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Original poster

Whitgift 11 plus

51 replies

havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:17

Is anyone else's DS sitting this week? I've lost the letter and am in a complete tizz. Not sure if he needs to know how to time himself between the essay and the rest of the English. Does anyone know what he needs to take with him - is he allowed apencil case or plastic bag???? We're completely ill prepared and I got him to try a Maths Bond paper this morning and he totally cocked it up..... Does anyone know what the pass mark actually is and how bad does it have to be for them not to get interviewed.
Sorry to sound like the Mother from hell (I try not to be...) but personal circumstances have meant that this is an extremely stressful family time without the added pressure of an 11 plus..... any helpful suggestions or words of comfort if any exist would be so appreciated!!!!!

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basildonbond · 02/01/2012 22:27

call the school in the morning - there should be someone in the office - they'll be able to let you know what your son needs - good luck to him on Thursday

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:31

Thank you - see sensible advice is what I need!

I'll make the call, then buy the neurofen!!

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:35

If I could remember where I'd put the stuff, I'd tell you.

No idea about the pass mark as I suspect it is not fixed but depends on the performance of the boys sitting the exam as a whole.

I have no idea about the English either - I could ask DS1 tomorrow to see if he remembers but you could get the info from the school by then :)

The letter came with a collection card and something to put in your car window when you go to collect so you'll need to speak to them anyway if you've lost that.

SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:36

and stop panicking :)

SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:38

OK, I am not as disorganised as I thought...

"Candidates should bring with them their on pencil, pen, ruler and pencil eraser. Calculators are not allowed"

SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:38

I bought DS2 (who is sitting it this year) a clear plastic pencil case from WHS. DS1 had a ziploc sandwich bag :o

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:39

Thank you SoupDragon - the one thing I do have is the blue card! Hoorah! If you could ask your DS1 that would be fab - if he remembers - hopefully just a blur for him now! Is he at Whitgift - does he love it? Panic subsiding...Wine

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:42

LOL - that info was from the blue card :)

DS1 is at Trinity - they offered him a better scholarship than Whitgift :o I do know several boys there though and they all love it.

SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:45

I was a gibbering wreck when DS1 did this. I now know how it works so am still a gibbering wreck much calmer this time round.

If it makes you feel better, DS2's practice story which he wrote today was a) crap b) illegible and c) ended with 2 characters face down in a swimming pool of blood with gunshot wounds to the head. Thankfully his maths is brilliant.

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:47

Ah you've got one sitting as well - 10 or 11 plus? Depress me and tell me you've done loads of work - I really feel I've let DS down but although I'd planned to do stuff from Oct half term it just didn't happen - sport and length of time it takes him to do homework just gets in the way....

I know I got a letter which said all this in it and I have absolutely NO idea where I've put it - probably find it in the summer when I'm filing all the crap on my desk....

Ziploc I can do - or old split yellowing see through pencil case - his decision! Shame about calculator as judging by this morning's performance he could do with it.... Blush

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:49

11+

He had 1 hour a week with a maths tutor to brush up on technique and has done practically bugger all VR and English because that was down to me and he is a stubborn little git little lazy. Bond books. DS1 did a similar amount but was more compliant with the stuff I asked him to do.

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:50

Frankly your DS1 sounds like he should jet propelled to Hollywood screen writing college and forget the middle man....!

We've not attempted writing a practice story as that ends up with him in tears, me hysterical and his father screaming about why we are rowing.... comprehension isn't much better and I'm not sure what else they have int he English...

DS1 maths should be phenomenal - if only he read the questions - if there's a trick in it, he trips every single time... hey ho!

I must read the blue card better (with glasses on this time)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WineWineWineWineWineWineWineWineWineWine

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:51

When I say "bond books" I meant we used those for VR and English. And when I say "used" I mean threatened to whack him over the head with them mainly.

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:53

Has your DS1 got an academic/music scholarship. Unsurprisingly we've not applied for an academic one Hmm but have applied for sports - which is totally his bag, hence hysterics with English...

Just lovely to speak to someone, if not in the same boat, who gets my complete hysteria!!

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:54

The only reason he wrote the story was because it was also his homework from his primary school. I've looked at what was set and it says "write a mystery story". It doesn't say "channel your inner Tarantino and write a blood filled massacre'

I made him plan another story. The plan for this one originally read "no one dies". FFS.

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:55

PS. Bond books been used to wedge door open since Christmas Eve.... Taken out this morning to beat child with, hence mexican stand off with the maths....

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 22:56

You don't apply for academic scholarships (which is what DS1 got). These are offered on the basis of the interview where they may set a couple more questions and chat to your son to see if he is simply heavily tutored. Someone did say that the last couple of questions on the maths paper flag up potential scholarship candidates but I"m not sure how true this is.

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 22:59

Be thankful his imagination isn't staple gunned to the floor which is where my gorgeous DS's currently is stuck.... he's been threatened with detention not to write another story at school about sport - he has brain freeze on anything else - he just can't do it - so I figured he'd have to fly by the seat of his pants on the day. My dream on a good night (when I actually sleep) is that he'll get a comprehension from Andrew Strauss autobiography and the story title is either My life as a Footballer or The Day I won the Ashes for England... and wake...! I love the sound of your DS2 - sounds fabulous!! Do you prefer Trinity for him as well?

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SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 23:17

I think he is better suited to Trinity given his, um, character but the reality is he'll go wherever offers the best deal. Academically there is nothing to choose between them really, it's all about the feel. Whitgift is just down the road from us, Trinity is a PITA. Whitgift has peacocks and prefects in purple capes... [swoon] However, I do think Trinity is a better fit for him.

I have given DS2 the same advice I gave DS1 - if there is a descriptive essay choice go for that. Avoid having to find a plot. DS1 was just bad at story writing, I now worry that DS2 will be sent for counselling if he writes a fictional story as part of his exam. I have also told him he can base his writing on real life because whoever marks it will have no idea that the characters and places aren't from his imagination and it gives him a better chance of describing them well.

SoupDragon · 02/01/2012 23:18

Equally, your DS can quite happily use a sports based idea as they will be clueless that it is the only idea he is capable of forming :o

Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 23:27

I agree - whereas it drives me mad when he uses his friends names (over and over - just in different positions on the pitch) in this exam they won't have the history to know that! If ever the expression "lost the plot" was written for someone, in the nicest possible way its about my son and his stories.... He may well surprise us all, maybe I should have more faith - I can only cross everything and hope that they interview him - if only out of curiousity - and then he can talk sport - literally.. Your son frankly sounds amazing and you have little to worry about - they'll love him with an imagination like that - blood/goor/bodies to boot!! My Godson was at Trinity as was his brother - lovely boys - but too far away from us - Whitgift is going to be interesting to get him to as it is.... but we'll find a way. Off to lie wide awake on my bed for 6 hours. Thanks for your sage advice and the laughs - chest pain subsiding so have cancelled the ambulance!!!! Thanks

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Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 23:28

gore even - no I know where he gets it from - night night!!

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Original poster
havinganightmare · 02/01/2012 23:29

now even!!!! over and out

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SoupDragon · 03/01/2012 07:24

:)

DS1 gets the school bus to Trinity in the morning - Fairly expensive but worth it. Whitgift do have transport too if you can get him to a pick up point.

SoupDragon · 03/01/2012 11:34

Oh, and I asked DS1 about the English. He was sure that Trinity made an announcement that the boys should be finishing up the first part and moving onto the next and thinks Whitgift did the same.

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