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DO YOU USE THE MORRISBY TEST ?
www.morrisby.com
If yes, it is likely that:
you are paying too much for it
you are not making use of all the benefits
you are not feeding it back in a thorough enough manner
If you are not using it, you are missing out on:
a good way to boost your student's confidence
a good way to increase their motivation
a good way to increase their awareness of the career options open to them
a good way to identify their particular strengths and how to plan for the future
very useful information on which students are underperforming and the overall analysis of the aptitude level of the year group
a good way to get parents involved with the school and increase their awareness of the careers and higher education options available to their child. Better informed parents help prevent poor decision making on the behalf of their child.
THE MORRISBY TEST
The Morrisby test has been around since 1967and is widely used in the independent school sector and to a lesser extent in state schools. It is primarily used as a basis for careers guidance in year 11 or 12 but can also be used for personal counselling and selection with adults.
To find out information on the test, it is best to look at the Morrisby website www.morrisby.com. In summary it is a series of written tests that take around 3 hours to complete. Students are tested on their aptitudes and personal characteristics, as well as completing a detailed interest guide.
A comprehensive report is produced which analyses the results and gives career suggestions. Individual cores are also produced which when interpreted by an expert in a thorough feedback interview, are a very powerful guidance tool which can be of huge benefit to the student. It is this interpretation in a structured interview that is the key to making the best use of the Morrisby Test, but it is often done badly. I am an expert at interpreting the results and giving maximum benefits to the student.
COMMENTS
"The quality of the advice given was first rate with Mr Collins having an encyclopedic knowledge of university, career options etc. His advice has certainly helped X in preparing for option choices and the long term plan for his career".
( Parents comments )
"I was most impressed with the exercise. X has found the process very helpful and it has assisted him considerably in choosing his options and longer term career planning. The feedback was excellent at the interview. This is a valuable addition to school support in career planning".
( Parents comments )
"Before the interview I was not sure what career path I was going to follow. Now I am quite content and aware of what career I am likely to enjoy. He helped with planning for the future and made things clear. I think the Morrisby Profile has helped me a lot with my career choice".
( Pupils comments )
MY METHOD
I strongly believe in making the full use of all the information given in the Morrisby test, in order to ensure the maximum benefit for the individual and the school. I am one of the most experienced Morrisby users and give over a thousand feedbacks a year.
The first thing I do is analyse the scores and produce a spreadsheet for the senior management showing individual aptitudes and averages across the year group. This is very popular with schools and often indicates students who are not achieving their potential. A sample copy of this can be sent if requested.
I then give a 50 minute interview, to which I always invite the parents, in the interview I:
discuss the aptitude and personality profile with the student/parents
discuss the results of the interest questionnaire and compare them to the aptitude and personality profiles
discuss the suggested careers options
finish by discussing the short, medium and long term career options and decisions to be made.
I produce a short interview summary for the student/parents who can seek further advice by email if they wish. This service is ongoing throughout the students school and university career and is particularly appreciated by parents, who like the opportunity to seek ongoing guidance on progression routes.
ALTERNATE METHODS
In many schools no feedback is given and the scores are often thrown away. The student will in most cases just look at the career suggestions in the report and ignore the rest of the information.
In some schools feedback is given by a teacher who has many other tasks to do and may not be an expert in Morrisby interpretation. They also will not have time to keep up with changing higher education trends and labour market information.
In some schools a short 20 minute feedback is given, this is much too short to make full use of the Morrisby results.
In some schools group feedback is given which tends to focus on how to read the report and little else.
COST AND BENEFITS
I run my own agency and as well as feeding back myself use a small team of careers advisers who have at least 15 years experience of working with academic pupils. This keeps my overheads low and I charge very competitive rates.
The testing costs depend on the numbers involved:
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NUMBER
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COST PER HEAD
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10 to 19
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£67
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20 to 29
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£65
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30 to 39
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£63
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40 to 59
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£60
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60 to 79
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£57
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80 to 99
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£54
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100+
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£51
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The feedback interviews are charged at a daily rate of £325 per day and we would normally undertake 8 interviews of 50 minutes each. In each case the student is given a summary of guidance in addition to the Morrisby report and the CES email to enable them to seek any follow up advice. There is no time bar on this service.
Thus the cost for the test and a full feedback service ranges between £90 and £110 per student.
PRICE CHANGE
I have held my prices for the last 2 years, but for the 2012-13 academic year I will be raising my Morrisby testing price slightly (£2) to reflect the additional costs I have taken on. The costs for Morrisby testing from September 2012 will be:
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NUMBER
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CURRENT COST
PER HEAD
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2012-2013 COST
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10 to 19
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£67
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£69
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20 to 29
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£65
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£67
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30 to 39
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£63
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£65
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40 to 59
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£60
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£62
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60 to 79
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£57
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£59
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80 to 99
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£54
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£56
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100+
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£51
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£53
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My daily feedback charges are also rising, from £342 to £360. I normally see 8 students/parents a day. Thus, for most schools the cost for a test and intensive feedback interview will be around £100 + vat.
This is still significantly cheaper than most other suppliers, and I offer a very thorough 50 minute feedback, to which I always invite parents. In addition everyone is given my business email to enable them to ask follow up queries, with no time bar on the service.
BENEFITS
Realistic prices that make it affordable for the student body
The production of useful management information
A thorough feedback interview by an expert
The chance for parents to attend the interview
Ongoing advice throughout the students education
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