Do we have a Common Entrance support thread?

[AppleSetsSail]

In the home stretch. The stress level here is a teensy bit high.

[happygardening]

I'm sure your DC will be fine. If your at a good prep and are following your heads advise then few if anyone fails to get into their 1 st choice of school.
The brilliant thing is how quick the results come out.
We're now five years down the road, the Win Coll entrance exam (their CE equivilant) seems a very hazy distant memory we're now well into the home straight with the end very clearly in sight and DS is about to start his Pre U's I'm not sure where the last five years have gone.
Good luck to all sitting CE or its equivilant.

[Popocatapetl1234]

I have never heard of anyone who followed the prep heads advice failing CE. So don't really think a thread is needed. It's not like 11+ or scholarship.

[AppleSetsSail]

So don't really think a thread is needed.

OK, I'll just ask to have this deleted straight away then.

[AppleSetsSail]

The brilliant thing is how quick the results come out.

What's the turnaround time? Is it the same for all?

[Popocatapetl1234]

@Apple: Oh you really don't need to do that .

Just trying to set your mind at rest. I am sure your DC will pass. Results usually out within the week.

[happygardening]

Popo perhaps a little unkind? Obviously most parents are hoping their DC's are going to not only pass but pass well in excess of the required pass mark.
I think some prep school place a lot of pressure on the children, causing them to become stressed. They also want them to get marks well in excess of the pass mark it looks good for them, they can then put on their websites things like "50% got 70% at CE" etc. So they say things like this "this is the most important exam you'll ever sit" and all that kind of unnecessary stuff.
Finally some schools will offer scholarships/heads prizes to children who do very well.

[AppleSetsSail]

There's quite a bit of pressure. My poor kid is overwhelmed at the enormity of it all - he's clearing the hurdles with a safe margin (except history) but he keeps on thinking: 'I have to excel on 12 exams in one week or I won't get into my next school'.

Poor kid.

[happygardening]

I think it's about a week, our prep took the top year away and told them whilst they were away. Heads find out first this gives them time to negotiate with the school if necessary "Jonny is an exemplary pupils who got 70+ in his mock CE and must have had an aboration when he sat the real thing" and if this fails find an alternative that he can present to parents.
A couple of pupils at DS's prep didn't get the required mark even in core subjects to big name selective seniors and still got on.

[thekingfisher]

Apple - I'm with you ...

My DS is going into an academically NON-selective school so there isn't really any 'real' pressure as such - other than not letting himself down and wanting to be in the best sets possible when he starts. Its a lot for his own self-esteem. He is mildly dyslexic so works super hard and still get pretty shit results in exams - so get very down with it all.
I however would breeze the exams and am particularly competent at the Philosophy and RE paper!! They do loads of the contemporary issues which are WAY over most of the Y8's heads but I have found them really interesting!

We are counting down - 25 days until they start 28 until they're over!

[AppleSetsSail]

A couple of pupils at DS's prep didn't get the required mark even in core subjects to big name selective seniors and still got on.

Well, that is reassuring. I am extremely nervous about history - 3.5 weeks out his top mark remains only a 66% despite having a sound grasp of all 12 events. He's not fully mastered the art of the essay.

He's making great progress but I certainly wouldn't have chosen to cut it this fine.

[AppleSetsSail]

Ah, Kingfisher, so glad someone is here to share the pain. 28 days to go. Sigh.

[happygardening]

66% sounds respectable has he got to get 70% in all papers?
Plenty of parents at DS's prep school said preps do mark mocks/practice papers extra hard to get the children to keep working?!

[AppleSetsSail]

70, yes.

They definitely err on the side of tough grading. I trust his history teacher more than probably anyone else at the school, I'm glad he's in charge of the weakest link.

He's doing about 3 or 4 history essays a week and each mark is an improvement on the last - he had a 60 and 65 early last week, a 66 on Monday, another grade coming home today - progress.

