11 Plus Exams Forum

The Nfer Nelson Non-verbal 11+ test allows breaks between the sections for reading the type of question in the next section and doing practice question.

What else can be done during this time without cheating?

1) Is it permissible to continue answering the last section?
2) Is it permissible to go back, or remain on an earlier page?
3) In the Nfer Nelson practice papers more questions can often be seen when the section on practice questions is open, sometimes from the previous section, sometime from the next. Is this so with the genuine exam papers, and if so, is it cheating to look at them if the questions are not answered?

Finally, If a section is completed before time is up, is it permissible to spend that time on earlier sections (not during practice time)?

When I did it last year we were not allowed to turn the question paper back to previous section, though on the answer sheet we can still amend the previous section answers, or guess on the ones we had not completed. On the actual paper on the day that I sat I could not see the previous section, though could see next few questions near the practice questions. If you complete a section early then you have to check your answers in that section only.

Dear Kramer

Can you tell me how many questions you have to get correct to pass and also did you think the test was the same level of difficulty as practise papers. Also can you or anyone tell me do they standardise the scores and do young students get more points awarded.

I only wish we ahd soemone we knew who had doen the test last year as I am sure it would of helped.

Thanks

Mel

Mel

My child was very very good at Non verbal reasoning, but not so good at verbal reasoning. She said that she thought the NFER practise papers were hardish, but the test was a doddle (her words!). However, she found the verbal reasoning really difficult - so take from that what you can. She got into the school. She said that she thought she got 100% on the NVR paper as it was "so easy", but she "missed out loads" on the verbal reasoning, because it was so much harder than the practises. I don't know what you can make of this, may be it just shows that children really don't know what they are saying sometimes. I think asking them to comment on exam performance and difficulty is fraught with problems.

J

For what it's worth, my son did the entrance test last year for a central London independent school and said that he had left out (ie not answered at all) a quarter of the verbal reasoning questions. However, he said the NVR was 'easy'. He was offered a place so it just shows how difficult it is to tell how the test has gone!

I agree - don't believe what your child tells you!! Not in relation to a test anyway!! I plan not to even talk about the test after she has done it as it only causes anxiety for you and your child, when they think of the answers they have missed out or answered incorrectly. Most children feel that they have to answer every question with 100% accuracy, otherwise they won't get into the school. They don't seem to consider that they are in a room full of similarly anxious children who also miss out questions, read them wrongly and get them wrong.

Good luck to you all!!

I totally agree with the above. My child always scored well in practice but told me after the test that they had "missed out half of the VR paper". Firstly, they got a place and secondly the mark shown meant that they clearly had not.

I Just thought I would share this with you, as now I'm on my third child in 3 years taking the 11+. This year when we visited one of the schools The Judd they printed some valuable information about the scores achieved last year
I will try and set this out as clearly as possible
120 + is what we are aiming for a selective place LAST YR this equated to
51% in VR 2004
52% IN NVR 2004
48% IN MATHS
140 STANDERDISED SCORE IS THE HIGHEST YOU CAN GET THIS equated to the following
75% IN VR
71% IN NVR
75% IN MATHS
In simple terms if your child is achieving this sort of marksin the practice papers then you are on the right path for younger children they should be achieving slightly less and for older children slightly higher.
There is no guarantee that this pattern will be the same for 2006 but it takes the mystery out of how it works dont you think
Vicky