11 Plus Exams Forum

NFER seem to have updated their webpage on practice/coaching:

http://www.nfer.ac.uk/nfer/research/ass ... n-plus/#10

You can view the original page on the internet archive- moderator
https://web.archive.org/web/20140409071 ... even-plus/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very interesting:

From the NFER website:
'The scores obtained from the tests which were originally developed for the Northern Ireland transfer procedure in the 1980s, found that coaching for a period of three hours can significantly improve pupils mean test scores. This research also found that sustained coaching over a period of nine months can result in more significant gains in mean test scores'

From the abstract for the Bunting and Mooney research: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1057367
'Coaching for a period of 3 hours did produce a statistically significant shift in the means, though the individuals maintained their rank order. The effect of sustained coaching over a period of 9 months is shown to be substantial.'

I'd be fascinated to read the whole report, but I'm not sure that I'm committed enough to spend the 10 Euros plus taxes!

I think I would describe the NFER interpretation as mealy mouthed - and given that the research is dated 2001, a bit late!

.... and there's always the Bucks guide for parents: "NFER research has shown that extra familiarisation or coaching makes only a slight (if any) difference to the final score".

Yes I've always said that the NFER people told me that about 30 hours was of benefit - but after that the effect was minimal and could actually be counter-productive.

Dear Guest55: When/where did they tell you that?

The 30 hours could well be the same as the "sustained coaching" of Bunting and Mooney - but isn't it completely different from the regime that they claim(ed) gives saturation familiarisation for the Bucks tests?

It was a briefing for 'interested parties' some six years ago ....

Six years ago! I'd have been underwhelmed if you'd said 6 months..

Apologies for wittering, but: if a child has parents who follow the official admissions advice (extra practice/coaching makes little if any difference), then doesn't that put them at a substantial disadvantage? Seems a bit unfair (uNFER even).

Last thing, there are some comments I found interesting in the Headteacher's Admissions Group minutes (March 2008) http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/schools/docum ... 080327.pdf:
"Need something more contextual than order of suitability regarding the child’s performance in school as with so many now having coaching it is becoming harder to predict."
"Heads expressed concerns that coaching and extra practice was of such a level that it might impact on the integrity of the test. Moderation was suggested as a possible solution." (who's moderating what?)
"Heads suggested that if VRT was the best we had we should stand by it more and stress this to panels."

Best wishes to everyone, Pips.