St Olaves test. Bromley.

[rachmol1980]

Hi, just wondering how other peoples kids are feeling after the entrance test today? DS said it was a challenge towards the end in maths. How did your kids feel?

[Fossie]

DS found maths ok though didn't manage the last question. However he found the English hard and only wrote one paragraph. This is what I expected so not too worried. I think we are thinking of this as a mock for the Sutton exams coming up.

[rachmol1980]

Yes! My DS said the same - the last 2 questions totally confused him.
Such a horrid process. He is sitting Wilson's next week..... Can't wait for it all to be over.....

[PriMum]

Waiting for the results is becoming painful. I have heard rumours that due to the large numbers sitting the exam, the English writing part may not even be read if the handwriting doesn't look appealing. Hope the papers are being evaluated by more than one person , otherwise there is a good chance that many papers may not even be read.
Does anyone know how the English papers are evaluated.

[rachmol1980]

I'm not entirely sure how the English papers are marked but I also heard (from a tutor) that if they can't read the writing, they don't mark it....... seems so savage to me......And I think that the places are given out by what the maths pass marks are.

Did you son sit the Wilsons test too?

[PriMum]

My son did not sit wilson's , how would you compare both the exams interms of difficulty ? St Olaves is a hit or a miss I've heard , last year some children we knew who were quite capable did not get through while others who weren't expected to make it , have. Strange !

[Ladymuck]

Usually the English writing would only be marked after the maths and comprehension multiple choice had been marked, and the candidate had already scored enough marks to have a chance of passing. If they have done very badly in the other 2 areas then there is no point in marking the English writing, and this is obviously the time consuming area. Handwriting is definitely taken into account in the marking, but provided your son passed the other parts of the test, the English will still be marked. Obviously if they can't read it at all then it will be hard to give it many marks.

[rachmol1980]

PriMum - DS said that Wilsons first test (the eligibility test) was fine and a lot easier than St O's BUT we will have to see that the entrance paper is like (if he has done enough to get through to that?)......

LadyMuck - yes that's what I heard about the marking. Also, they seem to have a few kids who drop out in try first 6 months as they can't keep up with the levels etc. Some kids seemed so groomed to get in. They get a place but then can't keep up. Sad really, as it's all such a stress. Went to see our local comp toad and was throughly impressed! At least I know our fall back school is pretty good :)

[rachmol1980]

Er! Comp toad....?!???
Meant 'comp today' lol