HBS 2020 Consultation

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ToadMum
Posts: 11946
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: Essex

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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. :wink:
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 :lol: .
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx
CestMoi
Posts: 221
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:01 pm

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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?
leanmeamum
Posts: 736
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:14 pm

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post by leanmeamum »

CestMoi wrote:I wonder if it was not being allowed to expand that prompted the introspection?
Highly likely, looking at the timing.
food4thought
Posts: 125
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2016 1:28 am

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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..
Tinkers
Posts: 7240
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Location: Reading

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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.
food4thought
Posts: 125
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2016 1:28 am

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post by food4thought »

Thanks tinker, I'll have to get some gl books then as I've been covering cem only...
food4thought
Posts: 125
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2016 1:28 am

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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 :-)
thisisnuts
Posts: 797
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:23 am

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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.
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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
thisisnuts
Posts: 797
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:23 am

Re: HBS 2020 Consultation

Post 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.
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