[etni] [FWD: some words on module E and D]

From: ask@xxxxxxxx
To: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 21:41:09 -0700
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 -------- Original Message --------
 Subject: some words on module E and D
 From: "hyat@canaan" <hyat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 
 Module E:
 
 This was a wonderful text.  But both the text and the questions were
 far more difficult than the NBA sample test, the mock exams on the
 TAMID site, and the tests I've given and read in the Eric Cohen
 Practice Papers.  The grammar required in the sentence completions was
 very demanding with respect to the fact that the sentence is halfway
 built.  In the Eric Cohen book I could find only one example of such a
 question.  The vast majority are open sentences, by which I mean that
 the pupil has an open line on which to respond.   The latter allows for
 much more freedom of language (according to the grading criteria even
 fragments are acceptable).  Question number one does not.  I quote:
  
  We can understand that Manfred Beller's advisers believed that people
 
would_____________________________________________________________________________.
 
 Regarding question two, I found the wording of the question very
 unclear.  I'll quote this one too:
 
 2. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ACCORDING TO LINES 6-18
 
     Pencil fans believe that the advantages mentioned in lines 6-10 are
 _________________________________
 
 Well, are we talking of lines 6-10 or 6-18?!    Beyond this I found
 that the question itself--after scrutinizing lines 6-10 and then
 6-18--to be extremely difficult, certainly beyond the ability of most
 four pointers.   On the other hand--and this is the clincher--the same
 question was given on the five point (old format bagrut). However on
 the five point exam, the question was much clearer.  Judge for
 yourself:
 
 FILL IN THE MISSING WORDS (1-2 WORDS IN EACH SPACE) ACCORDING TO
 PARAGRAPHS II AND III [lines 6-18].
 
    1(b)  Pencil enthusiasts believe that the
 ____________________________ of the pencil that are mentioned in
 paragraph II are not _________________________.
 
 
 Why, should a five point test be markedly more clear and structured
 than a four point exam?  Granted, you could say that E is part of five
 points--but it should be the easier part of five, and a straight
 forward five point test shouldn't have a question that is easier than a
 four point test.  And the cherry on top is that the Module E question
 is worth 10 points, and the 5 point question is worth 4 points.
 
 Regarding D.  Right now I'm too tired to go launch into D (It's 1:40
 am) but, in brief, I was amazed to see that the text, "A Decade of
 Great Radio" was also offered on the 5 point exam (old format). 
 However on the 5 point exam it was shorter and easier!  Furthermore the
 questions on the Module D (which means an intermediate 4 point level
 test, not connected to 5 pts at all) demanded much more abstract
 thinking.  I am not imagining this and I hope that someone else will
 help prove the point with me so that our friends in the Ministry might
 find it justified to readjust the grading scales of D and E.
 
  Lila Tov,
 
David Hyatt

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[etni] [FWD: some words on module E and D]

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