beginning of Grade 6 and, furthermore, given that they often create stress both for parents and children, it would be a good idea to lessen the impact of these exams by making some preliminary moves as early as Grade 5.

Several factors should be taken into consideration when selecting a secondary school for your child.

First of all, there is the question of choosing between a public and a private institution. While financial considerations are important in such a matter, taking time to think about the personal needs of your child is equally important. When the time comes to make the final choice, that is, after the entrance exams have been completed, one can easily feel perplexed or uncertain.

Hence, it is strongly recommended that you start thinking about this whole process well in advance, that is to say, when the child is still in Grade 5 or even Grade 4.

For those who wish to send their child to a private school, three institutions offer their services in the Gatineau region. As for the school boards, they offer a variety of programs which of course includes the competitive admission process. Given all this, the question becomes: How can you prepare your child for this important step which should start in a preliminary way as early as the fourth or fifth grade and, at the same time, not do things to excess?

In the Gatineau region, both the private schools and the public schools offer different programs. Why not avoid unnecessary stress by getting to know all about these institutions as early as possible and even visiting them when they have Open House days? It’s a sure-fire way to collect all the facts that will help you to make a decision later on. In other words, you will arm yourself with what is needed to ascertain. First of all, whether the school matches your personal values, expectations, and concerns and, secondly, whether it offers the services your child requires. To conclude, first impressions can go a long way in making the right decision.

When the time comes to write the admission exams at the beginning of Grade 6, having a good academic record is crucial. These exams are presented in the form of an objective quiz with multiple choice questions and a time limit, and evaluate the student on important notions taught in Grade 5. The student will be faced with showing his or her proficiency in French and mathematics. Some of the notions included in the exams are as follows:

• In French :
  • Grammatical structure of the language
  • Conjugation of verbs and agreement of past participles
  • Sentence analysis
  • Reading strategies
• In mathematics
  • Number sense and numeration
  • Fractions
  • Units of Measure
  • Geometry

It is advisable to consult a specialist who will be able to make things easier for you by offering help during that critical period between the beginning of Grade 5 and the admission exams in the autumn of Grade 6. Le Centre d’aide aux études would be happy to meet you at any time to discuss these matters and perhaps guide you in the important steps to be taken with respect to getting your child into the right institution. It can make all the difference in the long run and, to top it off, this consultation, which you will have with one of our professionals, is absolutely free. Contact us!