Medway 11+ exam results may be flawed
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Medway 11+ exam results may be flawed
My child failed the Medway 11+ badly this year (2009) although they were predicted to pass easily.
It has come to my attention that many schools are reporting that children expected to pass the Medway exam have failed badly and children not expected to pass have performed exceptionally highly.
Has anyone else got examples where this has taken place, I suspect I may only hear from those parents whose own children have failed, but if you can give examples of children that passed and were not expected to I would like to hear from you!
It has come to my attention that many schools are reporting that children expected to pass the Medway exam have failed badly and children not expected to pass have performed exceptionally highly.
Has anyone else got examples where this has taken place, I suspect I may only hear from those parents whose own children have failed, but if you can give examples of children that passed and were not expected to I would like to hear from you!
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:50 pm
I know of two children who narrowly missed the Medway but passed the Kent, but were expected to pass. I also know of another child who was very borderline but just passed. I know of a child who was expected to fly through and did - with nearly full marks.
I think we can all think of somebody who should have but didn't, wasn't expected to but did....
Unfortunately this is what happens as it is only one day's testing, anybody can have a bad day...the system is by no means perfect, but I do see the same patterns every year. Not comforting I know.
ps Reddebs - great predictions!
I think we can all think of somebody who should have but didn't, wasn't expected to but did....
Unfortunately this is what happens as it is only one day's testing, anybody can have a bad day...the system is by no means perfect, but I do see the same patterns every year. Not comforting I know.
ps Reddebs - great predictions!
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- Posts: 245
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:43 pm
In all honesty, I think a better 'test' would be the work to date done at the school than a test on one day. There are all kinds of situations that can be taken into account on a day......with I think pressure being one of the main ones. I don't know about anybody else, but when I was ten, I was out kicking balls around, having fun, being a kid - not really giving much concern to the weekly spelling test etc. I didn't grow up here, so didn't have SATS (if they were around then) to even worry about. We either passed the whole year or not, got passed onto the next year or even kept behind or put a year ahead if we were doing really well. I think the whole 'testing' nature of ten year old children, with such a high stake, is really sad - epecially when it comes down to ONE DAY. Any of these kids who were expected to pass but didn't - they might've had a sleepless night, they might've been mentally exhausted, sick to the stomach, distracted, or just having an 'off day'. Some of the ones who maybe didn't expect to pass but thought they'd give it a shot anyways - maybe they were more relaxed, would be happy if they passed but not devastated, slept well the night before - who knows! I do think this in itself could explain some of the results the OP talks about.