Atom users

The system disadvantages from the beginning. In our case you had to sign up for the test in a 2 week window in June. Unless you know about the grammar and how it works, you wouldn't even know that as the state school doesn't inform you. You also wouldn't know the familiarisation papers are online. Once you did find them, they are over 100 pages long and specific to that school so you need access to a printer. So if youre poor or dont speak english, you have no chance, genius child or not.

@user145964508 Do have a look at the 11+ forum. There are many grammars, and they have differing entrance tests. You can check for the individual schools your child is sitting for, and see what their requirements are.

If Atom are 10points below CATS then it will go to 140.

And not all private pupils are ahead of state: many will go to non academic secondary private schools. Almost none go to state grammars, which tend to be where state primary kids go.

That's not at all the case in our area, where the Grammars (1 girls' and 1 boys') are very highly regarded and considered to be the money-saving option for many with children at private schools in the area. The private schools tutor for the 11+ (unlike the state schools) and a significant number of the Grammars' intake are from that sector.

Also, DS is in a state primary and a lot of the Maths has not been covered yet, they did virtually NOTHING during the whole lockdown(!!) - so compared to other schools and especially kids in prep schools he will be significantly behind. Hence, I want to make sure we do what we can to get him up to speed. We only decided on the 11plus 1-2 months ago and if I look at some of the forums on this, it seems we're already playing catchup compared to parents who start preparing their kids in Yr 4.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, DS will be doing paper based test and is in Year 5 so we have a year. I currently have both Bond online and the books, we're doing a mixture of both, I do like the online ones because you get a mark at the end of each set of questions/test which makes my life a bit easier and I can track his progress.

User: atom is just online. So if your child is doing paper-based tests then what you are doing is far better.

hiya, I've only just started preparing my DS for the 11 plus for entry to grammar schools - I didn't know about Atom until a few days ago - we've just been doing the Bond books so far. The monthly price tag for Atom is quite a lot (50GBP a month) : is it really worth the money? I've already spent so much on bond books and other recommended vocab books and whatnot (it seems 11plus is a real moneymaker). Would you recommend getting it?

@noughtmare they certainly are high achievers but please don't compare. I am destitute compared to Jeff Bezos. Billionaires do exist but it doesn't mean that's normal. If your child does the best for them than that is a good result.

@Stircrazyschoolmum thank you. I know my child is never going to be top of the class and I've been honest about her scores (which I'm sure some may gasp at being very low), but that is her and I wouldn't want her to be in a highly selective school where she would struggle. That wouldn't be fun for anyone.

To answer your question about the nest step the school have confirmed "We will write to you on 30 October with the outcome for xxxx. Success in the test will enable us to offer xxxx a place
subject to her achieving 60% or more in the January 2021 Common Entrance examinations and a satisfactory academic
reference from her current head teacher. We will advise you if we need to put your daughter on a waiting list or if we
feel that she would not thrive with us and that another choice of school would be wiser at this stage. Please note that
we do not give out individual results (scores etc) from the tests".

There are no interviews and the school have stressed exam result alone will not determine an offer. It's about the whole child, their potential, character and fit with the school. If it's not an option, then we shall move on with heads held high that we tried.

happy it sounds like you took a really balanced approach and thanks to that your daughter had a positive and stress free experience. The cookies and flowers were a really sweet touch!

30 Oct feels really early to find out.. I’m guessing you’ll get a straight yes/no rather than her score? Is there an interview or creative writing piece to do after or is it all on the exam? (Sorry.. being nosey!)

Is 140 the maximum score? (Like I say, we only just got the trial version!)

@noughtmare Don't stress about it. A lot depends on how they do on the day and the less stressed they are the less likely they are to make silly mistakes.

Hello!

Newbie atom user here. State school DD and still in shock about imminent unprepared for ISEB!

This might be a stupid question, but if Atom mimics ISEB and is age standardised then surely the score would be adjusted some way? Thus, (thinking aloud) a child getting X% right in May would score lower on identical questions in Sept because they had gotten older.

Therefore nought if your child has continued to improve their score despite aging(!) then my sense is they are doing well?

Happysummer Well done to your DD! You are a great parent! Hope things are going well!

OP, best luck for Saturday!

FYI Atom says "The Standard Age Score in the ISEB Common Pre-test will typically be about 10 points lower than the same pupils CAT test result".

If I add +10 points to my daughters average her CAT4 score would be 116 and as a guide puts her at above average ability with a possible GCSE grade 6/7 (B or A to you or I!).

There is no way most children are scoring 135+ as suggested on other treads. Those are exceptional, not the norm. There is nothing wrong with being part of the 'norm'.

We are looking at virtual open evenings for state secondary and I looked up my old school. Turns out one of the boys from my class went on to set up a very successful business, is now a millionaire and paid for a lab to be built at the school! He often required help, was in no way an academic and I remember helping him with work. Being academic does not guarantee success. Having determination and being able to try, fail and try again are also important.