Radio 1 Anthems Scheduling

[Grace]

A collection of old test papers from the 1940s and 50s is being published in a new book. For some people, the thought of the exam will bring back happy memories of success and achievement. For others it inspires dread and disappointment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7478000/7478154.stm

Out of eight questions from the old-school 11+, how many can you get right?

I'm quite proud that I got all eight, but it did take me a while and I needed to make notes because I find visualising maths stuff in my head really hard.

[Andy B]

I got 6 out of 8 mainly because I got bored towards the end but also cos my english sucks!

[Hugh.]

I got all 8... I'm still really proud that I got the maximum score in the 11+... the point where they stop counting or something, think it was 282

[Lucinda]

I got 7 out of 8. I never did the 11+ although I did do an exam and got into a grammar school when I was 10 so I guess that must have been similar. My area doesn't have any grammar schools but another one fairly nearby does.

[goldengirl]

I got 8 out of 8 with lots of scribbles and diagrams but that was actually quite hard!!!

[tamba]

I went to the right school

I'm half thick and half brainy lol

[Emma]

I got all 8 too!

[Serin]

I got 7 out of 8 correct.

It's remarkable that the education system of yesteryear could be so callous and unforgiving as to divide children into a tripartite system based solely on academic ability and apparent lack thereof.

Grammar schools in the tripartite system were to be aspired to but were ultimately soulless places where you were given two choices: become a lawyer, a doctor or a teacher et al or drop out. Even though they were at the highest end of the education spectrum, they were by no means nurturing of the talents of the finest individuals under their auspices. Simply put, they were machines for manufacturing societies 'best' people.

It seems 'secondary modern schools' of which today's comprehensives are a vestigial reminder (in building form not practice), were devoid of most academic learning except for basic mathematics. I think that's appalling. Whilst teaching non-academic skills may have seemed like the right choice for 'borderline' pupils such as those, it certainly resulted in most leaving with little or no wider knowledge and understanding of the world.

As for 'technical schools', they're beyond me.

I am truly grateful that I was never subjected to this most rotten system. Whilst I have been critical of our present education system which offers every child an equal opportunity to progress to higher learning or not, whilst imperfect in some respects, is a system that should be maintained and by all means necessary.

[madmum]

I got 7 out of 8 right, and that was because my touch pad was slightly over sensative, but I hadnt worked out the answer yet and so couldnt tell you if I'd have got it right or not.

That did seem very difficult, and I am not sure if I would have had the ability to do it when I was younger. Although I did pass my 11+ exam with a good mark and was offered a secure place at the grammer school (but I didnt take it lol).

I think its easier to do 'tests' when you're little because your brain is conintually taught how to do test subjects. As we get older we rely more on common sense and avoid sitting down doing sums etc. Plus as we develop more technology to help us we as a whole are becoming more lazy. Many people dont know correct grammar because spell checkers correct it, and calculators tackle the most difficult sums.

[E*F*4L]

i got 7

[YFOS]

I did one of those before in sociology! i've failed it twice now!