How do your DCs find 9-10 CGP Maths books?

[EugenesAxe]

DS is currently working through 9-10 level (just going into Y5). He has always been much stronger in English, but Maths is a weird one. He did OK in his SATS - dropped 4 marks - but often struggles with recall of things like number bonds/ times tables, and sometimes forgets basic maths logic.

We worked through a page today that was new ground in a lot of ways - prime numbers, factors and powers. I don't think he's done these at school yet - at least not in those terms.

It seemed to be quite hard work; 9 Qs took us half an hour. An example was that he had to pick two numbers that could go in the centre of a Venn diagram for square numbers and multiples of 8. He looked at '25 and 64' for a long time and I wondered that he couldn't immediately dismiss it because of the 25 - ie. basic maths logic about multiples of even numbers.

I'd like some perspective really on whether I'm being a complete cow; how your DCs have found these books and whether it's normal for children to hit little stumbling blocks about concepts like the one I mentioned, or if it's worrying for his outlook in any entrance exams.

His tutor has not been explicit but reading between the lines, I would say she pitches his ability at about the level of schools with 'easier' exams.

Of course, it is the end of the summer and he has had a long break while we've been away. We are not going mad on tutoring - he had two sessions in Y4 to test the water and now is going once a week in Y5 to keep him motivated, to ensure he has the right knowledge, and because he responds better to a third party than me and DH. He wants to go to private schools because of his friends so we're not pushing this on him.

[PinkFlowerFairy]

The 9-10 content would be year 5 so of course he will find it difficult if hes not been taught it yet! You'd expect at the end of the year to be able to do the book with ease, half way through to be able to do half of it etc.

[shreddednips]

Which CGP maths book are you using? The eleven plus one?
I'm a maths and eleven plus tutor and a teacher, IMO those books are pitched at the very brightest and cover some material that they won't have done in school because the eleven plus in many areas tests above their curriculum level. Factors would definitely have been covered in Year 4, but not powers. He'll learn a lot from discussing these questions with you. However, if he's finding them difficult I would move back a book and revise the Y3/4 curriculum first before you move on if he's not solid on the basics like number bonds etc.
But yes, if they're the eleven plus books they are challenging and pitched very high.

[EugenesAxe]

OK thank you - they are 11+ books. I did want to finish off the 8-9 books first TBH, but the tutor said we should get the next band up. I know a lot of siblings will be applying for Y7 in his favoured school, so was considering putting him in for exams in Jan, to start in Y6, which is probably why she wanted to step it up.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

Bond books are good - they have ten minute test ones that are short and snappy as well as longer papers. There’s also an online version for the more techy kids!

[chalkyc2]

My son (going into yr 6) is working through the 10-11 CGP books this summer in anticipation of the 11+ in a couple of weeks. He is good at maths but has found some of the tests hard - has panicked me a bit tbh!!

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

If he’s doing 11+ then try to find some papers online from the schools (with mark schemes!).

[chalkyc2]

He's doing the Bexley 11+ which I understand uses the CEM tests which CGP is based on? Argh!!

[EugenesAxe]

Thanks chalkyc2 - I believe CGP do CEM and the other one - GL? As the tutor told me to make sure I bought the correct version.

I hope your DS does OK! I don’t know if we’ll actually do the 11+ as we’d be out of catchment for all selective schools in the area, but we’ll see. I’ll get some tests Prof, if we do - thanks for the advice.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

There you go - CLS boys also has past papers and answer schemes on their site.

www.mgs.org/4741/2019-examination-papers

[EugenesAxe]

Thank you 😊