11 Plus Exams Forum

Help with the following question please

The temp yesterday was -2 degrees it has dropped to -7 degrees. How many degrees is that?

The question seems unclear.

Why is that unclear? There has been a change in temperature from -2 to -7. How many degrees has the temperature changed by? DG

Thanks for replying DG
The question didn't ask for the change in temperature. Just asked 'how many drgrees is that'.

Would the answer be '5 dregees' or ' change of 5 degrees '


I asked an A level math student who said that the question was not worded clearly.

Nikku

Daogroupie wrote:Why is that unclear? There has been a change in temperature from -2 to -7. How many degrees has the temperature changed by? DG

nikku wrote:Thanks for replying DG
The question didn't ask for the change in temperature. Just asked 'how many drgrees is that'.

Would the answer be '5 dregees' or ' change of 5 degrees '


I asked an A level math student who said that the question was not worded clearly.

Nikku

I agree with you that the question is poorly worded. But perhaps it's a 'verbal reasoning by the back door' sort of thing

With respect to the answer, since the units ('degrees') are already mentioned in the question, then just '5' should suffice, but it would be safer to put '5 degrees'. I assume that the idea is to fool candidates into putting '-5' degrees. If this is a paper you have to pay for, do you not get a mark scheme to go with it?

Thank you toadmum
The answer sheet states '5 degrees' Wanted to confirm if this was correct.

I was concerned that a question worded like this way would waste time... But I see your point on 'trying to trick'

ToadMum wrote:

nikku wrote:Thanks for replying DG
The question didn't ask for the change in temperature. Just asked 'how many drgrees is that'.

Would the answer be '5 dregees' or ' change of 5 degrees '


I asked an A level math student who said that the question was not worded clearly.

Nikku

I agree with you that the question is poorly worded. But perhaps it's a 'verbal reasoning by the back door' sort of thing

With respect to the answer, since the units ('degrees') are already mentioned in the question, then just '5' should suffice, but it would be safer to put '5 degrees'. I assume that the idea is to fool candidates into putting '-5' degrees. If this is a paper you have to pay for, do you not get a mark scheme to go with it?

I agree it is a badly worded question as there is no precise indication of what the "that" is referring to. The answer could be -7 if the "that" were referring to the final temperature.