11+tips

[Amythesianwaterfall]

Dear mumsnetters,
A quick question but what would you say your top tips are for prepraring your dc for the 11+?
Our school is preparing an open evening for parents and any suggestions would be very welcome! Thank you:)

Thanks for that.

No I agree and going by things so far don't think it wouldn't be required.

However from the 11+ site it seems opinion seemed to be to forget having a summer just before the exam.

Interested to see if that was a general opinion or just on there so we can pitch things right.

We're doing 1-2 hours a week at the moment to catch up on maths topics not covered and to expose a bit of VR.

One last question how much homework from your tutor did your dd have?Did he make her write any essays?

Pickled if he's picking things up quick then his processing skills must be good as surely you process quick in order to pick up skills quick iykwim.

Thanks for your thoughts Retro and LaQueen. I think he's pretty quick at processing verbal things, it's just written stuff he's a bit slower with. But actually I wonder if it's a lack of properly engaging with things - he's a bit of a ruminator and a deep thinker. He can finish the Bond VR 10-11 tests on time and scores around 80% but they are much easier than the real thing. One bit of advice I picked up from the 11+ forum is that the VR is the one paper where you mustn't read the question (due to time constraints), they must be instantly recognisable.

I would hate to think that he would struggle in a GS environment. He loves learning, is interested in everything science, enjoys reading and philosophising. He also plays an instrument so can read music (although he found it difficult to begin with to play in time). He didn't read early either - oh I don't know!!! Sorry for the ramble.

Hi, we are in an area where they have just changed the 11+ to cover Maths, comprehension, VR and NVR - previously it was just VR. My DS is bright and able, also working top sets and G&T for maths as others on here but we have still decided to tutor for this year despite it going against everything I have ever believed in!

The idea is that the new test is based on the curriculum. Feedback from others suggest there is a lot of stuff in the test that has not been covered by the end of Yr 5 so I am not sure how they would be expected to pass it without tutoring. Also the school doesn't cover NVR or VR and so familiarisation with these sort of test is very important.

It is very competitive round here and I think you put your child at a disadvantage if you don't do some tutoring. Sad as that is.

Well put pastsellbydate.

Agree with LeQueen there. DShad pretty much the same amount of work. One of the reasons he went to a tutor was to do the majority of work away from home so he wasn't thinking about it here. Aside from the homework (and he was excused from regular school homework for the last few months so wasn't over loaded) he didn't think about it too much.

He had English papers which were used at review if marks were borderline.

Hello, sorry to hijack thread but is related. How did you cope with the younger siblings (Le queen I think you have 2 dds) whilst doing 11+ stuff with the older one. Ds is year 5 and we are trying to do 25-45 minutes a night. I feel like I am neglecting dd during this time. Has anyone any ideas how to minimise the impact on the other children.

Wishlha, there are bond books for younger children, it's never too soon to get them started :) My youngest usually sits up at the table and draws or plays with toys in another room. Once they start doing papers you are free to play with the younger ones. I usually do the feedback whilst the younger one is reading his book to DH.

Also, my DS is revising the KS2 maths curriculum by working through the various bbc bite size pages (1 per day). The activities are quite visual so the little one likes to watch those.

LaQueen, you are so lucky to have just had NVR and VR. We have VR, english and maths. The VR is by far the easiest to prepare for. You can never have done enough work for the english and as has already been mentioned, DC are expected to be working on level 6 maths at the beginning of year 6.

I think this highlights an important point actually - we should be aware when reading other people's advice that their 11+ requirements may be quite different from ours.

So, I propose (if people on this thread are willing) that we can state our 11+ region. I'll start:

pickledsiblings = Essex

Again, same as LeQueen.

We are in the NW and some GS are super-selective. We started Feb half-term/Easter before the exams with an hour with the tutor, and a paper a week at home. Continued with the same during the summer hols, with the addition of a few extra practice papers.

I took fairly relaxed approach to it, deciding it was only as stressful for them as I chose to make it, and providing they met their end of the bargain, there was no pressure.

We are Bucks.

Wish we also have a younger DS who I have the same concerns about with regard to giving him attention. I do try to encourage him to do something like practice his letter writing or draw etc. but usually he's not that interested.

Ours aren't super selective. Yet.

So, seeing as this thread is for garnering tips, here are some of mine:

For spelling and vocab:
www.timesspellingbee.co.uk/Training/SpellingBeeChallenge.aspx?difficulty=hard

DS has a look at this and freerice once or twice a week for 10 mins or so.

For Essex english paper:
www.planetebook.com/The-Island-of-Doctor-Moreau.asp

I printed out some extracts from a variety of books here for DS to read in the car in the hope that the real thing will be a bit less daunting.

And as mentioned before, for maths :
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/maths/ then www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/

DS works through one an evening on his own and consults me if he has any problems.

For VR:

The 21 types needed for Essex are all here. Again, DS is working through these on his own (a few a week) and just coming to me if he doesn't understand anything.

He is also doing a timed Bond VR paper on the weekends.

It seems like a lot written down like this but he still has lots of free time to play the wii/minecraft/lego/outside with friends, watch movies and do his instrument practice. Not much homework from (outstanding) school to content with either.

Hi wishihadabs:

We found using the time while younger sibling was at lessons really useful for practice. So 20 - 25 minutes workbook time whilst waiting for dance lesson to finish and about 1 hour whilst waiting about for orchestra.

DD1 would do this in coffee shops with me - with a treat (hot chocolate/ J20/ biscuits/ cake/ etc...) and felt very grown up, got some work done and we could all go home, have dinner and do normal family stuff.

A friend had her DD1 do a assessment paper during DD2s bath & reading time (which worked out to about 1 hour) - and then DD1 would have her bath whilst the paper was marked. If there wasn't much wrong they would review it then and there - if there was a lot wrong - they'd do it the next evening.

Have to admit - I was very much helped by lovely DH who became chief chef & house keeper during this time to help free up time for me. He also did a good stint helping with learning to ride a bike mornings with DD2 whilst I did a bit of work with DD1 at weekends.

HTH

Absolutely totally above everything my 11+ tip is it is not the end of the world.

Be absolutely sure that every child has a plan B that they are happy with ( and that parents don't outwardly view as a " disaster") if they don't pass the 11+

I told my kids it was a test to see if that sort of school and they way things were taught/learned would be right for them, and if it wasn't we had a plan B that in some ways would be more exciting (we were lucky that we could have a fee paying plan B). Surely there is something in your comp school that the child can see as good too? (when we went with the eldest and we didn't so much have the fee paying option, we picked up on the strong supportive pastoral team for instance).

It is heartbreaking to see kids coming out of the 11+ in tears (and sometimes getting told off :( ) . Ultimately grammar isn't right for all kids and many will take the exam " just to see if they can".

Yeah and general exam technique- the stuff that is easy when you know- watch the time, do the easy questions, go back for the harder ones and then guess the impossible etc etc

Thanks for all your help.Ds is going to a tutor. This is the homework she sends home+school homework+ timetables+revision. Thetutor has specified we need to do it with him. Sometimes I can cook dinner at the same time but it often takes my full attention TBH.