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I Need To Pick Your Brains Re The Medway Test !

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:56 am
by scarlett
I had a long discussion with my DS2 teacher yesterday re his suitability to the Kent Test and although she feels he is on track, she also suggested he took the Medway test as he apparently has a real flair in literacy. I was surprised at this , because I don't know if you remember, but I had problems with him reading etc.....so just goes to show not to worry ! Anyway, I always ignore posts on the medway test...so was wondering what the difference was and if he passed which schools would we be looking at plus what about travelling ? We live in a small village between Maidstone and Sevenoaks. I was hoping he could go to the same school as DS1 !

His maths is ok, but due to teacher problems , he needs to really get the basics a bit more under his belt...but that should be doable with practice .The medway test does have a maths paper, I assume ?

Re: I Need To Pick Your Brains Re The Medway Test !

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:58 am
by yoyo123
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/school ... ay-11-plus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

would you like me to move this to Medway section?

Re: I Need To Pick Your Brains Re The Medway Test !

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:34 pm
by scarlett
Thanks Yoyo for the link...and yes please to moving it ...more sensible !

Re: I Need To Pick Your Brains Re The Medway Test !

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:51 pm
by Allbutdone
Hi Scarlett

Having had 2 DD take the Medway Test I can perhaps give you some insight. Medway test consists of 3 papers: extended writing paper (50mins), maths paper (50mins multi choice) and verbal reasoning (50 mins multi choice). Both the english and maths papers can be worth upto 140 max marks which is doubled and the verbal reasoning 140 - giving a max score of 700. Like Kent, standardisation takes place to ensure the youngest of the year are not penalised.

Some Medway Grammars (for boys this is Rochester Maths) require a pass and then places are allocated according to distance (furthest in 2011 was 7.92km) but two of the others, Chatham Boys and Rainham Mark are purely allocated on score (Chatham has in the past been undersubscribed but Rainham usually takes around the pass mark.

Pass mark is judged by allowing 23% of Medway children through, this year was 505 and any children from out of Medway have to achieve this mark. An additional 2% of Medway can go through on review.

I'm not sure how the journey would work though could be quite tedious.

Hope this helps. :)

Re: I Need To Pick Your Brains Re The Medway Test !

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:58 pm
by sherry_d
The way Medway works is they test 3 subjects but give them diff weighing.
Maths, English and VR. The maximum score is also 140 in each paper too.
However Medway gives English and Maths double weighing meaning max score for these is 280 + 280 while for VR its just 140. The max score is 700 and to pass you need around 510 minimum

The major difference is Medway put all three scores together so if a child does very well in English and blows the VR or Maths they could still pass based on aggregate score. Kent is different in that you need to get a minimum score in each subject to pass.

You really don't need much prep if any at all in addition to Kent so your DC may as well just do it.

I think there are buses from West Malling to Medway. Depending on the schools, some Medway grammars are VERY easily accessible from Maidstone esp Chatham boys which is along the 101 route (every 15minutes). Look at the school here http://www.11-19travel.info/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and see if the journeys will be doable. On top its covered by the Freedom Pass so you dont need to fork out more.

Re: I Need To Pick Your Brains Re The Medway Test !

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:18 pm
by scarlett
Thanks Allbutdone and Sherry. I actually think he would do better in The Kent Test , as he seems to understand non verbal really well and is doing well with the verbal too ...I think his teacher suggested it as she felt he was really good at writing, but I don't think he would be a top scorer . I think he will probably just scrape through anyway . I'll also have to consider travelling, we live out from West Malling so it would be a pain to drive him there plus have 2 others in different places.Shall have to think it all through. :? Thanks again. :)