2023 Eleven Plus support thread

It’s a religious school that takes primarily kids from a Christian background where the family has to have attended church and the vicar has to sign documentation etc. We can’t get in on faith basis so the only route for us would be academic. There’s 12 academic places and 3 music places. In terms of how many children apply - hundreds 🤣🤣

The only reason I’m laughing is because it’s not that important he gets in. I have secondaries near by that aren’t awful and I’ll just get him into one of those. This is just a ridiculous punt that I suddenly decided to go for as he seemed to be flying academically. He’s up for the challenge but also understands the reality is that he’ll probably only score in the top 100 or less.

Yikes, only 12 dc a year? How many apply? Last year we had only just started doing the 11+ prep as well (our dd was year 5 then) and we were applying to super selective schools as well (I felt discouraged when telling people as they would always respond how academic and difficult the schools were to get into). I would not lose hope just yet. Her scores jumped from just average the first try to 120s and then 130s, 142 just before exams. But it also depends on your dc motivation. How well they absorb the info.

That's exactly what we're doing @elevenduck. We went round the one that I was most keen on so we're going back to that one and the other grammar to pick between them. There's been some changes at the original school so it'll be interesting to see how it is now.

We have no more mocks lined up unless we pay a separate company but we'll do some at home instead.

@RudsyFarmer Only 12 places? Can I ask how that's possible? Is it a scholarship route you're taking?

We’re trying to prepare for a super selective exam that only takes 12 children a year. So it’s imperative that he’s scoring really high and I just dont think we’re going to get there. I was t going to even try - hence the late start.

We’re getting his report this week so it will be interesting to see if he hits Greater Depth in maths. I doubt it but obviously hopeful. Otherwise English is GD. Verbal Reasoning probably good and obviously needs to be strong.

I would say it depends how long your dc has been working on it. You still have time, and also what is your dc Math and English like? I think it helps to be strong in Math and English. My dd was strongest in Math, then English and verbal/non verbal were her weakest areas, but still okay I guess. But I was worried about it slightly at one point. She did well in the end and got into all schools she applied to.

RudsyFarmer please don't worry if your child does not do so well in mock tests and tests at this stage. My son badly failed some mocks - I never told him. I kept going and he did ok at 11 plus. Some of atom is quite hard and possibly harder than real 11 plus tests. Anyhow I have left it a bit late with my youngest son, have yet to crack on with nvr or proper maths for September exam but am just going to try do lots of work with my youngest between now and the exam.

We can do four between now and the exam with his tutor under exam conditions. More if we went to external (but dont think we will.) He has his first next month. I think for my DS it will just be slowing down and taking his time so he reads the question correctly. It is mostly multiple choice.

I guess we will see how he gets on next month 😬🙈 He doesn’t seem phased normally but it’s the longest exam he will have ever done all in one go.

I guess with other parents comments it’s just some of them being curious and some competitive.

I appreciate the responses. It is really hard irl to get people to speak about the eleven plus for some reason.

Argh just lost my long post. I hate this glitchy site sometimes 🤯🤯

condensed version.
Verbal reasoning mini quiz on Atom - very difficult and making me wonder whether it’s worth persevering. Is anyone signing their child up to summer courses. Our entrance exam is October so there’s still time.

@Torvi1211

Thanks. I've no idea what to ask at all. I want my dd to like the school but at the same time I don't want her to get her hopes up.

My dd had mocks in all 4 areas last week and we got some feedback the other day. They said for us a kid needs to get around 75% minimum to stand a chance of getting in. They said the average scores were all in the 60s and 70s percent. The tutors said those scores were fine for now but would need to go up a little to be in with a reasonable chance of getting in.
The highest score in my dds mocks was 94%. I only know that as my dd was pulled aside by a teacher who told her she came first (out of almost 300 children for context). They did say there were only a handful of kids who scored in the 80s or 90s so I really don't think it's expected to get scores like that at this time.
During the feedback they said this is the time of year where the see scores start to go up as the parents start doing mocks at home and therefore the kids become much more confident with exam techniques. They did say lots of children lost marks because of how they filled in the answer sheet incorrectly (ours is multiple choice). What's the set up of your exam? Multiple choice or written papers?

Sorry I'm rambling but I wouldn't worry yet as there's still a few months to go until the big day. Are there many mocks you can sigh up to near you? The only one near us is when we're on holiday in the summer.

When they do the mocks do they get a grade out of 100% my son is a late starter so has his first official mock next month. He’s only done paper ones at home or Atom ones.

Another parent told me children are already getting 95% that they know (unsure if they are trying to put me/him off) they aren’t doing the 11+

I would like him to do as many mocks between now and September as I can do he is as comfortable on the day as possible 🙈 Thank you!

I hope the open day goes well. We are going to one in a few weeks. It seems tricky without any guarantees they will get in. I want my DS to be excited about the school but not disappointed if he doesn’t get a place. I guess everyone is in the same boat though. :)

@elevenduck

I hope she ok now. Migraines are awful especially when they come on suddenly. Like you say it's a good lesson to learn. I should start drilling into my daughter that if anything is wrong in the exam then speak up.

The exam still feels a long way away but I bet it will come round quick. The grammar schools have open evenings this week so we're off for a nosey. Both have / are getting new headteachers so I'm expecting a few changes, whether they be positive or not remains to be seen.

It was because I mentioned the headaches, migraines and words jumping around. I just thought it was worth a mention. They stopped for a long time and now have come back (but hormonal.) I know I was the same at that age and I actually had coloured lenses in my glasses and it made a big difference.

Migraines are horrible though so I hope they ease for her x

@elevenduck has she been checked for visual stress? My eldest had a lot of headaches and migraines. She still does on occasion but far less. She had a check at the hospital referred by the optician. She has a coloured overlay/reading ruler and it made a big difference to the migraines and headaches.

I'm not sure. My daughter has Minecraft too but doesn't actually play on it much but she did do well on the NVR. I was just surprised she said it after it was mentioned on here.

How's everyone getting on?

My DS doesn’t have to do NVR but did click on it when doing atom and got them all correct. He’s not done any prep. He does like Minecraft though. He did used to like Lego but gone off it now. May be something to the theory! :)

Well it turns out I was wrong and I will happily admit that. I was talking to my daughter's tutor who said the children that she knows who score rather well on NVR all play Roblox or Minecraft.
Looks like I may have to get my dd playing them!

Ah, fair enough then! Although if you live in Bucks not sure why you would bother taking 11+ exams elsewhere given that Bucks grammars aren't super-selective (so you stand a reasonable chance of getting in) and a lot of the non-grammar options are a decent fallback…

@thing47 She does teach in Bucks.