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Original poster

St Olave's Mock test

34 replies

southeastmum2014 · 19/06/2017 12:53

Dear 11+ Mums,
Any one here who took two mock test at St Olave's? I need some help please. My son reported that they gave the same Mock paper to him. He took the first mock on 3rd of June and the second one on 17th of June and said the question paper was same. They charge £60 for each test. I just felt it was unfair to repeat the question paper and make us pay £60 for each sitting. I understand the mock test is run by parents but nothing on the webpage says that we will repeat the mock paper.

OP posts:
user1489830224 · 20/06/2017 12:00

southeasternmum2014 - glad to hear the St O PTA are watching Mumsnet! I've just had a look at the website and their FAQs. Front page states: "We are again organising a series of Familiarisation (Mock) Tests to give pupils a true experience ..." So they use the plural. Admittedly on their FAQs they do state that they do not recommend booking for more than one test, BUT they do not explain why. The wording across the website is ambiguous. They need to state clearly that there is only one set of questions. I take it they were happy to take your second £60 and did not contact you to warn you it was the same test paper? Perhaps the offer of a £60 refund would be a good idea in this case?

Original poster
southeastmum2014 · 20/06/2017 11:34

Anne2300, we had no idea it was the same paper. And yes £120 was a lot of money for two mock test with same paper.

OP posts:
Original poster
southeastmum2014 · 20/06/2017 11:16

user1489830224, well yes and also to get him time pressure of actual exam.

St Olave's PTA has replied to my email and asked me to amend my post on Mumsnet. I have been asked to read the FAQ again. Just in case the PTA mother or mothers who are reading this - I can kindly remind you to read the FAQ yourself. Here is the actual copy/paste:

Can I book my child for more than one test date?
We do not recommend this.

I am sure a person who is more intellectual than me can explain if this sentence mean that we use the same mock paper again. I have had several email exchange with PTA since March, and I am sure PTA could have clarified/pointed out that I can only book one test. Is it that difficult to make sure that one parent can only book one test?

I appreciate PTAs efforts towards raising funds for the school and I am more than happy to contribute. I will give you £60 as a contribution to school but what you did was completely unethical. You have to put a disclaimer to say that you use same paper or you will not allow two mock bookings. As simple as that.

Please don't make my post a political ground. Many parents like me would have paid you £60 per mock and would have experienced this. As I respect your stand of raising money for school, I am sure you should respect that parents like me are doing our best to make sure our kids get in good schools but this experience/cost was not the best to undertake.

OP posts:
Anne2300 · 19/06/2017 19:58

We took the test last year and we knew that it was the same test for all the sessions. You get a report for the session cohort and another one with the whole cohort (all sessions together), so the paper must have been the same for them to compare all the candidates from different sessions. It was quite clear last year that you shouldn't book multiple tests. It is quite expensive, but if you are aiming for St O, the test is a good familiarisation doing a difficult exam in a large hall and reality check.

It is a shame that they have to charge so much for these mocks, but I think that if you really can't pay you can contact the PTA for a free mock.

user1489830224 · 19/06/2017 17:43

I have always thought it unethical that any school should run mock entrance exams (even if managed by its PTA). In St O's case it was started purely to raise funds for the school (which I have some sympathy for). I believe the St O PTA now have to offer free mocks to those unable to pay to comply with the educational equality guidelines for state schools. Can the education authorities really ensure that the school does not view any of these mock exam papers or even mark them? It is a very grey area and could give some students an advantage when it comes to the real entrance test. Does the school know who has taken the mock exams and who has not? southeastmum2014, the actual St O's entrance test is now two tier, is this why you booked two mock tests?

Original poster
southeastmum2014 · 19/06/2017 13:58

Hi PettsWood Paradise,
They should put a disclaimer that the mock paper is same for all test, at least keen parents like us would not book two tests. To repeat the paper over multiple days does not make any sense to me at all. It should be clearly written in their FAQ that same paper will be repeated. No where in their FAQ, it has been mentioned that it will be same paper, otherwise I would have not booked two. Moreover, they cancelled my original date of mock from may and moved me to June. At least then they should have mentioned that one test is more than enough. It seems like they are just trying to make money unethically.

OP posts:
PettsWoodParadise · 19/06/2017 13:54

I was only ever under the impression they had one test and multiple dates due to high demand. They do offer some free tests for those who can't afford it. Their FAQs say they don't recommend booking for multiple dates (possibly for this very reason) but don't know if this has just been added or not. I know another provider that holds tests for Bexley, Kent and St Olaves / NW and when you book you can specify which set of papers you want to sit and they have two different sets of papers as they have numerous dates but not numerous sets of papers. Smaller sets of papers can also be helpful to get an overall picture of where a child is in a wider cohort than just those that sat that day.

Original poster
southeastmum2014 · 19/06/2017 13:18

Hi MrsPatmore
Yes have contacted PTA and asked for refund. I just wanted others to know this as well. And in case anyone else gone through same experience then come forward to join this. I don't have £60 to waste and time at this stage of 11+. I feel cheated.
Cheers

OP posts:
MrsPatmore · 19/06/2017 12:58

Perhaps contact the PTA who run these tests and request a refund?