3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2015

[mumteacher]

I started the below thread last year and have had so many people find it useful I thought it might be worth doing it again.


I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now.

However, I do appreciate that this is a very stressful time of year for parents who have children sitting these private school assessments in January. So, I'm hoping that by setting up this support group thread I can help by answering some questions you have about these assessments.

Hopefully this thread will also contain some useful insight from the experiences of parents who have already been through the process.

[mumteacher]

Here's a link to the previous years thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/a1905744-3-4-5-7-support-thread-2014

[ThisOneAndThatOne]

And it's a great way for mumteacher to phish for information from those of us who have been through the process so that she can feed that into her tutoring.

And so the tutoring and preparation arms race continues.

Really, from someone who had been there, done that and got the t shirt for 4+ and 5+, all you need to do is chat to your child. Open up their world as much as much as possible. Then on the day, their natural personalities and aptitudes will come through.

If they don't make it, then there is always 7+ or 11+

Every child develops at a different rate. And so just because they are not ready now, it does not mean that they will never be ready.

And it just may not be the right school for them. Some of these schools work at a very aggressive pace with a group of very bright kids. You don't want your child to have a miserable childhood trying to keep up.

[ohtobeanonymous]

ThisOne.

Hear hear!

[4pluspsycho]

Mumteacher, you've wrote the same opening line on the 2013, 2014 and now 2015 'support threads' you've started. Here it is:

"I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now."

I started the 2015 thread back in August, that you tried to hijack by claiming 'there has been some confusion' as to which thread there is. No confusion at all, but here it is just in case you're still confused: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2168185-4-5-7-madness-2015-whos-going-to-join-me?msgid=51000654#51000654

[mumteacher]

Errrr no! I think you've misunderstood it's not me who is confused.

I got two pm asking me why I hadn't replied since they posted on my thread.

The confusion being that they had posted on the 4+ maddness thread - not started by me.

Since I won't be able to check both threads all I did was to suggest that if people are looking to me for support they need to direct their inquiry on my thread.

This isn't some kind of competition and I have absolutely no reason to hijack your thread.

It was merely to let people know.

Truly no big deal x

Hope your prep for your dd is going well x

[4pluspsycho]

Well why start another thread when I had started one in August? Very strange, especially as when you started yours at the end of Nov, half the assessments had already taken place. Bizarre.....

[mumteacher]

Within the remit of mumsnet anyone can start a thread on almost anything - like the 100s of threads on reading/ yr 1 phonics tests etc.

You really don't have the capacity to question why I start my own thread.

Just like I didn't question/ call it hijacking when you tagged my 2014 thread into your thread.

Seriously failing to understand your quarrel.

[mumteacher]

But if you must know there are a number of inaccuracies mentioned on your thread and I felt that if I started pointing them out I would be hijacking your thread.

So I politely started my own or so I thought!

[Coronachairlover1]

Hello. My DD is sitting the 7+ at Ken Prep. I just wondered what to expect and if you have any advice / experience?
I've absolutely no idea what she should be capable of. I've got the 6-7 Bond papers but fear she should be level 7-8 perhaps. I'm going to work through these with her over the coming weeks.
Genuine thanks in advance.

[Pendleburymum]

Does anyone have any experience of how the second round SHHS assessment in January differs from the first round?

[sanam2010]

Coronachairlover1, definitely 7-8 will be expected, she would need to be among the top students at her current school (depending on where she is, of course). I know a girl who passed the 7+ there not too long ago and it was very competitive, about five girls competing for one place I think, so English and Maths needs to be extremely good.

[Coronachairlover1]

Thanks sanam2010.

[mumteacher]

Coronachairlover1 has your dd done maths English vr and nvr in bond 6-7?

7-8 would be the expected level as mentioned already. Also, for comprehension look at schofield and sims yr 2 books. Inference - how was Cinderella feeling as she turned to look at the palace one last time before she ran down the steps at the stroke of midnight?

For maths try word problems books. In fact I've recent found one that's very good let me see if I can find the link.

[Coronachairlover1]

Thanks you mumteacher. Yes we have Bond books in maths, english, VR & non-VR. I will look into the other books you mention.
The joys of central london schooling!!! Well, if you don't try you never know I guess!

[bringon2015]

Mumteacher, any tips for SAHS 4+ assessment? It's quite tricky knowing what to focus on per school or is each assessment broadly similar?

[mumteacher]

Pendleburymum are you through to round 2 at ShhS?

[Pendleburymum]

Yes Mumteacher, to my surprise my daughter got through to the second round - she's a Spring birthday.

[mumteacher]

That's great. Well done to your dd.

Read hungry caterpillar and run over the bufferfky life cycle. Compare it to say frog life cycle and how they both differ. Lots of vocab.
Dressing up - buttons, zippers
Aquatic animals- where they live
floating and sinking.

[Triplespin]

Hi mum teacher. Very helpful suggestions on 7+ books. I heard that perhaps we should be aiming for 8-9. Is 7-8 adequate for places like HABS, colet court etc?

[mumteacher]

7-8 possibly just under the threshold I'd say (assuming we're talking about bond book levels).

There will be little straightforward maths and more problem solving type questions.

[mumteacher]

Sorry should've said that's For Habs and CC

[bringon2015]

Mumteacher, any tips for SAHS 4+ assessment? It's quite tricky knowing what to focus on per school or is each assessment broadly similar?

[Triplespin]

Thanks mum teacher!

[Neena15]

Dear mum teacher, thanks so much for starting this thread, I was wondering why there is none from you for the Jan 15 exams. Relieved now though.

My daughter is sitting NLCS and Habs in Jan 2015 for 7+. She is doing Bond 6-7 in English, 7-8 in Maths. Do we need to do 8-9 as well? Knows how to work out her times tables but has to think about the answer..doesn't know on finger tips. Does she need to know the time in 5 minutes as well? We have just done o'clock, half past and quarters yet.

She manages to write 2 page stories but they are average, not really structured and well-thought. She comes from a state primary and I worry about all the competition coming from private prep schools and the number of seats is so few.

Thanks very much for your help. Bless you.

[mumteacher]

Neena15 you're right 7+ is massively competitive.

Bond books 8-9 in all four VR nvr maths and English. For lack of time you could try the 10 minute tests. Mental maths will require speed so she will need to know strategies of adding,subtracting and multiplying quicking -ideally she should know her tables by heart.

Look up thread at the books ive recommanded for 7+. Question with Inference will be asked over and over again!

Stories need to flow, keep to the title and use good vocab. Exchange big, nice for better wow words.

The school will take into consideration that she's coming from a state school but she will have to show that she has potential to keep pace to make it through to the second round.