that I'd add is that test-writers also need to be more aware of what is a reasonable reading test, where one might expect all students to be on a level playing-field in terms of knowledge e.g. not having a text that excludes unnecessarily e.g. rural knowledge v urban. 2/

@MichaelRosenYes @f_gslow I remember almost nothing from Y7 work on the elements. I also have sketchy memory of much from my degree (e.g. the detail of Piers Plowman or medieval romances) but I have 'incorporated memories' of big picture aspects that have informed my thinking & literary knowledge. 2

@DarrellWakelam That’s so true. The cliche ‘thinking out of the box’ is true. In a project on group talk we interviewed the students afterwards & they said it had been different & enjoyable & exciting because of this thinking afresh - out of the box. They talked themselves into new knowledge.

@VEverettmfl @profprofMFL And then suddenly, it all snowballs, and as with first language, you’re learning vocab, grammar, what sounds right almost without realising it, by familiarity.

@bristoljohn Agreed!

@JonK860 Absolutely this!

@HeroicMrT Exactly this!

@MichaelRosenYes Of course! Reading your irony is something that requires more ‘knowledge’ than learning & memorising a definition of the word ‘irony’!

@profprofMFL written style & conventions. And literary study was, like in English, not just about memorisation. Studying Ungaretti, Montale & Dante, Molière, Camus etc involves a lot more than memorisation.

@f_gslow Agree strongly that subjects differ. I did two MFL A Levels and had to do much more memorisation of vocabulary and grammar than is needed for literary study.

@Victori69711515 Thank you.

@CGVowles Just this! And the difference between 'cognitive overload' & 'cognitive UNDERload' isn't much discussed. How do you know when one or the other is happening, across a class? I've seen egs of massive 'underload', with v limited expectations, in the name of avoiding overload 1/

@f_gslow One thing to say, I'm using the word 'knowledge' rather differently. Knowledge is absolutely vital. But knowledge goes well beyond the memorisation of facts...and though it may depend on having factual material at your disposal, it doesn't depend entirely on memorisation.

@f_gslow Generally, if my contributions are appreciated, it's because I've had some interesting thoughts/insights/ideas/connections to offer not because I've remembered all the names & all the ins and outs of plot in sequence. People are forgiving if I say 'What was she called, again?' 2