2011 exam paper
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:19 am
Like many of you, I have not been getting much sleep and have to find ways to occupy myself that will not wake the entire household. I woke up at 4am this morning and started to look again at November's paper (Yes Reeyah, I was doing what I told you about!). I know there was a big hoo-ha about posting the content in January but that boat has now sailed and as the information is already out, I have a few questions:
Paper 1 seems to add up to only approx. 38 minutes with only one section on NVR (20 questions) - was there another section on nvr as was the case in previous years (the timings suggest that there would have been room for that)?
If not, this would mean that the nvr part of the total score will be based only on c.20 questions. Therefore, each question will impact more heavily on the overall percentage for that subject. It would be a similar case with the maths.
Also iIn the 2010 exam there was an unexpected move to split the two papers with the english/vr in paper 1 giving a particular score and the maths/nvr in paper 2 to give a combined score for that paper. Only 2 sets of standardised scores were given out (opposed to the 3 sets for previous years). I had guessed that this might be a more long term plan. This year they mixed all the sections up again - it could just have been to ensure that the large amount of english was split up throughout the paper so that those who are weaker at it are not faced with 45 minutes of it. Nobody knows.
I know that it is all supposition, but the questions I am asking are: is it likely that they revert back to the 3 score system? Perhaps, the 2 scores are here to stay (it would make more sense) and they will just collect the scores from each section to give a standardised split between english/vr and maths/nvr as last year. Or, if they are sticking to 2 scores, they might just standardise each paper irrespective of subject content?
I know that none of you can actually answer this, but I thought I would try to give you all something to worry about, just in case you have started to relax and not think too much about things!
Paper 1 seems to add up to only approx. 38 minutes with only one section on NVR (20 questions) - was there another section on nvr as was the case in previous years (the timings suggest that there would have been room for that)?
If not, this would mean that the nvr part of the total score will be based only on c.20 questions. Therefore, each question will impact more heavily on the overall percentage for that subject. It would be a similar case with the maths.
Also iIn the 2010 exam there was an unexpected move to split the two papers with the english/vr in paper 1 giving a particular score and the maths/nvr in paper 2 to give a combined score for that paper. Only 2 sets of standardised scores were given out (opposed to the 3 sets for previous years). I had guessed that this might be a more long term plan. This year they mixed all the sections up again - it could just have been to ensure that the large amount of english was split up throughout the paper so that those who are weaker at it are not faced with 45 minutes of it. Nobody knows.
I know that it is all supposition, but the questions I am asking are: is it likely that they revert back to the 3 score system? Perhaps, the 2 scores are here to stay (it would make more sense) and they will just collect the scores from each section to give a standardised split between english/vr and maths/nvr as last year. Or, if they are sticking to 2 scores, they might just standardise each paper irrespective of subject content?
I know that none of you can actually answer this, but I thought I would try to give you all something to worry about, just in case you have started to relax and not think too much about things!