2023 Eleven Plus support thread

@Paddingtonthebear I wouldn't worry too much about not getting through the entire paper. I met someone who got one of the top180 scores in our area (out of nearly 5,800) and she didn't finish the paper. No one I spoke to was able to finish every section.

Turns out the test on Saturday had an extra 10 questions on the maths paper that were not expected. So 60 questions to answer in 50 mins. DD ran out of time and didn’t answer the last 5 questions. I’m guessing that’s not a great sign 😬

Same here one exam for all local schools on the same day. All local schools are require improvement. 😬 Even the local private school (not that it's an option.)

Where we live there's one exam for one set of grammar schools. You could sit for private schools if you could afford the fees, but there are none within a 40 minute drive for us.

There are of course local schools but they are all Requires Improvement. So it is very similar to an all your eggs in one basket issue.

@ComfortFoodCorner , A lots of countries do have this kind of exams. Worse, there's only ONE regional/national level exam day. Only ONE chance. Here we sit different exams for different schools, so not all eggs in one basket.

There's no perfect system. When lots of people compete for resources, the means for allocation is limited. If the UK, not everyone wants to sit and there's no obligation. Just you would have to settle with local schools.

We only sat for two schools. One of them needs to be 5% out of over 1k applicants, whilst the other still requires to be the top 15-20%. I'm prepared to send him to a local school if nothing else.

It took over summer for many of us didnt it? I really hope everyone does well. :)

Only just found this post so would like to join the chat! A bit late but nevermind! I was on the 11+ website forum for Bucks but not many people post and there seems to be a lot of rules about what you can and can't say, so I guess most people don't bother!

Anyway! I'm in Bucks and my son sat the 11+ a few weeks ago. He found the practice paper tough on the Tuesday as he felt there wasn't enough time. But the real test he said he found easy. So hoping he passes. He's worked so hard for it and was pretty uncomplaining during the summer about the constant work so would be sad for him if he doesn't pass.

Will check back in around result day to share in the stress!

Good luck everyone

@Ladybowes I completely agree with the impact it might have on their confidence. That's also a worry here too. How everyone else who had theirs today has come out feeling ok.

Dd has just come out of hers reasonably happy. She said it was rather tricky in places, especially the Maths and NVR and that she had to guess a fair few but she was pleased it's over. I'm not sure how I feel about it all at the moment. Numb I guess. We're celebrating with a takeaway of her choice and then a day out tomorrow.

Let the long wait commence.

@11plusmum2023 and @ComfortFoodCorner agree with you both the system is unfair. Good luck to both of dc today.

Although I am putting my child through this I do worry how it might impact their confidence if the result is not what they would like. He so wants to go the same school as his friends and if they get into the grammar and he doesn't I imagine he will be quite upset. Hoping they all get in or they all don't get in..

@ComfortFoodCorner it is only in pockets of the UK too. Where I grew up the grammar school had been done away with and I went to a very good school, but the neighbouring county still had them.

@11plusmum2023 I totally share your feelings. Until an year ago I was so sure that I wouldn't let my DD go through this 11+ pressure. Kids in other countries don't have to do this, it's only in UK. Such unfair system. All the hard work, and only a small percentage of kids gets the good outcome, while each and every child who worked hard deserved to be placed in a good school.. it's not their fault that not every state school is as good as the grammars. I totally stayed away from the 11+ prep, but Dad's school has regular tests and kids comparing scores.. then we picked up the prep so DD won't have her confidence crushed. Now we are dreading the results day.

Well yes all the rest of it too but at least the conditions could be consistent

Lol if only it was just where they sit the exam that I thought was unfair

Agreed. I think it’s really unfair some kids get to take the test during their normal school day in their usual environment, and others have to take it at 8:30am on a Saturday in a school they are not familiar with

Dropped off DC, whatever the outcome, never have to deal with this unfair system again thank god

@Paddingtonthebear good luck and hope you have something nice planned for this afternoon for both of you when it's over....

Wishing your DD best of luck!

Exam starts here in 1 hour . She seems ok this morning but I’ve been awake since 5:30 for some reason. Can’t wait for it to be over !

@Lime03 I'm in the Manchester area (Trafford) and people seem to think we'll have them by October 13th (though I've not seen anything official saying this). Trafford's test was early though - September 5th. Feels like we've been waiting forever already!

@Lime03 no sorry I'm in SE London! Best of luck!

Same here! All done but it's the waiting game now. Are you in the Manchester area? If so, do you have any idea of the result dates?

Last grammar exam today. Feel very relieved, but anxious about the results which are not too far away!

Hope the test goes well and have a lovely relaxed evening :)

I'd like everyone to pass too especially as I know how much hard work and prep goes into these exams.

We're having a chill evening tonight before the test tomorrow. I just want it all over but at least dd appears calm at the moment.

I would love all of them to pass . I know that's not practical though 🙈