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Original poster

The Trinity-Whitgift-Dulwich-Alleyns 10+/11+ thread 2015

999 replies

Firefox1066 · 13/12/2014 08:29

I thought I would take the plunge and start early the 2015 T/W/DC/A 10+/11+ thread that has become an annual staple MN!

This thread has been inspired by the likes of (among others) Ladymuck, Seeline, SoupDragon et al, who have been an amazing resources to people like me in previous years' threads.

Although T & W tend to dominate, I have also included DC and Alleyns as I know a lot of parents these days have DC's sitting for some/all of them.

I hope this thread will continue in the spirit of previous years' thread, with the support, hand-holding and knowledge that has been the hallmark of MN generally but this thread in particular.

Let the fun begin....

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Cloe489 · 06/01/2015 19:25

Yes the VR and NVR both done on the computer so should be marked pretty much automatically. I'm hoping that my DS does not have "false confidence". He says he did well on his Maths but then again I've seen him do really silly errors during practice tests like 20-4=24! (I think someone gave the same example in a previous post last year so I guess he's not alone in that area). I will keep you all posted.
Does anyone have any experience with Trinity VR papers? I heard they were tricky and it was easy to run out of time during them.

Montagueterrace · 06/01/2015 19:28

for the maths, even if the answer is wrong they can get marks as the working out is counted as well

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 07/01/2015 10:39

To echo Cloe489, does anybody have any info on the T and W VR? How many questions in the hour? I have heard it is standard for GL type questions (I.e the 21 types). Is this true? It would be good to know so in advance so that I can stress about it over the next 24 hours

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Liquorice12 · 07/01/2015 10:46

Am new to Mumsnet and it's been good to read this thread so far. DS sitting W and T this week for 11+. Just wondered if anyone had noticed that T sample papers seem harder than Ws? There's quite a difference in a 55 min essay paper for W and a 30 min essay for T. Both sample essay titles for T suggest boys will have to write a description rather than a story. Anybody know if this is the case for def from previous years? DS prefers writing stories but hey ho.

Ladymuck · 07/01/2015 11:41

Dug out my notes from last year. 11+ VR at Trinity was standard form questions, 100 in 45 minutes and from a "standard publisher" - I think Athey but def not GL. Maths was 24 questions covering most topics with 3 trickier ones at the end which included geometry (draw a quadrilateral with one right angle, one reflex angle and one line of symmetry). Don't seem to have details on the essay titles (the comprehension was based on dialogue), but we were prepared for a descriptive piece. There is usually a choice though.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 07/01/2015 11:49

Thanks a lot Ladymuck .... We are 10+ and I know you were referring to 11+ but I'm pretty certain that DS would not be able to do 100 VR question in 45 mins! He just about can do 80 in 50!! Ah well... Too late for me to worry about it now

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Liquorice12 · 07/01/2015 11:50

Thanks Ladymuck. DS has practised descriptive pieces so will just have to see what comes up. Keep thinking roll on Saturday when it'll all be over but Thurs/Fri just the start..

Ladymuck · 07/01/2015 11:51

It probably means that there aren't as many codes in it, and it is more about antonyms/synonyms etc. I wouldn't worry too much - he'll still have a better chance than the boys who haven't done VR before...

Ladymuck · 07/01/2015 12:04

It also may have changed - their website clearly states one hour for VR this year, and again there is clearly a change for the scholarship interviews.

burntoutdad · 07/01/2015 12:39

Good luck everyone sitting next few days.
Been Lurking for a while to see if any interesting information crops up! Thread not as active as previous years for some reason. Ds 2 sitting W 10+ tomorrow, strangely after previous experience not so stressed - not much we can do now all up to DS's.
With regards to W VR paper - apparently quite a few boys don't get to finish it due to the sheer no of questions rather than the difficulty. It seems to be (or had been previously) the paper that counted most when gauging 'potential', which is what they are looking for. DS1 totally messed up the English written paper, but was still marked on content so it worked out ok in the end. The school has changed direction a little though and appears to be aiming more towards higher academic achievement (sport and music nailed!) so who knows what they will look for this year?

