Result of study to see whether children recall content and whether it is safe to reuse tests.
 

A practice test was provided to 49 children on 14th April 2019

20 minutes after the test children were all given a blank sheet of paper and asked to write down what they recalled.

5 days late they were asked again to write down what the recalled or knew about the test.

Results

20 minutes after the test ended

• Each child was able to recall some content.
• 48 children could recall what the comprehension was about and describe the story, from an outline to explicit detail.
• Children recalled between 1 and 4 questions and could identify the correct answers to those questions.
• All could recall between 1 and 6 synonyms with the average being 4.
• 23 children could recall 1 to 7 words on the cloze sentences and the average was 2 actual correct answers.
• All could recall the types of NVR questions (sequence and grids), but as expected could not recall exact pictures.
• All were able to recall some of the type of maths questions and some students explicit detail and actual numbers and correct answers.

This was repeated 5 days after the test was taken with 27 of the 49 children.

• Children recalled even more information.
• All 27 children stated that they had discussed the test question with parents within the last 5 days
• 18 of 27 stated they discussed questions with friends.
• The students with higher scores recalled the most.
• It was the lowest scoring students who recalled the least.
• What children recalled was sufficient to provide late sitters an unfair advantage.
• 13 of the 22 parents stated they discussed what their children had informed them with others.

Conclusion

• Children do recall test content after a test that can make a difference to late sitters.
• Children do discuss content with parents and others.
• Reusing the same test is not wise and can provide an unfair advantage.

We are happy for any school or local authority to contact us if they wish to undertake a similar study for their 11+ exams, given CEM refuse to undertake the test and Warwickshire County Council sought injunctions to prevent such a test being undertaken for their 11+ tests.