13+ pre tests

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Does anyone know what these are like (ISEB) or which papers they sit? I assume its not the usual 11+ or 13+ papers but something in between?

often they are VR/NVR computerised tests but will vary from one school to another.

Schools set their own, sometimes they are the same as they use with the 11+ sitting (if they have an 11+ and 13+ intake) some will use a computerised 'common pre test' which seems to be grouped geographically - for example Brighton, Lancing, Hurstpierpoint and Ardingly (west sussex area) are intending to use the same pre test in the next few years rather than children sitting a seperate pre test for each school

It depends on the school, at my DS's school the individual housemasters set their own 11+ tests as part of the 1 1/2 hour interview. Eton use a computer test devised by Durham Uni it's meant to be unique to them.

One school has past papers available, but a couple have introduced a pre selection for 13+ taken at the time of the 11+ adminstered by ISEB.

Which schools !

Can I say? Don't see why not... St Ps and Westminster...

What with this and the bloody referendum, I just want to take to my bed!

IIRC StP and W use the ISEB common pretest

More info here
www.iseb.co.uk/Parents/What-are-the-Common-Pre-Tests

Indeed ISEB so note this means he just takes it once and the same results do for both, so a bit double or quits really

These 13+ pre tests have completely thrown me for a loop. The possibility of written exams this January have given me sleepless nights. He's only just turned 11.

We've been through a crappy and stressful couple of years (to say the least) and keeping the family happy and in one piece has been the main focus. Now this has loomed up and I am feeling like the worst mum ever for taking my eye off the ball!

He did the CAT last year at shool and did very well without any prep. I'm happy with his maths but he is lazy at english and that's the one I worry about.

First of all, they aren't written tests - they're multiple choice, done at a computer. The boys do them at their own school, at a time convenient to them. Have a look at the example questions in Chaz's link above.

5 of my year 6 class took it last year - the only boy who found it particularly stressful was the one who was convinced that if he didn't pass, he would have let his mum and dad down...

Oh I know these are computer but some schools have written ones in January too!

Luckily DS is in his lovely kid bubble - we have all worked really hard to keep grim reality and adult worries away from him, so we aren't giving him stress and anxiety about it (I was a therapist so know many tricks of the trade!).

A lot of senior schools do written pre tests in January of year 6, some will wait until the September of year 7. It is a bit they either pass in which case they get a 'conditional offer' or they are rejected. More and more senior schools are adopting this as a way of diminishing the lists of those wanting a place rather than the old way of the headteacher interviewing everybody.
As you say, some are written tests at the senior school, others computerised tests taken at prep school.
The ones sat at the senior school typically consist of Maths, English, NVR and VR and seem quite unfair because they then have to pass CE at the required level as well and what a child is like at yr6/7 isn't always how they will be in yr 8.
If its the ISEB one, then at least its a set format and he can have a look at some past papers etc.
The ones set by the schools themselves can be more tricky as they don't always issue examples and check the % they are looking for in ALL papers as some schools ask for an average whilst others ask for a certain % on each paper.

But if you are doing just westminster and St Ps the it is just the ISEB computer ones. Kings is more trad, like 11+, done in this term. It is a bit of swizz that whereas one thought it was a choice of 11+ or 8&13, in fact one in effect does 8&11&13, if his cats were fine he doesn't have much to worry about. The English was the easiest element last year

Westminster have said that there is an exam/interview in Jan and he is down for another 13+ at this stage. And since he's also down for 11+ the pook kids head will spin!

Other choices haven't even opened the books for 2017 yet. In some cases you can't actually put a child down for 11 and 13+ because the exams are days apart for the same entrant (who thought giving parents one choice was a good idea?).

The main reason we wanted to wait until 13 is because he squeeked into school as a late summer baby and he is quite young for his age!