Can you pass a high school test from more than 100 years ago?

It’s the question that has troubled humanity for decades: are you smarter than an 11-year-old from 100 years ago?

Well, now you can discover the answer to that eternal question, thanks to the Bullitt County History Museum in Kentucky, US. The institute received a copy of the so-called ‘Common Exam’ which was used in schools way back in 1912.

The exam was distributed to less privileged children who were yet to attend high school. If they passed the exam they could have won scholarships to enter high school – a privilege not afforded to everyone at the time.

David Strange, the executive director of the museum told the Huffington Post in 2013 that interest in the quiz skyrocketed after it was featured on ABC News.

However, for 21st-century minds, the exam might not be as straightforward as you would suspect. Strange is quoted as saying: “It’s quite a challenging test. I do try to remind everyone it’s a 1912 test and you need to place yourself in that mindset sometimes. I remember having a similar question [as is on the test] when I was in school. I wouldn’t want to take it again.”

Think you can crack the exam? Well, be our guest. Please find the 12 multiple-choice questions below and the answers at the bottom of the page. Let us know how you get on.

1. What is 35.7 + 4?

• 31.7
• 39.7

2. What is 5.8 + 5.14 - 59.112

• - 48.172
• - 46.682

3. A man bought a farm for $2400 and sold it for $2700. What per cent did he gain?

• 12.5 per cent
• 30 per cent

4. A school enrolled 120 pupils and the number of boys was two thirds of the number of girls. How many of each sex were enrolled?

• 80 girls 40 boys
• 72 girls 48 boys

5. “William struck James.” Change the Voice of the verb.

• “William strike James”
• “James was struck by William”

6. How long a rope is required to reach from the top of a building 40m high, to the ground 30m from the base of the building?

• 60m
• 50m

7. Define proper noun and common noun.

• A proper noun is the name of something specific. A common noun refers to something in a general sense.
• A common noun is the name of something specific. A proper noun refers to something in a general sense.

8. What is a Personal pronoun?

• A personal pronoun is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.
• A personal pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a particular person, group, or thing.

9. Define longitude and latitude

• Longitude means a long way to go and latitude is a measure of width.
• They are the imaginary lines that divide the Earth into measurable horizontal and vertical lines.

10. How does the liver compare in size with other glands in the human body?

• The liver is the largest gland in the body.
• The liver is the smallest gland in the body.

11. Name the three branches of the government of the United States.

• Legislative, executive and judicial.
• President, council and police.

12. During what war was the Battle of Antietam fought?

• American Civil War
• Revolutionary War

Answers:

1. 39.7 2. -48.172 3. 12. 5 per cent 4. 72 girls and 48 boys 5. “James was struck by William” 6. 50m 7. A proper noun is the name of something specific. A common noun refers to something in a general sense 8. A personal pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a particular person, group, or thing. 9. They are the imaginary lines that divide the Earth into measurable horizontal and vertical lines. 10. The liver is the largest gland in the body. 11. Legislative, executive and judicial. 12. American Civil War