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Original poster

The final push

40 replies

Teddingtonmum1 · 16/12/2013 00:09

My DS has 2 entrance exams whitgift & reeds in 4 weeks , he has been working hard but his results on practice papers seems to still be erratic one day he gets 100% the next day its 60%. am planning to stop study over Xmas but will need to resume work w/c 30th as I'm at home for the next 10 days. Am planning to have an intensive 10 days before the exams can anyone advise the best way to tackle it , DS can't do long sessions works better doing short bursts for 30-45 mins is it better to do one day on one subject or mix it up ?

OP posts:
ll31 · 18/12/2013 07:52

Seems like an awful lot of pressure for 11 yr old. Does he want to go there? Are his friends going?

Ladymuck · 18/12/2013 07:44

Do pay close attention to the weekend fixture list too. Whitgift do put a lot of their clubs etc in lunchtime, but sport fixtures are more likely to overrun. If your Ds has contact with his father at weekends then he will need to know what he is being signed up for.

Most local boys find the pace quite gruelling in the autumn term. Adding 2 hours of commuting will not help. As you're aware a key part of the application process is the interview and Whitgift interview parents too. You will need to be prepared to answer the "Why Whitgift?" question.

Original poster
Teddingtonmum1 · 17/12/2013 23:32

I agree have seen some crazy journeys on mn especially to tiffins etc I even think some of the school buses are a tad early some pick up at 6.55 am !!! I wouldn't do that myself for work everyday let alone a 11 year old but I guess kids must do it or they wouldn't run them.

OP posts:
basildonbond · 17/12/2013 22:50

no he gets the train - the bus would be hideous as they'd get stuck in traffic both ways and it's not that flexible

the train is easy - but (and it's an enormous but) the train journey is less than 15 minutes and he doesn't have to change

just because other people are making their dc do stupid journeys to go to school doesn't make it any less stupid ... sorry to be blunt but just think of all the good schools he'd be passing, state and private, every single day for 7 years, any one of which would be able to meet his needs just as well as Whitgift or Reeds

dd's doing exams in January - she's exceptionally academic and her current school were pushing for her to sit for SPGS - I vetoed that as the journey for us would be too much for an 11 year old - she's my third and as I said before I have realised that NO school is worth that kind of disruption to your child's life on a daily basis - they would miss so much by having such a long, difficult journey - time, easy socialising with friends, flexibility

Original poster
Teddingtonmum1 · 17/12/2013 22:39

Does your ds take the school bus ? I work with someone and they live in hounslow and their daughter used to go to Reading grammar it seems the distances kids are travelling are nuts the admission officer at whitgift said they have someone who commutes from Brighton !!! Am thinking anything over 45 -1 hr is too much ?? What's normal ???

OP posts:
basildonbond · 17/12/2013 22:29

it just seems bonkers to me, sorry - don't get me wrong, it's a great school and my ds has been very happy there but no school is worth that kind of journey ...

Original poster
Teddingtonmum1 · 17/12/2013 22:03

there is a school bus from Worcester park or Wimbledon or the train to clapham junction then change for south Croydon plus we have family in Croydon or worst ways I could move and rent not sure , will worry about getting the place first !! Wanted weekly boarding but whitgift has such a lot of extra curricular he could easily be kept busy til 5.30pm / 6 pm but we shall see ...

OP posts:
basildonbond · 17/12/2013 21:48

you're not seriously thinking of sending your son from Teddington to Whitgift each day????

Original poster
Teddingtonmum1 · 17/12/2013 21:44

At the moment we are doing an hour a day , bond, GL, he is weak in VR and English so will have to have a bigger push the week before averaging between 65-85% depending on which part of the day u catch him !!! His strong in Non VR but unfortunately they dont test for at whitgift Have consoled him that theres only 3 weeks to go then its all over and then i start to grow an stomach ulcer through worrying & playing the waiting game got 3 options would be happy with just 1 offer at this rate !!. Got 2 weeks over Xmas so will try and keep up the hour a day then up to an hour am & pm in jan for the last few days but as they say you can't know everything and if he doesn't know it now it's too late !!.... Anyone have any idea on pass mark for whitgift entrance exam ? Admissions advised they will interview a large number of boys who sit the test am guessing they won't bother with the ones who totally flop it but am told the interview can make or break a boy that's borderline luckily ds is confident in an interview and can chat away so no concerns there just got to get him to interviews and hopefully he'll shine otherwise I give up I'm totally exhausted as we've DIY 'ed but on the upside my verbal reasoning has improved roll on march and it's all over ( unless ur on a wait list :( )

OP posts:
maree1 · 16/12/2013 23:06

For English, these might be worth a look regarding content londonmumsmagazine.com/2013/creative-writing-magic-money-cards and www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/500words/2013/?region=uk for some award winning age related essays. For Maths practise with past papers – and then some more past papers – and then some more.

JustAnotherUserName · 16/12/2013 14:57

I'm planning on stopping doing full papers.

DS knows his maths and grammar by now; or should do and if not its too late. I am confident he won't forget what he does know in the next four weeks or so. Just general chilling, and doing 20 or 30 mins a day over the holidays, so he can remember the basics and a little practice of the more stretching maths questions.

I suppose every DC is different - mine is just completely fed up with all the practice over the last months, its time to rest for the frenzy of activities in January.

basildonbond · 16/12/2013 14:45

Minimonty - all the independent 11+ exams are in January Confused

OP - you have to strike a balance between keeping them on the boil and overdoing it. Dd is doing two exams in January and will be doing lots of reading (as always), quite a bit of general chilling and dog-walking and a little bit of brushing up any areas in maths and reasoning where she doesn't feel 100% confident. Her school gets the year 6 children to go in on the last Friday of the holiday for a full-scale mock exam - if yours doesn't do a similar thing then maybe you could set that up at home?

Ladymuck · 16/12/2013 08:04

Are the papers you are doing of similar standard or are you doing the various sample papers on websites? Ie are you comparing like with like?

For each paper, are you happy that there are no knowledge gaps and that you are simply looking at exam technique and stamina? Don't underestimate the stamina needed for a day's worth of exams, especially as Whitgift have a lengthy essay in there.

antimatter · 16/12/2013 01:59

I wouldn't at this stage stop for Christmas.
Mixing subjects is ok providing he has breaks.

I would limit screen time. Let him relax with somr physical activity. If you are at home between now and beginning of spring term you can easily do 2 or 3 tests a day. He needs to learn to work with clock and read instructions. Not to spend too much time on each question etc.

MiniMonty · 16/12/2013 01:31

Entrance exams in January ????
Pretty weird...