Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

IT IS now crunch time and 11-year-old Peta-Ann Gentles is convinced she is prepared to face the mammoth of a task in achieving her Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) goal in the next few weeks.

"I know how important this examination is and I am ready. I'm just reviewing what I have studied in the past year and making sure I don't get overly anxious," Peta-Ann said.

"I don't think it is safe to say I am at a 100 per cent where I need to be, but I realise that if I continue to follow my routine and stick to it, I will be successful at the end of the day," she continued.

Peta-Ann has tightened up her language arts scores and mathematics. In addition, she has managed to maintain some consistency with the scores heading into the exams in March 2013, which is something she is celebrating a small victory.

"Between November and October, I was up and down in my scores, and I really have been working on that, so I'm comfortable with the progress, so I know I can do well next month," Peta-Ann said reassuringly.

For the month of November, the grade six Chetwood Primary School student registered encouraging scores for mathematics with 96 per cent, but dropped below her expected performance in social studies and science with 76 and 72, per cent respectively.

In October, she scored 84 per cent in social studies, 92 for science and 88 per cent in mathematics. However, Peta-Ann will need to maintain a 94 per cent average to stay on her GSAT goal, according to her teacher, Garvin Atkinson.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com