Non-verbal reasoning test - help!

[maresedotes]

My DD1 is doing practice tests but can't finish the test in the allocated 30 minutes (just starts section 5). I've told her not to do the practice questions to save time (although these have to be marked on the answer sheet). Why is this test shorter than the maths and verbal reasoning ones? Are they not expected to finish?

When you say "Why is this test shorter" do you mean the test is actually longer but the time allowed is less?

This is because the test has to be suitable for the whole ability range- from children in the bottom 1% to the top 1% and above.

It wouldn't be a valid test if the very bright finished it and twiddled their thmbs for 5 minutes.

All IQ tests are based on number of correct answers within a time limit. Some children/people will complete them ( correctly) but the majority won't.

You should not tell your daughter to flout the test instructions.
I can't understand why practice questions are marked- that's not correct IME- but the teacher may do a start practise/stop practise count down, and your DD needs to do the same as everyone else or it won't be a valid result.

But as I said IME ( I use these tests) the time allowed for practise is 15 mins and the test itself 25 mins. (That's NFER.)

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I mean less time. The verbal and maths 11+ tests are 50 mins each, the maths allows for 1 question per minute. She cannot finish the questions on the allocated time so I will get her to practice more frequently! The reason I said about ignoring the practice questions was because of time and also I didn't know whether they counted for anything. These are Bond practice papers.

As I said, very few if any of them will finish all the questions.
If the whole class has to do the practise questions, she won't be allowed to skip them. If she did, it would mean she was using that time for the test which would make it an invalid result.

A bond test is not a 'real' test, the practice questions are only there to ensure that the child has some idea of what to do if they go into an exam without having done these types of things before. In a real test, either do not do the practice questions, or they will be before the test starts, so not included in the time limit, e.g. if the school uses online testing the child goe through practice NVR questions before they start the test for real (also the same for paper based GL assessment as well as their online) which is timed. In my experience of invigilating real NVR GL assessment tests they give them about double the amount of time needed - our pupils usually finish in half the time, but have about the right time for the VR by the same company.

Why are you giving your dd tests, rather than just a look through at the type of questions. I have read many teachers on here stressing that too many tests are not good for the dcs and can be counter productive. Its the holidays, let her play and when the time comes she will be stress free to take her exam.

I agree. There is a certain "practise factor" with IQ tests; a little practise can enhance the results, but I don't really see why there is a need to subject a very young child to lots of practise.
These tests are not like maths or literacy whereby you can learn how to gain a higher score by doing more and more.