Are eleven plus questions always straight forward? Suppose
they were confronted by a hypothetical question: “What is as big as an
elephant, the same shape as an elephant, but weighs a lot less than an
elephant?”
It is hoped that most eleven plus children will be able to
choose the right answer from a selection of four. But what happen to those
children who say; “Yes but, what about ….?” Some may even say: “No, I don’t
agree, what about….?”
We often tell children to try to eliminate multiple choice
answers that simply cannot be correct. A problem comes if there is a rather
small difference between the answers. If children are given answers which have
a wide range, some risky and some safe, then many children will opt for a
middle option.
If we want conformist children who always go for the middle
ground then it should be reasonably easy to build an eleven plus test that
satisfies the majority. If, however, a grammar school wants a percentage of
children who are prepared to think for themselves and argue a position – then
the test become far more demanding to construct. The middle of the road
thinkers could be penalised.
An eleven test cannot try to evaluate attitudes or opinions
– as this could be provocative and challenging to some parents. After all, an
opinion is sometimes rather subjective in nature. Eleven plus questions have to
leave emotion behind.
So would your child opt for a safe answer to the elephant
question – or would he or she be prepared to make an educated guess? Would you
have nominated a shadow as the answer?
