How to know if child is smart enough for 11 plus

I know someone who did the same. Moved house into Trafford grammar catchment. Tutored for two years twice a week. No offers. Similarly an old neighbour moved into Trafford for their bright DD to go to Alty girls. Now at a comp as didn't get in. Heard of several times over. Loads who spent a fortune on tutors and moved to try and get in. Some are so far down that track & invested that they end up paying to go private instead.

My DS2 is in top sets in his state primary, hardworking, loves learning and we were told incessantly by teachers/tutors that he is very bright and capable and easily grammar school material. He didn't get into either of the grammar schools he sat for (we are in North London). Around 20 kids from his school sat and I think 2 got in. It's a 1 in 10 chance basically. I actually wish we hadn't tried or tried the independents he sat for as it put so much pressure on him and me and the rejections are simply awful. if you come back to Mumsnet to ask you child didn't get in people will ask why you put your child through it when you should have known they weren't bright enough.

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Maybe call the school to get a teacher to speak to you? If this is the approach you want to go through, you can do it anyway. She doesn't have to be a genius?

My DD goes to a grammar. At primary I would have said she was middling to bright. She came in the top 5% of the 11+ scores and has been predicted 7/8 GCSE grades across all subjects.
High school suits some brighter kids better than plodding along at primary.
Good tips already, do lots of reading, prep quite hard for maths if she's not already very competent. I think it's a myth that you can tutor kids to pass who then fail at school. You can only teach them technique and skills. You can't put the answers in their heads.
GS suit bright kids who like academic learning. They have upsides and downsides and you need to decide if the ethos of the school fits your child.
A bit of light tutoring for exam techniques and higher level maths is helpful. A tutor who knows the local requirements is a good move.

Go for it!! Tutor plus some home learning with relevant bond/ cgp books- nothing to lose as the extra work will stand her in good stead wherever she goes.

The 11+ forum has great resources
www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/

Good luck xx

I'd say for Trafford grammars they need to be exceeding expectation in all areas really in their year group. Then again, most are tutored heavily to get in also, so some more middling children will get in due to having tutors through Yr5 and sometimes Yr4.
That said, even with tutors I know a number that still failed to get any offers

@Africa2go, thank you for correcting me. My DD is 17 which is why I said to double check current format. Apologies for the misinformation.

@GinaJaffacake The Trafford Consortium exam is CEM and has been for 4 or 5 years now, not GL. AGSB is (at present) a separate exam, and that is GL, but I think AGSB is also joining the Trafford Consortium exam from this year - so there won't be any (state) GL exams.

I don't know your area but anyone who is attaining 'at expected' wouldn't be grammar material here (Kent). It may be less competitive where you are.

@Gettingthereslowly2020, my DD is at Alti girls. It’s very competitive but preparation is key. However, keep in mind that at Altrincham, the girls are ridiculously competitive amongst themselves and tbh, I’m not sure that suits them all at all. So be sure your DD will thrive there before sending her.
Just a point re Bond books. A lots are designed for independent school entry (CEM) rather than grammar school entry (GL) The non verbal ones will help but look on Amazon for grammar 11+ prep. Card sets such as Whizz match are great for vocabulary and not dry like other flash cards. 11+ variety 8 papers were useful to us too. Also, some practice on how to fill in the multiple choice paper which was like a lottery card slip where you put a line in a box a-d. Sounds silly but it’s all time critical and familiarity with the format is very important. *having said all this, please double check the most up to date format. Good luck

Just be warned...some of the posters there are a trifle intense.

Just to respond to a point upthread OP you can't get past papers for the exams, they're not published but you can buy CEM test papers which are the same type (Bond, Letts etc).

It's occidental innit

If you live near Trafford, yes research the schools. Speak to her teacher to see if an academic grammar is right. Is that what you want for her? There's loads of good non selective schools that will push her in top sets too. My DC are exceeding in all areas and always have but I decided that I didn't want to spend Y5 tutoring them as they do tons of extra curricular everyday. And I wanted them at a local school for all the social reasons

Maybe 'western' would do??

I wouldn’t have a clue what is the opposite of ‘oriental’. And I am v. well read, and highly educated

Off the back of this, I've just emailed my DD's school, enquiring whether they think she's a possible candidate for the entrance exam for the local consortium schools. The grammar schools round here are only semi-selective - most pupils are admitted geographically, only 20% via entrance exam, but have a very good reputation nonetheless.

Like you OP, I know she's very bright, but I don't know how bright she needs to be - I really don't want to put her under too much pressure!

Bloody hell, @PresentingPercy, were they looking for occidental? That's pretty hardcore, even for a very well read child!

Ring up the schools you're interested in and look on their websites for past papers. The schools you're applying to will be set up to help, but it doesn't sound like the primary have much interest or motivation to do so (and indeed, they're not required to).

Only to say, you should go for the grammar school. If she gets in, that's great. If not, there is another way to do well.

I didn't get into the grammar school, and I'm not particularly academic. But tell me I can't do something, and I'll prove you wrong.

I ended doing better in life than almost anyone from primary school, including those who went to the good schools.

Also building on another previous point - be prepared to teach to beyond year 5 maths for the test too. There are many elements of the year 6 curriculum (such as ratio, basic algebra) that she won’t be taught until after the test.