The test is for people who “cannot prove a fifth grade education”. I believe that over 80% of fifth grade students would fail is this test—either make at least one mistake in all those ambiguously sounding questions, or fail the time limit. Actually, I would expect at least 30% of university students to fail.
In other words, the test pretends to be an equivalent of fifth grade, but in reality it is much more difficult. If you have two people with exactly equivalent knowledge and skills, one of them has a “proof of fifth grade education” and other one does not, the former does not have to pass the test, but the latter is eliminated with high probability.
Therefore the test is a “fuck you” for people who “cannot prove a fifth grade education”, whoever it was in the given historical era.
The test is for people who “cannot prove a fifth grade education”. I believe that over 80% of fifth grade students would fail is this test—either make at least one mistake in all those ambiguously sounding questions, or fail the time limit. Actually, I would expect at least 30% of university students to fail.
I think those figures are overly conservative. I doubt I could pass that test.
Agreed. I doubt I could pass that test (i.e. get every one right) against a fair examiner, given an hour, under no stress. And I’m pretty good at that sort of thing. Getting every question right is just too high a bar. In ten minutes against someone who has discretion to mark your answers on whim and wants you to fail? And your right to vote and self respect are tied up in it? No chance.
The test is for people who “cannot prove a fifth grade education”. I believe that over 80% of fifth grade students would fail is this test—either make at least one mistake in all those ambiguously sounding questions, or fail the time limit. Actually, I would expect at least 30% of university students to fail.
In other words, the test pretends to be an equivalent of fifth grade, but in reality it is much more difficult. If you have two people with exactly equivalent knowledge and skills, one of them has a “proof of fifth grade education” and other one does not, the former does not have to pass the test, but the latter is eliminated with high probability.
Therefore the test is a “fuck you” for people who “cannot prove a fifth grade education”, whoever it was in the given historical era.
I think those figures are overly conservative. I doubt I could pass that test.
Agreed. I doubt I could pass that test (i.e. get every one right) against a fair examiner, given an hour, under no stress. And I’m pretty good at that sort of thing. Getting every question right is just too high a bar. In ten minutes against someone who has discretion to mark your answers on whim and wants you to fail? And your right to vote and self respect are tied up in it? No chance.