It isn’t as scary as it seems!
Would you agree if I said “we fear the unknown”?
As humans, we are afraid of things we haven’t seen, heard of, or that we can’t understand.
The same logic is applicable to students in their learning: especially for selective entry, students are scared of the reasoning sections.
Why?
Because these sections aren’t taught in school. These aren’t concepts out of a textbook.
For example, maths is made of two components – a maths test and numerical reasoning.
The maths test is straight up content knowledge. If I were to reference the Victorian curriculum, the selective entry exam could test anywhere from a 6.0 (end of year 6) to an 8.5 level (mid-way through year 9).
By contrast, the numerical reasoning section is based more on a student’s ability to play with numbers. It can include anything from interpretation of language into number sentences, pattern recognition, to series and sequences, to problem-solving questions.
The test is designed to evaluate higher-order thinking skills with no pre-existing knowledge. On top of that, the strict time limits and competitive standards make it a challenging experience for even the best of minds.
So, what is the best way to tackle such questions?
Undoubtedly there are strategies in place to help you build conceptual knowledge.
But this section demands a lot more than academics. The idea here is to build relevant problem solving and critical thinking abilities that can push you into understanding and quickly responding to questions.
Developing numerical ability requires you to train your mind muscles to comprehend numerical patterns and relationships accurately.
These techniques and strategies are coachable.
I’m Chris, the former Head of Maths at the selective entry high school Suzanne Cory, and I’m a respected authority in creating strong learning programs that yield consistent and repeatable results.
To help students who are studying for the selective entry exams, I’ve developed a Selective Schools program which utilizes my unique ‘High Impact Learning’ method.
Looking to master numerical reasoning? Book a feedback session and let’s talk about the best way to go about it.
