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Age standardised scores

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:18 pm
by Natalie74
Not really sure how this works. My son was born in November he scored 220. His friend July scored 242. How would the age standardised score been worked out?

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:29 pm
by moseleymum
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/advice ... xplanation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... =11&t=7148" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
see mike1880's post

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:16 pm
by Natalie74
Thank you Moseleymum, blimey it's alot to get your head round isn't it. x

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:40 pm
by moseleymum
Yeah, I can't cope with too many statistics. I leave that to others on the forum! :)

As for age standardisation, it is what it is. Can't change the fact that older children will lose a few points and younger ones will gain a few points, relatively speaking. It is done in the interests of fairness so just have to roll with it.

All my DCs are young for their respective years. My youngest is very young for the year and the difference between him and those who were September babies is very apparent, especially at this age. I don't consider him to have any "advantage" through age standardisation as he struggles in so many ways. Ideally we want to try and get our DCs several points over the minimum so that age standardisation doesn't affect their places, its borderline candidates for whom those extra few points either way make the difference.

I think getting too deep into the age standardisation is unhelpful, if just opens the way to more "what ifs...?", a form of mental torture! Celebrate how well your DC did rather than worry about it. It really is only a matter of a few points :) .

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 9:37 pm
by Natalie74
Yeah well said. Thank you. X

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 7:43 pm
by OldTrout
Hi Natalie74

My little fish has a birthday early in the school year so didn't benefit in any way from age standardisation I suspect.

However, I have (possibly exaggerated) told her that those scoring better than her 213 (all with birthdays after Easter) probably did get a few points just for being younger.

It has helped her feel a bit happier about things, especially as one July born boy (probably unintentionally) was slightly gloating that he scored 2 points better than her. Little fish came home and asked if that meant she wasn't as bright as him - and I said 3 things:

1) no single exam/ test/ conversation can ever truly determine how bright you are
2) it just wasn't your day - happens to everybody (even sports stars you admire)
3) He is at least 8 months younger than you - I don't know if it's a point a month - but for argument's sake let's say it is - then you beat him, if you see what I mean.

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:10 am
by Wolves mum
I understand it feels unfair that younger children get awarded "free points", but being a mum of July birthdays, I have to say that my children in reception seemed very young compared to the older kids. This included things like general maturity, vocab and pencil control.

My son was 9 when he did his 11 plus and I am proud of how well he did and I do feel a bit disheartened when people say its easier for younger children to pass, I think that's a bit unkind.

Apologies if I'm being over sensitive and I may well change my views when my October born DD sits the exam!!

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:00 pm
by Thegodfather
I got quite stressed about age standardisation because my DS is a September baby. My main worry was with a borderline score/just missing out. When I looked at the actual calculation it does seem fair and considers the cohort. However, the whole process is not fair! With girls out performing boys at primary age yet we don't gender standardised. Not to much of a problem here though as the schools are largely single sexed...

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:11 pm
by Okanagan
And then it isn't necessarily the case there are the same proportion of places for boys as for girls. It certainly isn't in South Warwickshire for example, leading to a situation where girls living in some areas of the county can get grammar places, but boys with the same scores can't.

Re: Age standardised scores

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:25 pm
by OldTrout
Hi WolvesMum

I think age standardisation is trying to level the playing field

and Thegodfather

I take your point that it isn't gender standardised and possibly should be.

I think at the end of the day we all have to be honest. Some schools better prepare you for this than others. Some parents are more supportive than others. Some tutors are better at strengthening any weaknesses. And sometimes it just isn't your day.

As I said - I just said those things to my little fish to cheer her up a bit. She's under strict instructions not to tell the boy (a good friend) that he probably scored less than her, but got some free points.

As WolvesMum points out - she had the advantage of being better able to cope with school way back in Year R.

The reality is this is a really tough process. Every child is different - and I think every parent can see how things were hard for their own child, even if they did pass.

For me, I'm just trying to shore up little fish - who right now is a bit low. She knows she hasn't passed. She knows her two best friends are off to Five Ways and Camp Hill Girls and I think she knows her happy little bubble of primary life is going to burst in a few months.

It's a bittersweet time at the moment. She's really enjoying school and her friends but every now and then I see a very sad look cross her face.

Pass or not - I think all us parents need to be especially alert to the fact that all this upcoming change with friends going off to different senior schools is also tough on them.