7+ tutoring. Too early?

[Angelface1234]

My DS will be taking his 7+ assessment next January. I've never thought about tutoring until now mainly because I think he's far too young. With that said, I'm becoming increasingly aware that many other children his age (who are also applying to the schools we're keen on) are definitely receiving extra help. Any advice on whether this is too early or if not, how much a 6 year old can be expected to do, would be very much appreciated!

Standard is for a year so you're on the late side, definitely get going now. Is he in state or private now? Some of the exams are in Nov and Dec.

I truly believe that a bright boy doesn't need tutoring to get into these schools reagrdless of what others say, especially if that boy is already in a prep school. According to my DS, it wasn't difficult and he was from a state school. We did use the Schofield and Sims and Letts books to test him over Christmas and to ensure he had an idea of what was expected of him. He had a free test from Maths Whizz and it turned out he had a maths age of nearly 9. At this point he was 6.5 years old. He had been identified as gifted in maths and literacy by his previous school very early on although they were not allowed to put him on any list that early. He had always read widely and likes authors like David Walliams and Roald Dahl, so he writes very witty stories. All that's expected at 7+ is to be able to do the maths and literacy of the whole year 2 curriculum and some reasoning (which state schools don't do). My DS told me that his interview consisted of mental maths questions, reading and questions to do with the meaning of words (I assume this was for the academic scholarship portion of the test). He obviously enjoyed the first part of the assessment because when I dropped him off for the second stage, he ran in without saying goodbye.
If your DS is in a prep school, he will be ready by the time the assessment comes round. If he is in a state school, I recommend the Schofield and Sims books and a few Letts books especially the non-verbal reasoning books. According to DS, both the comprehension and the writing portion was based on a short film they had watched. Now all I have written is based on a 6-year old's account of the assessment for one school. It could be complete bunkum.

"7+ tutoring. Too early?"

If you'd asked me, I would say it's 7 years too late!

But seriously, I'm on record here to say I "tutored" my child the day he was born! People asked me how do I tutor a newborn? Obviously not Maths, or English, or reading, or spelling, etc. On the first day, amongst other things, I stimulate him, e.g. talk to him, call his name, let him listen to music, let him grasp my finger, etc, etc, etcetera. . .

This tutoring went on the next day, and the next day and the next. I teach him new things as he gets older e.g. hold up a toy and let his eyes follow the toy when I move it slightly away from his gaze. Obviously, new lessons are taught as time goes by. Soon he's taught how to crawl, sit, stand, walk, etc. Much later on, how to use cutlery when eating, and then how to tie his shoe laces. Before long, I'd be "tutoring" him reading, spelling, maths, etc. and progressing in difficulty as he grows older.

Long story short, by the age of five, he'd have a reading and mental age of 13+ (officially tested by an educational psychologist over a week) and became a fully paid-up member of British Mensa before six.

My point here is: It's NEVER too early to tutor a child!

The maths in the 7+ in very competitive areas is year 3-4 level. Less so if the ratios if applicants to places is lower.

Where are you based OP?

You are definitely not "too early", but I think you may be borderline too late. And the reason I say is not to add more pressure to your child, but to spread out all the work needed over a longer period. They still need time to play and relax, there is no way you can cram all of the topics required to cover in the 7+ in a few months. It will lead to unnecessary pressure and potentially not the best results.

Remember that 7+ is tested at a Y3 level, there is a LOT to cover in terms of topics and I would recommend at least a year (slow and steady) to do this.

I didn't have a tutor for my DC to do the 7+, but I "tutored" in a way every day leading up to it.

Some classic MN responses here, OP I'm sure you "tutored' your child from the day he was born. If you start about now yourself, doing 10-20 minutes a day from the books mentioned, you'll be in with a shot, depending - of course - on how mature your son is and what kind of prepping, if any, he is receiving from his school. I started prepping my dc in the ways mentioned above in October half term before January, as I only decided to enter then and it wasn't too late

"OP I'm sure you "tutored' your child from the day he was born. If you start about now yourself, doing 10-20 minutes a day from the books mentioned, you'll be in with a shot, depending - of course - on how mature your son is and what kind of prepping. . ."

If OP had done all that - tutoring child from birth - then she wouldn't be worried right now wondering if her seven-year-old is adequately prepared for the 7+ assessment. It should be just a casual walk in the park! No need to depend on how "mature" the child is now, nor how much "prepping" his present school has done (probably painfully non existent). The child should be able to "fly solo" by now!

Just ignore him OP. He is running his own agenda and stirring it just to refresh his reputation. No help or value added to real life here. Plus it is easy to say that when you are on the other side or the pond! All the best for your prep OP!

