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King Edwrads VI -Exam Test Nov 2006

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:03 pm
by Insider
Hot off the press, have a tutor for my child, who tells from his sources that the test/exam for Nov 2006 will be significantly different from previous years. In the past, much has been made of english, that's about to change. Also, judging by the turnout at the open days held by the KE schools, the numbers taking the exam will be up, the competition will be fiercer (!) than ever, this the expected trend. The tutor is planning to attend all of the scool open days given by KE's to gauge the mood of the competion. What changes are expected to the exam is anybody's guess, but I would think that it will be more maths and less english to help the disadvantaged minorities who in the past have made several appeals and complaints, that the exams favour english speaking famlies - dont' ask why !! It is further evidence of preventing natturual talent to flourish.

Will add more mre once I have more inside info.

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:04 pm
by KenR
That doesn't surprise me that the KE Foundation are going to change the test significantly this year.

When they introduced the new Univ of Durham tests about 4 years they were very secretive about the content of the tests. There was a huge uproar from the parents at time about the form of the test, particularly the reading and comprehension - with the passage being taken away.

The rationale for the original change from the old NFER VR and NVR format was that they getting some very weak childs and missing some very bright kids. This filtered down from some of the KE teachers. Although I'm not sure if this was significantly different from any 11+ exam around the country.

My advice for parents would be to make sure that the children are prepared for the unexpected and to try and stay calm. All the children will be in the same boat and those that manage to stay calm will definitely be at an advantage. This is an area where RTFQ is very important (unlike Bucks!)

What were the practice questions like this year? I recall last year this was the same 3-4 NFER type questions they had been issuing for years - even under the old format.

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:29 pm
by KE Mum
I don't have any inside information at all, but I would be suspicious of people claiming to have it. The competition will be just as fierce this year as it has been every year that I have ever known.

My suggestion is not to be put off by so called "Insiders", as I am sure that not many of them would post information on a public forum. I may be wrong, but if my child was to sit the test this year I would (as Ken suggests) stay calm and do what you have to do. I doubt very much that your child will be asked to build a particle accelerator.

Just my thoughts.

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:47 pm
by KE Mum
Also, forgot to add, the questions that I got through the post were definitely different from the old style NFER examples - I had kept the old ones from when my older daughter sat the test. They had some words and some very easy proofreading and also some maths - angles. I remember because my daughter got nearly all of the questions wrong!

Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:04 am
by KenR
There is some interesting material on the Univ of Durham CEM web site which parents might be interested in reading.

I think I'm correct in saying that the KE Grammar 11+ Exams are bespoke exams for the Foundation set by the CEM based on the GETINTU Framework.

The following is a quote from their web site:-
Every year the test content changes to reflect our ongoing research and development and to ensure the tests remain novel and engaging for the children who take them. There is little or no advantage to be gained from using commercially available test materials to prepare for these tests. As such we believe that they offer a fair assessment for all children, whatever their educational background, as far as this is possible. The tests are not language-free, however, and directly target proficient readers of English. It is our policy not to issue any practice materials.
The following link provides further information about the GETINTU Framework and the educational basis of the tests.

http://www.cemcentre.org/RenderPage.asp?LinkID=31718000

From what they are saying about the form of the tests it is quite consistent with the insider statement that the tests may change from year to year.

They also clearly do not like tutors and tutoring!

Hope this is of interest.

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:42 pm
by Guest
My daughter, in Year 10 at a KE Grammar school, got in using the old test. She also got level 5s in all subjects at KS2.

She found in yr 7, that a significant proportion of her classmates had poorer literacy skills than her, and this was a nuisance in humanities classes. This is why test was changed. Her school still seems very biased towards Maths and Sciences (which suits her).

Daughter 2 (taking test this year) has been assessed as being gifted at English. What benefits are there for her? She probably won't get a Grammar School place, and will go to our local comp, which is a Language College. "But surely a Grammar School should be for children who are good at language, Mummy?"....