Eleven Plus Blame

Parents find it easy to accept their child failing the Eleven Plus examination if it is the marks in Mathematics and English that are not high enough. It is possible to blame the school, the national Curriculum, lack of preparation, poor teaching, lack of direction from the Eleven Plus tutor - in fact almost any thing.

The term `intelligence tests', that used to be part of the Eleven Plus examinations, has been replaced with words like: `Verbal Reasoning' and `Non Verbal Reasoning'. Reasoning is, however, one type of investigation of ability.

It is much easier for a parent to be able to rationalise failure if the examination has teachable elements. Parents, naturally, don't like to be told that their child does not have the ability for a grammar school education.