Comprehension tests

Eleven Plus (11+) in Warwickshire

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Pam_man
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:39 pm

Comprehension tests

Post by Pam_man »

As I understand, the Warwickshire 11+ test consists of a section on comprehension?
Does anyone have any idea how you can prepare for this?
Our son is using bond V / NV / Maths, but I'm concerned comprehension is not covered in any of these.

Is it a paragraph of text with multi choice answers referring to the paragraph?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks
ginx
Posts: 2151
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:47 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Comprehension tests

Post by ginx »

I am confused about how much comprehension is in the 11+ this year in Warwickshire. I have heard comprehension has been in past papers.

We are told there is a paper for verbal reasoning (is that the comprehension?), non verbal reasoning and maths. No mention of English.

How I wish there were past papers around!
guest201
Posts: 484
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:04 pm

Re: Comprehension tests

Post by guest201 »

As I understand it the comprehension, cloze etc is what CEM refer to as verbal reasoning. The kids need a good vocabulary and a good knowledge of how the language works. There are not usually any code questions or what may be considered "traditional" verbal reasoning.
Okanagan
Posts: 1706
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Comprehension tests

Post by Okanagan »

The Warwickshire exam has comprehension as part of Verbal reasoning - e.g. taken from the admissions policy for KES Stratford - but it's the same for all.

2.3.5. The test papers will include the three elements of Verbal Reasoning, Non Verbal
Reasoning and Numeracy:

2.3.5.1. Verbal reasoning involves the manipulation of verbal representations and the solving of verbally presented problems. Arrangement of words and phrases, spelling and language ability as well as logic and problem solving skills are needed in verbal reasoning.
Included in this section is comprehension which tests the ability to make inferences as to meaning within and between phrases, sentences and paragraphs; to derive the ‘gist’ of the meaning from a text; understand the vocabulary, and extract interpretations of the written language. The section will include a ‘Cloze Test’ of several short passages of prose. It needs an overall understanding of the passage, but it requires a closer attention to the grammatical and syntactic elements of written language than in the comprehension test. The candidate selects the most appropriate word so as to make sense of the phrase and/or sentence.

2.3.5.2. Non-Verbal reasoning tests eliminate cultural bias in intelligence testing and the possible bias against individuals who lack experience of a particular language or have difficulties with verbal elements.

2.3.5.3. Numeracy tests will test ability in mental arithmetic and recognition of mathematical patterns. They will involve a rigorous test of working memory skills and a speed element. There will be questions which explore numerical problem solving requiring more stages of processing with a greater verbal element.


Have you seen the past years sample tests (although apparently these just reflect the format and layout, not the complexity) at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/elevenplus#2
Okanagan
Posts: 1706
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Comprehension tests

Post by Okanagan »

Also from the AGS admissions policy which gives a bit more clue as to format

2.4 Each test will be of 45 minutes duration.

a. Paper 1 will include:
Verbal reasoning – 20 minutes
Short maths questions – 10 minutes
Comprehension – 15 minutes

b. Paper 2 will include:
Longer maths questions – 15 minutes
Data processing questions – 10 minutes
Non verbal reasoning – 10 minutes
Missing words in paragraph test (‘cloze test’) – 10 minutes


This also says re the Cloze test "The candidate selects the most appropriate word from a choice of three at various points in the passage so as to make sense of the phrase and/or sentence" - so perhaps a clue about a slight format change there?

Also:

Mathematical Sections:
2.9 Short mathematical questions will test ability in mental arithmetic and recognition of mathematical patterns (curriculum free as possible). There is a rigorous test of working memory skills with a speed element in this section. Not all the candidates will be expected to finish.

2.10 Longer mathematics problems explore numerical problem solving requiring more stages of processing with a greater verbal element involved than in the short maths questions


From past posts (can't guarantee it's the same this year of course) each of the three areas VR (inc cloze and comprehension), NVR and Numeric Reasoning account for about 1/3 of the overall standardised score - so although NVR is only 10 minutes out of 90 it's much more than that of the final score, whereas VR/cloze/comprehension are 45 minutes and maths/data processing 35 minutes but each is still only approximately 1/3 of the standardised score.

Figures from the 2010 tests were 190 questions, in total, split as follows: VR 98, Numeric 51 & NVR 41. So 4 x NVR per minute gives a clue as to how fast they'll need to be done (suggesting that they're testing more for speed and they'll be relatively simple rather than complex transformations which would take longer than 15 seconds per question to work out).

Maximum standardised score was 465
Scores for entry that year:
KE Vi Stratford - 335
Stratford Girls - 335
Alcester Grammar - 329
Lawrence Sherriff - 303
Rugby High - 303
Ashlawn Selective - 301
but expect all except probably KE Vi Stratford to be lower this year as the admission numbers are higher.
Okanagan
Posts: 1706
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Comprehension tests

Post by Okanagan »

As well as the Warwickshire sample question papers linked above there is a short 2012 CEM sample here. The format may vary a bit to the Warwickshire one, but it is another example of the CEM style and includes some NVR matrix type questions which are different to those which have been on the Warwickshire samples up to now.
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