Ah, the infamous 11+ exam, a rite of passage for many young students. And what better way to determine their future success than with a pass mark that is about as stable as a house of cards in a wind tunnel?
The 'pass mark' causes much discussion amongst parents and is one of the most commonly fielded questions at ELC. The local authority has set a standard of 236 for the pass mark, supposedly based on a scientific calculation that is as secret as the Coca Cola or KFC recipe. And to make things even more mysterious, there's a rumored "85% rule" Ultimately, trying to interpret the way the passmark is calculated is like trying to decipher an ancient hieroglyphic inscription.
The 11+ pass mark is a fickle beast that changes more often than a baby's nappy due to the continued standardisation. One year it might be high, the next year it might be low, and there's no telling why. It's like trying to hit a moving target, except the target is invisible and constantly changing direction.
In an effort to keep things simple. we suggest that in one of our 11+ mock exams, if you can achieve 10% above the average in the mock exams, you have a good chance of passing the real thing. Of course, there are no guarantees, but it's better than flying blind or employing a hieroglyphic specialist to decipher the current scoring system.
So, parents, as your child sits down to take the 11+ exam, remember this: the pass mark is not just a number, it's a constantly evolving entity that depends on the whims of the local authority's secret calculations and the mysterious 85% rule. But by taking 11+ mock exams and aiming for 10% above the average, you can increase the chances of your child's success.