11 Plus Exams Forum

As I predicted with the A level changes, see today's news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35471107" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you for posting this, Guest55

It looks as though we are going back 30 years or more when we had the oxbridge examinations either pre A level or post A level.At the time we had linear A levels.Since Cambridge feel they will have insufficient information from the GCSEs they have been forced to introduce the new tests .I think schools will have to react and give lessons for these new tests in the same way we had extra classes for these exams in the past.Those lessons were given by the subject specialists.Since these are to be begin in 2017 and whilst they say no preparation is required they state you need uptodate knowledge on your subject specialty.There is little time for schools to react and little information on the contents of these so called tests.

Oh dear! Let's hope they don't enlist the support of Durham CEM to design a test that will identify the "naturally bright" over the "over prepared"

They really had no choice with so many state schools abandoning AS's.

Is an exam going to be fairer for state school applicants than an interview format? DG

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... ?CMP=fb_gu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hope that during my lifetime we might indeed see the end of 'obsessing about Oxbridge'. It is astonishing that as a nation we have no more intellectual imagination than we do and default to elitism as a measure of quality.

This link provides more detailed information.The BBC news article does provide access to this link by clicking on "letter".

http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.u ... ssessments" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Totally agree Amber - also the obsession with the Russell group.

The Russell group are a self-selected club - there are some great universites which are not RG! Some of the teaching is better outside these uni because RG unis are 'focused on research' - so lecturing Freshers is the booby prize.

It's a question worth asking at Open Days - one student changed their mind about a uni when they found 3rd and 4th year students would be running the tutorials.

If having the most stringent entry requirement (where 3A* are often rejected),graduates been able to demand the highest starting salaries,mingling with some of the world's leaders in their fields is elitistism then Oxbridge is indeed very,very elitist.

If a village idiot like myself could get in then any reasonable person can with hard work.
I know,I know,I know in the past we the village idiots were confined to our villages but with advent of the internet we can spread our idiocy far and wide.

btw g55 I've just looked a STEP specimen paper Are they having a laugh? lt makes S level maths look like a walk in the park whereas BMAT is very straight forward imo.

Catseye wrote:If a village idiot like myself could get in then any reasonable person can with hard work.
.

Not everyone wants to; nor should they be made to feel they ought to want to. That's all.

Daogroupie wrote:Oh dear! Let's hope they don't enlist the support of Durham CEM to design a test that will identify the "naturally bright" over the "over prepared"

They really had no choice with so many state schools abandoning AS's.

Is an exam going to be fairer for state school applicants than an interview format? DG

This link to an article in yesterdays Independent seems to answer some of your questions.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educa ... 48931.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am also of the view Oxbridge are elite Universities and not necessarily elitist.It has to be accepted there are many good universities and departments within Universities outside of Oxbridge and Russell group which are just as good. Only 1% of the population are educated in Oxbridge and there are applicants many times over who have the grades to attend.Oxbridge and Russell group and their courses are not right for everyone.However it is also true many top employers do target such institutions when seeking employees.