11+ test papers ... please help

[lavpaige]

I’m going out my wits end with these papers, can anyone help me please?

My daughter is due to sit the test next month, she has been going through the practice papers ovet the holiday, and has now completed them, her scores are as follows

Non verbal - 51%
Verbal - 66%

People keep telling me different things? One mum has told me they need to score 75% on both papers to pass?
Another mum told me, if 200 children take the test, all 200 automatically pass?

Can anyone give me advice please?

As I understand it (first timer here too) it depends on loads of things. Firstly region - esp whether it's a super selective area or a 25% pass area. Secondly the paper that year - the score needed will depend on how hard the paper is. Also (and this is just my feeling) I think it depends on which practice paper you're doing. For example, my DS has been doing really well on NVR books and tests all year - only typically getting one or two wrong - but he's just done two CGP practice papers and got 50% max - so I'm really hoping they're particularly hard!!

If you go on the elevenplusexams forum it should give you more detailed info for your area.

Thanks for your reply

Also, What else confused me is, if they have 80 questions on each paper, and need a pass mark of 120 on each one? How does that work? Is it something like 5 marks each question?

That would suggest its 2 marks per question 120/160 = 75%

It's a scaled score, like in SATS. It's not as precise as 1 question equals 2 marks or whatever. You can't get zero - there will be a minimum mark of 70 or something. Also there will probably be an age weighting.

It really depends where you are OP.

The elevenplusexams.co.uk forums are broken down into regions and you will get specific help there.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

I’m in Lincolnshire, I’ve had a look on the forum, and still none of the wiser 🤷‍♀️

If she is scoring at that level I think you need to buy some of the "how to" books and bash through them to make sure she understands hoe to tackle them - doing papers and making the same mistakes doesn't achieve a lot.

depends what region you’re in- I can help if you’re in Kent.

Try posting the same question on the eleven-plus forum - they have different boards for each area so there will be someone who can help (actually the same question has probably been asked before if you search).

There is no absolute answer though as it will depend on who else takes the test and what the scores are? each area will allow a certain percentage of kids to pass and so the actual score required will vary year on year. The confusion will arise because the scores you are talking about are the raw scores - these are then converted into standardised scores (which is the 120 numbers you are talking about). honestly - there will be an explanation on that site!

In terms of 200 kids taking the test and 200 passing - what?!! In the unlikely event that there are 200 grammar school places and only 200 kids take the test then yes they all would pass. But that won't happen. The 'pass' rate will depend on each area but it's never 100%. And getting the right score alone will not guarantee you a place in your favourite grammar school.

We are in Lincolnshire and both my dc have passed the 11+ here. We were told they need a pass rate of approx 75% across the 2 papers. I do think the GL assessment practice papers are hard though and both my dc said the actual test was easier. Keep going over the papers in both packs until and she'll get the hang of it. We found the Bond 10 minute tests really helpful for time management too. Set a stop watch for 30 seconds and make her stick to that time per question or make a sensible guess and move on. YouTube have helpful videos of all the types of non verbal questions too if she's struggling. Best of luck - it's a stressful time but neither of my dc were remotely traumatised by the experience and dd actually enjoyed the actual tests!

So its 75% for both papers? Not 75 each one??

I think im stressing more than my dd is if honest, my eldest is 14 and didn’t want to sit the test, so all this is new to me.

For both tests, you need reach the standardised total score of 220 in order to pass.

Ideally, getting an average of 75% in each test will hopefully achieve this. However, you can be weaker in one test but make up for it in the other test. So, getting roughly 65% in one test, means that you’ll need to at least get 85% in the other. If that makes sense?

Also Lincolnshire but my daughter took the tests 4 years ago! She had to aim for 85% but I seem to recall the pass percentage was set in the highest average for those who took it so it varies each year and I’m sure her year was 75%. DD got 92% which was a surprise!

Right okay, got it 👍

People keep telling me that the actual test papers are easier than the practice one’s ??
I guess, what will be, will be.

That is true, it was for us. I remember my daughter panicking and after the tests said, oh that was easier than the practice ones.