Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Group Interview Sevenoaks School

64 replies

BrassyLocks · 23/12/2022 20:14

DC has an 11+ group interview early January at Sevenoaks. Does anyone have experience of this? I'd like to get an idea of the format and types of topics they ask about. Maybe I'm BU asking this close to Christmas but it's all that's on my mind 😩

OP posts:
KindergartenKop · 28/12/2022 22:15

At a group interview they will probably set them a challenge to complete as a group. I would brief your child to get involved in the activity but, if they are inclined to dominate, to ask others what they think about the solution.

Basically they want to see that kids can problem solve and work as a team with others.

IndeCandidate · 28/12/2022 21:59

Not really ! Post isn’t about reassurance. That we could judge from school email itself and rest fully assured by parents who say their kids just walked into exam!

No prob if you can’t share , totally understandable.

I am trying to school parents of senior years who can advise. I am sure someone will be kind enough to give pointers . If any pointers I will surely paste here

damsone · 28/12/2022 17:50

If it's reassuring, we didn't tutor at all - just worked through the past Maths and English papers from the website and did some general VR 11+ practice stuff from Bond etc.

Emanresu9 · 28/12/2022 05:23

@damsone yes I agree with @IndeCandidate

id say everyone who hasn’t asked already has been tutored and knows!

IndeCandidate · 28/12/2022 04:46

@damsone thank you for responding
agree to your point about not worrying too much on group interview part. Even school email says nothing to prepare.

I m aware that parents who have tutors / locals / friends who have done in previous years are at advantage . They know n have very targeted approach . Kids have been prepared mentally .

that’s where IMO such group are helpful to people with limited means to get some ideas n might help us to explain kids on what day could be like.

if others whose kids are appearing this years have not asked it’s just because 99% they know !

so if you share in public forum your prev year experience then it will help many n actually make it fairer for our kids .

but I totally respect your opinion.

damsone · 27/12/2022 22:54

We've done Sevenoaks entrance (successfully) twice. Sorry, not going to say anything about topics because I don't think it's right, but I really wouldn't worry about the group interview. Both DC described it as a bit of an activity and a bit of a chat with a couple of nice teachers. As for the VR - as a PP said, it sounded a bit like any other VR. Some question types were familiar, some weren't. I think the whole point of reasoning papers is they're meant to test ability, not practice. As for why the day takes so long, both of mine had a fair bit to say about lunch....

IndeCandidate · 27/12/2022 11:19

I thinks it’s too much for kids n school May be trying to save an effort for calling them in a different day for interviews but a really long day n no idea how to prepare kids on interview

Original poster
BrassyLocks · 27/12/2022 09:04

And how do 3 one hour tests plus interview take the whole day? I'm going to be wandering the streets like a waif😄

OP posts:
IndeCandidate · 26/12/2022 19:31

I don’t have this book but any idea how many question in an hour?

Oher · 26/12/2022 19:25

I did hear that the Sevenoaks VR is quite similar to the style of these
athey-educational.co.uk//athey-educational-store.html

Oher · 26/12/2022 19:21

I want to know too! There seems to be surprisingly little online about it.

Original poster
BrassyLocks · 26/12/2022 19:18

I think the VR will be like any other, e.g. Bond Books, CEM. Can't be more than 30 questions surely...

OP posts:
IndeCandidate · 26/12/2022 18:03

I am also interested.
Any idea how to prepare for vr ?
I searched a lot but cannot find their past papers or any hints in timings of number of questions

DilettanteMum · 26/12/2022 11:29

Bumping for you so it gets seen