[happygardening]

Gosh 3-4 essays a week that's a lot.
Don't forget to give him a break. DS2, who doesn't get overly stressed but feels he struggles a little to write a really good essays, had a break at Easter of nearly a week, no revision done at all just enjoying himself, some friends thought we were nuts letting him have it but he's actually getting better marks now than before he had the break. He (much to my surprise) had been doing 4-6 hours of revision/practice papers before the break and I think the time away from it enabled his brain to consolidate the info and also gave time to just unwind and enjoy himself. He's only home for a few days at half term as he only gets 1/2 a week (he'll be half way through his Pre U's by then) and I think we'll encourage him to mainly chill out as he's absolutely exhausted.
Sometimes I can't help but wonder if there's not a better way than this.

[AppleSetsSail]

HG thanks for sticking with me here, really appreciate it.

History is about 80% of what he's revising at home and some of this is in school, so he still has a fair bit of free time - probably a 2-hour block of free time per night in addition to a quick dinner, shower, faffing about on the way home from school & after school snack - so I think he's OK.

What year is your son in, btw? I know I've bumped into you many times on various threads.

[happygardening]

DS2 is year 13 at Win Coll they do Pre U's instead of A levels.
As I said above the Win Coll entrance exam is now a very hazy memory although this could be my age! I've found the last five years have flown by, I can't believe we've only weeks to go before he leaves.
Sitting where we are now the entrance exam seems pretty trivial but at the time it seemed very important.
I'm sure your DS will be fine.

[pepperpot69]

Just over a week to go and 2 yrs work will be over in a flash! DS is on half term now and I'm so proud of how he is working.
Popocatapetl1234 Not sure your comment was very helpful as I gain a lot of support from these threads & was particularly comforted to see that the Op clearly feels the same as me.
It isn't all about the passing of CE it is also watching our DC take these next steps in life and education as they reach the pinnacle of prep school education and are ready to take the leap onto their new school. CE is a big part of this journey and as a mum I just need to know he is ok and as well prepared as possible for the exams and his new school.
Next time I see my DS it will all be over and we can relax and celebrate.
Good luck to everyone with DCs taking CE and to us it is every bit as important as 11plus!

[Fridayschild]

Pepperpot our life here is the complete opposite. In 2 days of half term so far I've had "lost my science text book on the bus 12 months ago" - it was at his dad's; "forgot my chemistry papers" - got some copied from a friend - don't know my log in for the french app - sulky revising throughout - me meanwhile doing my best to be calm and supportive mama - could throttle him!

On the plus side I know far more about Thomas a Becket than I was ever taught at school.

[KingscoteStaff]

This was us one year ago! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/2398369-Common-Entrance-will-we-hear-today-if-DS-hasnt-passed?pg=1

Most valuable advice was to make sure they break up revision with exercise. I had a whole list of things I 'needed' from the local shop and would send DS off on his scooter every hour or so.

Relentless positivity and lots of biscuits worked well for us!

[GinandJag]

I had to board my younger son at his prep school in the summer term to avoid CE stress. No stress for him, but I couldn't bear to watch him not revising. At school, it was cool to revise in the evening.

ISTR the results being published the Thursday of the week after the exams. School got them a day or two before so any issues and trading could be sorted out. But, seriously, anyone passing the pre-test, and having prep school support, is going to pass.

I am moving to teach in a traditional prep school in September, so will have more up to date info next year.

[trinity0097]

Results should be with the schools by the Thursday after but not to parents/candidates until the Friday.

[Dapplegrey2]

Good luck to all DCs doing common entrance this week!

[goinggetstough]

And some more Good luck to those doing CE this week!

[Touchlinedad]

As with everything in prep life - the kids and teachers all looked on top of things as they came out of the exam hall yesterday - it was just the parents who were all on tenterhooks.

I loved Fridayschild's comment about Thomas a Becket. Ditto Sikhism in our house.

Counting down to a bucket load of nice red come Thursday lunchtime. Good luck to everyone and especially their kids.

[Cb12]

Day 2, feeling calmer now:) just want it to all be ok
how did everyone find the exams yesterday, Biology ok, English a bit more tricky, the Armada essay came up in history hooray!