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Maths

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 12:38 pm
by westerhamum
Hi

Practise papers are 50 questions in 50 minutes but I think on the test itself the math section is shorter. How many questions need to be answered in what timescale? Also, what % do they need to be getting for it to be a pass?

Re: Maths

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:23 am
by mystery
westerhamum wrote:Hi

Practise papers are 50 questions in 50 minutes but I think on the test itself the math section is shorter. How many questions need to be answered in what timescale? Also, what % do they need to be getting for it to be a pass?
It varies a bit each year. I can't remember exactly but it has been faster per question than this and it has been slower. Also, the raw score to pass varies each year but it is less than 50% each time on this "new" test. So if just aiming for a pass best thing is to get some right and then guess the ones not got time for rather than get in a flap trying to do them all and get them all wrong if you see what I mean.

Best practice is those 8 GL papers and then when you identify areas of maths they are not happy with / have not been taught go back to basics and get some examples to work through from other sources. Most importantly, if maths is shaky do not leave it to go rusty all summer. The test is very close to the start of term.

Re: Maths

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:55 am
by Sparklecat
You might want to split that paper in half to be nearer real test conditions. I'm guessing there will be 25 questions in 25 minutes, with a few stinkers towards the end. With each question worth 4%.

Re: Maths

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:13 pm
by monochromecat
Maths and verbal reasoning we split into two so 25mins each. Harder to do with English. NVR they do in short timed blocks anyway.

Re: Maths

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:21 pm
by LocalTWmum1
Yes, last year it was 25 questions in 25 minutes. DS got a near perfect maths score but was thrown by a nightmare pi question which he hadn't covered at all school or with his tutor. Get them prepared for one or two like that and encourage a sensible guess rather than leaving the answer sheet blank. Speed is also crucial as the questions can be wordy...

Re: Maths

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 6:11 pm
by PettswoodFiona
In the 2015 test there were lots of questions with multiple parts adding to the time pressure. DD had consistently been doing the Bond ten minute tests in half the time or less and still felt pressured for time in the Kent test.

Re: Maths

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:00 pm
by mystery
In Spetember 2015, the speed was less than 1 minute per question (think there was 30 uestions in 25 mins). The test setters were more reasonable the following year as the raw score to pass was so low in 2015 it was crackers.