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Original poster

Present for passing 11+?

20 replies

Rainatnight · 17/10/2019 20:45

Son of a good friend of mine has just passed his 11+. He’s also my godson. Should I get him a present? Don’t know a single other person who’s done it, so I don’t know what’s the done thing.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Ugzbugz · 17/10/2019 20:49

There isnt really a pass mark so depending what score he got has he definitely passed? However, what does he like? Maybe a celebratory dinner? A new football? Xbox voucher? Maybe going out to celebrate wokle be better?

Bigbopboo · 17/10/2019 20:50

I got a pen and a meal in Pizza Hut . Twas 1988 though.

reluctantbrit · 17/10/2019 21:09

I would take him for a pizza or whatever he loves and a movie or similar to celebrate that it is over.

It is more about the effort he put into it than the score as just passing it doesn’t mean automatically he gets a place (at least not with our grammars). It is still about how high the score is compared to others and then distance to school.

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Original poster
Rainatnight · 17/10/2019 21:31

You can tell I don’t know much about it, can’t you?! I think he’s done well enough for them to be certain he’ll get in where he wants to go.

Tbh, I don’t see him very often because they live far away from me now, so I think he’d be a bit taken aback if I descended to take him out for dinner!

So trying to think of a present I could pop in the post.

OP posts:
Katinski · 17/10/2019 21:45

A cartridge fountain pen.

Soontobe60 · 17/10/2019 21:53

I hate this! You're basically rewarding intelligence in the main. Think about this scenario:
3 siblings, ABC
Sibling A passes 11+ gets gift from grandparents
Sibling B fails 11+ no gift given
Sibling C 11+ abolished. No gift.

However, sibling B was in hospital with a ruptured appendix, then off school for a further month during prime revision season. Turns out sibling A got a lower score than B but as pass rate was lower that year got a place.

I was sibling B.

I have rewarded my DDs for effort, not results.

ExcitedForFuture · 17/10/2019 23:12

soon how ridiculous. You are basing it on your own bad experience. The 11+ is all about intelligence!

I'd get him a present OP. It's a big achievement. My DC passed but narrowly missed out on a place. I still got a present.

ChocolateTea · 17/10/2019 23:16

The grammars here don't give places on scores, but on distance, so if you love within 5 miles of the scholm with a pass mark, you get a place

We rewarded sitting the tests as an effort rather than rewarding a pass. However, grandparents gave the children £10 for passing, and we did in the end have a meal out of their choosing on results day.

Elbowedout · 17/10/2019 23:58

I don't think there is a "done thing" really. I have never given presents for exam results of any kind and I was brought up to believe that success is its own reward. My DH was shocked when I told him that I had never received a gift for exam success and that I had no plans to buy things for our children. His parents always gave quite expensive presents with the value varying according to the grades attained.
So just buy whatever you like. There will be people who buy nothing, people who buy extravagant presents and all points between. If you don't see him often so aren't too sure about likes and dislikes you could always opt for a gift card or good old fashioned cash. I know it isn't very exciting, but at least it won't be wasted.

Punxsutawney · 18/10/2019 06:39

Ds sat the 11+. We had a nice meal the day he sat it. It was much more about him going that day to the test and trying his best, the results were second to that. He did pass but we didn't give him any gifts. It certainly wasn't a big thing in our house, he didn't have any formal tutoring either.

As a side note, grammar school was probably the worst place he could have gone. He's very bright but has just been diagnosed with autism. The last four years have not been good.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 18/10/2019 06:43

I wouldnt reward it especially if there are siblings/ other kids in the family

CanICelebrate · 18/10/2019 06:55

Mine got presents for passing. I bought one a football shirt but genuinely can’t remember what I bought my older son. He passed 2 tests but only got one gift!

CanICelebrate · 18/10/2019 06:56

We had a nice meal the night they did the tests too.

CanICelebrate · 18/10/2019 06:59

My dc’s entrance test results came with a school offer so that’s perhaps slightly different to if you have a result but still waiting for an offer (although OP it sounds like he’s definitely got it.)
Mine actually got a present off their Godparents and grandparents too if I remember correctly

CanICelebrate · 18/10/2019 07:00

*in

BertrandRussell · 18/10/2019 07:01

You should have given him a present after he took it-to reward effort not achievement.

hopefulhalf · 18/10/2019 07:07

I took both mine away for the weekend to a destination of their choosing

Poetryinaction · 18/10/2019 07:17

Calculator or foreign language dictionary.

AuntieStella · 18/10/2019 07:18

I rewarded mine at end of exams, for their diligence.

It wasn't dependent on results

But in your circs, then I think a book token or maybe some other voucher

VioletsArePurple · 24/10/2019 14:33

I would give a gift and congratulate him on his hard work (not his superior intelligence).

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