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Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:19 pm
by ToadMum
piggys wrote:nyr wrote:
In my view the outcome of English tests, particularly for creative writing, are even more heavily influenced by specialist tuition, otherwise there wouldn't be the need for quite so many English tutors and it would take a skilled assessor to determine if a script littered with literary devices is in any way creative or just well-rehearsed. DD tells me that the Head of English at HBS hates the over-use of these devices in 11+ scripts, so there is some hope. Discursive writing may be better for testing but again the output could be heavily influenced by tuition and cultural capital - apologies for repeating this, but I do feel strongly about it - and disadvantage very bright girls who don't benefit from frequent debates at the dining table.
IME it's pretty easy to tell when a child's writing is rehearsed and stuffed full of a catalogue of pointless literary devices. A good teacher can tell.
At DD's previous grammar school, her favourite English teacher once confided to her that the 'what I need to remember to put in my creative writing' checklist in the margin was usually a bad sign when it came to the quality of said creative writing
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Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:54 pm
by CestMoi
Piggys - I'm a (relative) local too and know many children who have gone to the school. However in recent years, the mix has changed as you say. I know a very bright sibling who didn't get in this year, and lives on the doorstep of the school.
Let's hope the turnaround has started. I wonder if it was not being allowed to expand that prompted the introspection?
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 9:17 pm
by leanmeamum
CestMoi wrote:I wonder if it was not being allowed to expand that prompted the introspection?
Highly likely, looking at the timing.
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2018 8:08 pm
by food4thought
Daogroupie wrote:It says "from a nationally recognised body" so it is going to be from one provider.
You could certainly call some aspects of CEM VR "English". DG
I am guessing you mean the university of Durham? I don't have your level of knowledge in 11plus which is why I am wondering. I am trying to teach my dd myself (11plus centres near me don't fill me with confidence and are too expensive), but I am wondering if this means those weird alphabet sequences. There is no point teaching poetry if it's going to be 'rearranging letters to make a new word' type of questions..
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2018 8:35 pm
by Tinkers
CEM is run by The university of Durham.
If the provider is not specified, then it’s worth covering GL and CEM types of VR.
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2018 8:50 pm
by food4thought
Thanks tinker, I'll have to get some gl books then as I've been covering cem only...
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2018 9:57 pm
by food4thought
Hello folks,
I just want to make sure I'm not losing the plot... so for HBS we have
round 1: NVR, VR and English
round 2: English and Maths.
Does that mean alphabet CODES - are needed as part of the VR?
I havent had a chance to look at the GL books, but was wondering if codes are covered... if they are, then the HBS exam maybe a little too awkward. I'm just trying to figure out what to teach my DD, and manage expectations
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:45 am
by thisisnuts
food4thought wrote:
I havent had a chance to look at the GL books, but was wondering if codes are covered... if they are, then the HBS exam maybe a little too awkward. I'm just trying to figure out what to teach my DD, and manage expectations
Yes, codes come up in GL VR tests. So until HBS publishes familiarisation questions and we have confirmation of test provider, you would be well advised to practice codes as well.
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:54 am
by Daogroupie
Agreed, but I will be surprised if HBS moves from CEM VR as it has been very successful for them.
It seems that CEM Maths was not offering them anything which is why they have abandoned it. In my experience the first round was always won and lost on the CEM VR, not the Maths so I don't think the Maths was playing a part in getting them the best candidates.
But yes, until we see the sample paper it is back to GL and CEM VR. Sigh!
DG
Re: HBS 2020 Consultation
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:10 pm
by thisisnuts
Daogroupie wrote:... I will be surprised if HBS moves from CEM VR as it has been very successful for them.
Surely any test that whittles 2500 down to 300 is successful for them.