As in everything else, OP, "reputation" needs no refreshment nor advertisements. Have you, for example, ever seen a Rolls Royce advert anywhere in the world? The fact that a complete stranger recognises "reputation" here speaks volume!

Chances are, people who prep and tutor their kids to death will tell you "not to worry - my kids did absolutely nothing and walked into the best schools like a breeze!"

That's the difference between them and I. My advice is, never too early or for that matter, too late, to start tutoring your child. And watch who your "friends" are!

You like your image Peteneras, you need it too. Reputation yes, whether good or bad is another matter. This comes from a stranger who does not need to maintain/feel MN 'famous'. Nicer response this time though

To be honest, DancingbytheRiver, I make no apologies nor give two monkeys about my "reputation" - good or bad - insofar as I'm satisfied that I've done and given all the very best to my child(ren) from the moment they're born. It's now apparent who cares more about "reputation", about "MN fame", etc as you seem to have a fondness for those things. . . all to the detriment of the upbringing of the child.

It's quite obvious I've touched on a raw nerve here and inadvertently showing up your inadequacy! Like I said (also), it's never too late to make amends/start tutoring.

On another note to the OP, I'd be extremely wary of taking "advice" from a complete stranger - friend or foe - particularly when they also have kids of similar ages vying for the same school places!

I think you need to say which schools. If the usual London 3 top tier schools then you probably should get going and likely most people already are. Otherwise you can afford to be a bit more relaxed until closer to the time. Also are you in pre prep, prep or state school, makes a difference how prepared your child is already (unless he's a genius of course like many MN children )

I am not getting a tutor for DS who is the same age. He’s at a school that’s very focused on 7/8+ anyway. The poor kid needs some time off! I will make sure he does a few verbal/non reasoning practice tests at home with me nearer the time, to make sure he understands about reading the questions and answering as many as possible but that’s it.

However - if he was not at a 7/8+ focused school I would definitely get a tutor.

It entirely depends on the school.. If a NW london one or WUS/SPJ then everyone will be tutoring, even those at pre preps. Less competitive ones not so much

Tutoring a 6 year old? For what exactly? The curriculum at that age is so limited. There isn't much a child needs to know that even a poor state school won't cover. If a child requires tutoring at 6 to get into a school, I suspect that's the child that's going to struggle and feel inadequate when he does get into that school.

@MimiDul these school tests are at a level that almost everyone is tutored as they expect them to be a year or so ahead of the national curriculum

OP you need to look at your individual child and work out what’s best for him and you. DS1 was very sociable and went to nursery from 3 1/2 very creative he spent a short time in a Steiner school (where imagination is encouraged) and went into yr 2 or mainstream Ed unable to read or write he caught up and overtook many of his peers in two terms although having dyscslculia I have attempted to help him with math although I’m proud to say I’ve never owned a flash card in my life. He’s struggled in school all his life due to severe processing/dyspraxia/dyslexia but I’m told this is totally unrelated to his late start he’s exceptionally creative and has a photographic memory and probably the late start has been very beneficial enabling him to develop the things that he is good at. I think at one stage he’d never learn to tie his shoe laces!
I’ve never formally or consciously tutored my DS2 in my life less sociable a lone wolf he never went to nursery, a child minder, or school till yr 1 I wanted him to have fun on his own terms when he finally went to school they were shocked to discover that he was totally unable to read or write or tie his shoe laces (no laces on wellies) although from a very early age (18 months) he showed an interest in numbers and played cards and number/maths orientated games etc. Up until he went to school he lived a very outdoor life he had a pony, acres of space to run around in he made up stories loved drawing climbing getting muddy climbing being read too playing games climbing walking our dogs etc. By the end of year 1 he had caught up with his fellow class mates for reading and writing although I can’t remember if he could tie his shoe laces! He probably wouldn’t have passed a 7+ entrance exam and luckily where we lived there wasn’t anything one to pass. At yr 6 he was offered places at 2 super selectives boys schools one notoriously difficult to get into both commented on how articulate he was.
OP I don’t know if this is possible in your circumstances but if your but DS doesn’t pass the 7+ entrance exams don’t panic there’s probably still plenty of time for him to do well if he’s capable of going well.
Should just add that both DS1 and DS2 have been formally assessed DS1 numerous times (Ed psych find his unusual profile fascinating) and both are eligible for British Mensa but the famous Groucho Marks quote immediately springs to mind! And now both are in their 20’s watching them get ready to go out the other day somewhere along the road I guess they must have learnt to tie his shoe laces .

Going well = doing well.