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 07/01/2015 13:17

Interesting Burntoutdad, as you say... Nothing that can be done now. Regarding VR, for a 9/10 year old to read, digest and execute a standard form VR question in 27 seconds is going to be tough, but I do think they must have a way of standardising scores (perhaps % correct of those attempted over and above a pre-determined "hurdle") and can see why they you it to gauge potential.

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Original poster
Firefox1066 · 07/01/2015 13:18

*use

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SoupDragon · 07/01/2015 13:24

Both sample essay titles for T suggest boys will have to write a description rather than a story.

When Ds2 sat T 11+ 3 years ago there was no descriptive option as he was forced to wrote a story (and it showed!!). He was dreadful at writing stories. I imagine it is luck. :)

Cloe489 · 07/01/2015 13:38

A friend's DS wrote the T exam last year at 10+. I don't know how many questions were on the VR test but I do know that he was not able to finish in the time given. And this is coming from a very, very clever boy. He got a place anyways.

Fossie · 07/01/2015 13:41

Only trying T on Friday after falling at first hurdle at the Grammars. Good luck all.

NiagaraFalling · 07/01/2015 15:29

Best of luck to all candidates this week! Re Trinity VR I vaguely recall DS (now in Y8) saying there was a 15 min practice section first to help those not familiar with VR that didn't count, followed by the 45 minute exam - but I could well be mistaken. The VR was definitely not multiple choice. DS said the T paper was more demanding than the W one.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 07/01/2015 15:59

In the T letter, it says exactly that... 15 Min "warm up" time and 45 Min Exam. I read up thread that its 100 questions in 45 mins, which will be tough, but not unsurmountable.

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Chocolateteacake · 07/01/2015 16:03

Oh lord. We have 13- pre-bloomin' tests on the horizon. I am sick with worry...

Ladymuck · 07/01/2015 16:10

Interesting BurntoutDad. Do you think that there will be a difference on entrance? W seemed to have taken a broader range of ability over the past 3 or 4 years, a reversal of the previous trend, where it was more common to get an interview at T, not W. The school seems to have managed this pretty well, which high expectations being set, plenty of monitoring and catch-up clinics etc. There has also been the introduction of the pathways assessment in Upper Third, prior to choosing GCSE options. Instead of parents finding out closer to GCSEs that their son wasn't going to be entered for certain subjects by the school (which I think wound up a number of parents a couple of years ago), the boys in the lowest sets will study for fewer GCSEs from the start of Lower Fifth.

burntoutdad · 07/01/2015 18:40

Ladymuck - not sure what it will mean but have heard from different sources that there is a drive to up the academic tier (even at the expense of sports I believe).
Looking at the Scholarship awards last year - which where apparently fewer, somehonoraryin liu of monetary and less sports orientated I believe there may be a change in direction. The international music competition has attracted some phenomenal musicians, the development plan includes new biodomes and science facilities and I've seen that the school has also just entered Tatlers top schools list, which gives international exposure to the very wealthy but would need the kind of top tier grades to attract them (could also attract associated higher fees unfortunately). Maybe speculation on my part but time will tell!

ladydepp · 07/01/2015 22:43

We received DC letter re:interview on the Saturday after exam last year. Hope that helps. Good luck to all your boys Smile.

SoupDragon · 08/01/2015 07:02

there is a drive to up the academic tier (even at the expense of sports I believe)

Not relevant at 10 or 11+ but this year they admitted some outstanding 13+ sportsmen at the expense of academic ability.

paleviewofhills · 08/01/2015 08:04

Good luck to all the boys sitting W today (and their parents!) Ds is looking forward to a day off, mainly spent glued to the Xbox Grin

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 08/01/2015 09:38

Just dropped off DS at W for his 10+....DS was very very calm, me not so!

Good luck to all DS's today and their parents!

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burntoutdad · 08/01/2015 09:47

Soup - I think you're right but they do still have a rep to maintain after all, and will hand pick some top sports performers. Will be interesting to see if these go through to 6th form. I did hear though that they are generally pushing for academics and so the sports dept have less choice and so will select the few elite rather than a broader range as before (there were fewer sports Scholarships than previous years)