Can you practice for 11+ and other similar selective tests e.g. verbal and non verbal reasoning????

[drosophila]

Our Local Authority requires all children to take a test similar to the 11+ but at the same time is saying it is impossible to practice for it. you either have it or you don't.

Head teachers are echoing this stance.

Intersted to hear from teachers and parents who have been through the system

What is the test? Is the test used for selective purposes?

Most LEAs administer CATs tests (Cognitive Assessment Tests) in yr7 or the end of yr6 to all pupils. Because no-one crams, studies or has tutors for these tests (they are not used for selection purposes) the results are viewed as being unbiased and a true reflection of students talents and potential.

It would certainly be possible to revise for a CATs test, if you knew the format of the test, or had examples of the papers. But these are not publicly available, so people can't/don't.

If, however, you're talking about a selective admission test like the 11+, then yes you certainly can practice for it, and to an extent you can improve your results by doing so.

Yes, CATs and 11+ are different things.

You most certainly can cram for the 11+... in some towns the entire private prep 'economy' is based on their ability to get an average DC through the 11+ to the state grammar.

Not sure about SATS though... which of course are also taken at 10 or 11.

Look here (if it's 11+ and feel the madness.............)

Click on 11+ Forum

You can't 'cram' for CATs. the only you could do is familiarise yourself with the type of tests they are so that you recognise the format, but tbh the way the tests are administered, this is very clearly laid out at the start of each test. It's also very strictly timed on each level.

I have always found them very accurate in looking at the skills a child has in different areas and adapted my teaching accordingly.

My son told me breezily this evening in passing that he had done a CAT test today @ school... I had ever heard of this before, then I hear again tonite on Mumsnet! . He is in Y6 @ an independent prep. I asked him what it entailed - he could not remember.... they had not had any preparation (that I have heard about), nor were they warned - according to him it just came out of the blue instead of maths, which delighted him...

they test 3 areas: numeric (or somesuch) reasoning, verbal reasoning (language) and non-verbal reasoning (spacial awareness and problem solving)

a score of 100 is average, 100-130 is above average, 70-99 is below. Marks in the 100+teens are indicators of very high intelligence in children in that particular area

No they are used for selection purposes. All the secondary schools use them to select pupils. Some use the results to identify kids in the top, middle and bottom groups and take kids from accross these bands. Other schools take only from the top band. For example my local secondary takes about 66 kids who have scored highest in the test and over 100 siblings and finally about 60 on distance.

My understanding is that they are verbal reasoning, non verbal reasoning and I think abstract reasoning. I know soem people have had tutors to practice for the test. I find it worrying that a Local Authority culd put out a message that will disadvantage people who don't question the advice.