How to Explain Ministry Exams to Grade 4 Students

Whether you decide to bring up the topic at the start of the school year or a bit later, be aware that unless your students have older siblings, it will likely be the first time they are hearing about ministry exams. 

Either way, the word ministry can be intimidating if your students don’t understand its meaning. That is why, to prevent undue stress caused by a lack of information, we recommend that you prepare to discuss the topic in depth. 

Here are a few quick facts to help explain the fundamentals of ministry exams:reuve : 

• Known as “uniform” or “compulsory” examinations, Ministry of Education exams are held every year, generally in May and June.
• Their purpose is to evaluate the learning of students (all students in the province, even those who are home-schooled!) at specific points in their school career.
• The first of these tests takes place in Grade 4 and evaluates French, Language of Instruction. Other subjects will be evaluated later in the school career (e.g., mathematics in Grade 6 and Secondary IV). 
• Students will have access to preparatory materials and practice tests to familiarize themselves with the exam format. 
• The Grade 4 French exam has two components: a reading exam and a writing exam. The two components are tested on different dates. 
  • The reading exam takes place over two half-days. The first involves a literary text, and the second an expository text. Students will have a half-day to read the text and answer questions related to comprehension, justification, and critical judgement.  
  • The writing exam takes place over three half-days:
    • Day 1: Presentation and planning of the writing project (approx. 1 hr 20 min)
    • Day 2: Drafting and revising (approx. 1 hr 30 min)
    • Day 3: Revising, correcting, and final copy (approx. 2 hrs)​​​​​​​

It is only natural for students to express concerns and have questions as their very first ministry exam approaches. You can help them better understand what to expect and promote a positive attitude by thinking about questions they are likely to have and preparing reassuring answers in advance:
 

• Will the evaluated content be more difficult than usual?
  • Reassure students that ministry exams usually focus on what students have learned throughout the year. There will be no “nasty surprises.”
• If you fail the ministry exam, do you risk failing the entire school year?
  • Reassure any anxious students that the test result is not the only factor that determines whether they pass or fail the school year, and that their exam mark only counts for part of their overall grade. “Everything you do during the year counts, so no, you won’t fail your year just because of the ministry exam if the rest of your work was satisfactory.”
• Why are they called ministry exams?
  • Demystify the term ministry by explaining that the exam is intended to ensure a certain degree of standardization and objectivity. Explain that all students in the province take the same test at the same time, and that every student gets support from their teacher.  
• Do the teachers know what will be on the exam in advance?
  • Clarify that teachers are not told what will be on the exam either, but that it is nothing to worry about because the exam always covers material that was studied in class during the school year. 
• Will we go to another school to take the exam? 
  • Explain that ministry exams are held at your school. They are even corrected by your school’s teachers.
• Can I retake my exam if I fail?
  • Clarify this by telling the student, “If you fail, you and your parents will meet with school representatives to figure out what to do next. If everyone agrees that repeating the test is the best idea, then yes.”  
• What happens if I have an individualized education plan?
  • Reassure students that they will have access to all the tools they are normally entitled to during the ministry exam. 

Preparing for a ministry exam is about more than studying the material; managing stress and providing encouragement are equally important. Here are a few winning preparation strategies: 
 

• Incorporate practice tests into your lesson planning using previous ministry exams to help students become familiar with the format and type of questions.
• Provide students with review and support resources, such as those offered by Alloprof. Since the exam aims to assess French reading and writing skills, some of the following links direct you to Alloprof French resources: 
  • Alloprof's tools for reviewing by subject and grade level:
  • fiches, exercices, vidéos et MiniRécups
  • Trucs pour se préparer à un examen de lecture
  • Trucs pour préparer l’écriture d’un texte
  • Trucs pour répondre à des questions
  • Répertoire de révision
  • Utiliser correctement un dictionnaire
  • Concept sheets and articles with our best exam prep tips
  • Printable tools to make studying easier
  • Checklist for exam success
  • School support services for students
• Schedule dedicated discussion time where students are encouraged to name their worries and practise relaxation techniques.
• Explain that although the exam is important, it is simply a milestone in their academic career and should not be seen as a burden.
• Encourage students to do something soothing the night before the exam and to maintain healthy sleep habits. Suggest that they watch their favourite show, for example, or take time to play and relax. 
• Use positive reinforcement through small gestures, such as sharing encouraging sayings with your students. Send this printable tool to your students’ parents so that they can tuck some words of encouragement into their child’s lunch box. Another simple idea is to give every student a new pencil before the exam and tell them that it will bring good luck.