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EDUCATION
The National Benchmark Tests Are you in Grade 12? Are you thinking of applying to a South African university? If so, you’ll have to write the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs). Here, we summarise some of the key things you need to know about the tests. WHAT ARE THE NBTS? The National Benchmark Tests measure your academic readiness for university. They complement and support (rather than replace or duplicate) your National Senior Certificate (NSC) results. WHO USES THEM, AND HOW? A number of universities across South Africa use the NBTs to help interpret your NSC results. Universities use the NBT results in different ways: Some use them to help make decisions about your access to university. This means that your NBT results, in combination with your NSC results, are used to determine whether you are ready for academic study. Some use them to determine placement within the university. This means that the results are used to decide whether you will need extra academic support after being admitted to university. Some use the tests to aid in curricula development within the university – what is taught and when. WHAT DO I HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING THE NBTS? You can find out all you need to know about writing the NBTs in 2015 on the National Benchmark Tests website, www.nbt. ac.za. Here are some important points: There are two tests: The AQL, or Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy test, and the MAT, or Mathematics test.
Everyone applying to a university that uses the NBTs has to write the AQL test. The MAT test is reserved for those candidates who wish to apply to programmes for which Maths is a requirement, such as Health Sciences, Engineering, Accounting, and most of the sciences. There are no past papers or special study materials to prepare for the tests. The tests assess your prior knowledge: what you know and are able to do. You must register online to write the tests, and you pay up front. Go to www. nbt.ac.za to register. A complete schedule containing all test locations and dates is available on the NBT website. The costs are as follows: R80 for the AQL test only, and R160 for the AQL and MAT tests taken together. It is important that you write the test(s) in time to meet university admission deadlines. If you are applying to more than one university, make sure to take the test(s) in time to meet the earliest deadline. See www.nbt.ac.za for more details. If you have any queries about the NBTs, contact the call centre (021 650 3523), or connect with the organisers on Facebook (facebook.com/nationalbenchmarktests) or Twitter (twitter. com/CETAP_UCT).
SUN VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
PINELANDS HIGH SCHOOL (t) 021 531 7410 (e) postmaster@phs.org.za
REPRESENTING SOUTH AFRICA AT THE INTEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2015 Josiah Senior and Fritz Keyzer, both in Grade 12 at Pinelands High School, have just returned from representing South Africa at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2015 (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For the Cape Town Science Expo last year Josiah and Fritz created a portable power source that gathers energy through solar panels that follow the sun, increasing their efficiency by 45% compared to stationary solar panels. The power source is built in a box, making it a portable system
that has sufficient power to charge small electronic devices, batteries, or lights. Their project won gold at both the Cape Town Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and The International Science Fair held in Johannesburg.At ISEF, 1 700 students from different countries demonstrated their innovations in science and engineering. Josiah and Fritz were two of the 11 South African teenagers who were chosen to represent South Africa with their unique solutions to the country’s food security and energy problems.
Josiah Senior and Fritz Keyzer with their portable solar power tracking source.
(t) 021 785 2722 (e) hello@sunvalleygroup.co.za
SUN VALLEY VS. FISH HOEK DERBY DAY – LOCAL RIVALS AND FRIENDS – The annual local derby between Sun Valley and Fish Hoek was held at Sun Valley Primary School at the end of May. The day was characterised by intensely competitive, physical matches on the rugby field and netball court, wonderful friendship and mutual respect after the final whistle had been blown – the true essence of sport. This year, it was Sun Valley Primary who came out on tops, winning the majority of both Netball and Rugby matches on the day. Results: Rugby Results: • U9A: 3-2 Win • U9B: 7-2 Win • U10A: 10-10 Draw • U10B: 15-22 Loss • U11A: 53-0 Win • U11B: 48-0 Win
• U12A: 51-0 Win • U12B: 15-15 Draw • U13B: 48-17 Win • U13A: 37-7 Win The Urban Space-Debonairs 1st Team (U13A) match was the game of the day. The boys dominated each facet of the match to win convincingly. Skipper, Colby Van Staden, led from the front and scored four scintillating tries. Netball Results: • U7A: 2-0 Win • U8A: 4-4 Draw • U9A: 3-3 Draw • U10A: 4-2 Win • U11A 10-1 Win • U12A 18-5 Win • U13A 22-4 Win Overall, an excellent Saturday of sport.
Carlos Da Costa.
Linda Cwayi flying through the air.