‘What is 8 x 9?’ – Take the Nick Gibb Times Tables Test to see if you can Match the Schools Minister’s Multiplication Skills
Following Nick Gibb's refusal to answer a basic multiplication question on live TV, we thought we'd put together a simple quiz to see if your maths skills are up to his high standards
- by Teachwire
In case you missed it, schools minister Nick Gibb was put on the spot by Good Morning Britain presenter Jeremy Kyle when he asked him ‘What’s 8 times 9?’
Rather than offer an answer, notorious test fanatic, Gibb, replied: ‘I’m not going to get into this, I’ve learned through bitter experience never to answer these kinds of questions on live television.’
That awkward moment when the Schools Minister pushing for eight-year-olds to learn the times table won’t answer a multiplication question @kategarraway pic.twitter.com/5txFutxRRu
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 14, 2018
‘That’s fair enough’ you might think. Kyle knows exactly what he’s doing there. Put the average person in front of a camera and their brain will often turn to spaghetti.
Gibb, however, is an advocate for testing young children – despite arguments that it would put even more undue pressure on them.
Take the times tables test
So, as a bit of fun, we thought we’d compile the Nick Gibb Times Table Test for your pleasure.
Don’t worry, there’s no pressure, no cameras, and definitely no Jeremy Kyle, so your mental health and wellbeing will not be affected.
How to play
9-10 out of 10: Outstanding 7-8 out of 10: Good 4-6 out of 10: Satisfactory 1-3 out of 10: Inadequate 0 out of 10: ‘I won’t answer that on live television’. Smart tactic. Well played!
Nick of time
That wasn’t so bad was it? But then, there was very little riding on it.
When quizzed on why he refused to answer the question on TV, but is happy to test primary children, Gibb is quick to point out: ‘No eight-year-old or nine-year-old will be [answering questions] on live television.’
This, of course, is true, but it does imply that any pressure of not doing well in the actual tests they do have to take in schools is not quite as bad as that of being asked a sum on breakfast TV.
It did not go down well:
Everyone who interviews Nick Gibb on TV needs to test him on his times tables, given that he believes more testing makes testing less stressful.
— Sue Cowley (@Sue_Cowley) February 14, 2018
Gibb says answering on TV is not comparable with sitting a high stakes test. We say different https://t.co/9QqXhL3I0F
— More Than A Score (@MoreThanScore) February 14, 2018
I am in love with @NickGibbUK He is the walking argument against his own ideas. https://t.co/uY2AxatjC6
— Michael Rosen (@MichaelRosenYes) February 14, 2018
How did you do?
9-10 out of 10: Outstanding 7-8 out of 10: Good 4-6 out of 10: Satisfactory 1-3 out of 10: Inadequate 0 out of 10: ‘I won’t answer that on live television’. Smart tactic. Well played!
Nick of time
That wasn’t so bad was it? But then, there was very little riding on it.
When quizzed on why he refused to answer the question on TV, but is happy to test primary children, Gibb is quick to point out: ‘No eight-year-old or nine-year-old will be [answering questions] on live television.’
This, of course, is true, but it does imply that any pressure of not doing well in the actual tests they do have to take in schools is not quite as bad as that of being asked a sum on breakfast TV.
It did not go down well:
Everyone who interviews Nick Gibb on TV needs to test him on his times tables, given that he believes more testing makes testing less stressful.
— Sue Cowley (@Sue_Cowley) February 14, 2018
Gibb says answering on TV is not comparable with sitting a high stakes test. We say different https://t.co/9QqXhL3I0F
— More Than A Score (@MoreThanScore) February 14, 2018
I am in love with @NickGibbUK He is the walking argument against his own ideas. https://t.co/uY2AxatjC6
— Michael Rosen (@MichaelRosenYes) February 14, 2018
You have 60 seconds to answer 10 basic multiplication questions. Each question will only appear once you have correctly answered the previous one. Click the ‘Play’ button to start.
The Nick Gibb Times Tables Test
How did you do?
9-10 out of 10: Outstanding 7-8 out of 10: Good 4-6 out of 10: Satisfactory 1-3 out of 10: Inadequate 0 out of 10: ‘I won’t answer that on live television’. Smart tactic. Well played!
Nick of time
That wasn’t so bad was it? But then, there was very little riding on it.
When quizzed on why he refused to answer the question on TV, but is happy to test primary children, Gibb is quick to point out: ‘No eight-year-old or nine-year-old will be [answering questions] on live television.’
This, of course, is true, but it does imply that any pressure of not doing well in the actual tests they do have to take in schools is not quite as bad as that of being asked a sum on breakfast TV.
It did not go down well:
Everyone who interviews Nick Gibb on TV needs to test him on his times tables, given that he believes more testing makes testing less stressful.
— Sue Cowley (@Sue_Cowley) February 14, 2018
Gibb says answering on TV is not comparable with sitting a high stakes test. We say different https://t.co/9QqXhL3I0F
— More Than A Score (@MoreThanScore) February 14, 2018
I am in love with @NickGibbUK He is the walking argument against his own ideas. https://t.co/uY2AxatjC6
— Michael Rosen (@MichaelRosenYes) February 14, 2018
