If, by some chance, the writers of the ACTUAL eleven –plus
examination decided to include questions to do with computers, data and the
internet then our eleven plus children may land up learning something useful. Instead
of trying to work out rather odd eleven plus questions then children may learn
some useful skills.
Two sisters, Mary and Esmeralda, were both born on January 1st.
Which of the following statements is correct?
a)
They are twins
b)
They are not twins
c)
They may be twins
Mothers and fathers would enjoy trying to explain why the children
may be twins. But what use can be made of this deduction?
Children, for example, could learn to organise, develop and
present ideas in a variety of forms – using word processing and spread sheets.
Questions could be based around what they had learnt.
Children could learn how to use and modify data bases.
There could even be a case for children to learn how information
technology is applied in the outside world.
With these skills and knowledge children would not have to
apply themselves to questions like:
Which are the two words in each set of brackets which make the
same kind of pair as the two words at the beginning of the first pair:-
ALWAYS NEVER (sometimes, happy, right, memory, wrong)
Some parents may want to argue that a question along
different lines may offer a better view of ability.
Four times a number is four less than a number which is ten
more than thirty. What is the number?
Your able nine year old may enjoy the freshness of the question
– but a rather more jaded ten year old may take exception.
Perhaps it is time for a re-think about the values and
content of the eleven plus!
