3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2015

[mumteacher]

I started the below thread last year and have had so many people find it useful I thought it might be worth doing it again.

I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now.

However, I do appreciate that this is a very stressful time of year for parents who have children sitting these private school assessments in January. So, I'm hoping that by setting up this support group thread I can help by answering some questions you have about these assessments.

Hopefully this thread will also contain some useful insight from the experiences of parents who have already been through the process.

Neena15 not necessarily - there is an upper limit on the number of girls that are recalled for round 2 which means the 'pass mark' can vary from year to year.

If 50 girls scored 70% not all 50 are brought back for round 2.

There are other variables at stack too - siblings for example at some schools will get to the second round.

2015herewego what exactly is the issue?

Story ideas? Structure? Vocabulary?

There are so many elements to creative writing.

We've just run an amazing workshop on story writing with helpful hints but I need to know what the problem. Sometimes a child just needs a simple plan to follow and can then run with it.

Pm me if you're happier to do that and I'll look out for you.

Hi... Mum teacher do the current school definitely know the outcome of the assessment ? ... Is that a procedure all school follows i.e to let the current school know the outcome of assessment ???

Hi mumteacher, I've been following all your posts and now its finally upon us - next 2 agonising weeks but at least the written exam will be over by then. We are up for 7+.

I hv a question. Does the listening test at kcjs contain math and english both? Are you able to provide couple of examples of what they might ask? Thanks so much.

Dear mumteacher, fellow parents

Would you have any tips for NLCS 4+ assessments? We have been doing the regular reading puzzles etc with her but what exactly are the schools looking for when they say things like "fit" and "potential" ?
How does NLCS assess these things?

Thank you very much

For KCJS I seem to remember the listening test has both mental maths and a dictation. On the dictation it's good to pay attention to punctuation!

Kabir786 does the child demonstrate the ability to sit and concentrate on a task for a certain length of time, or can the child show the depth of knowledge on a particular topic by having a discussion using picture aids.

The 4+ will include practical skills like cutting and drawing too.
Reading would normally be tested for older children.
What month is your dd born in?

Thanks mertonmama. So dictation can have both spelling test and repeating/writing sentences (apart from mental math) with punctuation marks wherever applicable?

Not a straight spelling test. Short passage dictated to be written down with correct spellings and punctuation. Think speech marks, commas, capital letters and q marks.

Hello mum teacher I will PM you a couple of questions if you don't mind.

Mertonmama...really helpful - thanks.

Thanks mumteacher. DD is Feb born. She can sit at one place if she has picked the task herself. What would be an example of "discussion using picture aid" e.g., narrating a story based on pictures?

Thanks once again

Yes the dictation will look to test correct context, grammar-punctuation and phonic skills.
It's not a long exercise but ensure that you have a run through by reading out a passage containing speech and a variety of ?,!.

Hi Mumteacher did you get my pm ?

Also can you please advise regarding my previous question on schools getting the assessment results ? . Thanks a lot

Most school would write to let the school know.

That was awful it's been a long day I'll try again!

Most schools will let your current school know the outcome of the assessments.

To add the school in which you are sitting assessments will also be writing to acquire an independent report from your current school.

With little time between round1 and round 2 letter requesting reports are normally sent out prior round 1.

Hi mumteacher

I am unable to send you a personal message, but I wondered if I am able to contact you privately to see your availability for tutoring my daughter. She's not sitting the assessment this year but will be in a year's time.

many thanks

Dear mumteacher I am petrified by everything I have read that I should have done but fascinated by the advice nonetheless. My DD is sitting the 7+ at St Helens on Weds More so I can see where she is with her current schooling before deciding where to send her in Juniors or continue where she is than optimism that she may be accepted. However I do not want her to be embarrassed as she suffers from epilepsy and can take things very personally which can lead to Petit Mal seizures. Any last minute advice???

Hello

What about testing for 3+? What are testing for? They only take in about 8 boys and 8 girls. I wonder what would make the diffetence as it must be really difficult to whittle down the large number of kids to that number.

Dadsr4life I not sure I understand. What would your dd be embarrassed about?

If it's not doing well in the assessment - she never has to know she did not secure a place. Could you tell her that she did secure a place but you think it's better that she stays where she is?

Did anyone do the 7+ at St Helens today ? How did it go ??

Anyone knows how many boys taking 7+ this weekend at Kcjs?

Hello all,

I've just read a few posts that for the 7+ I should have been doing the 8-9 bond books....oops it's a bit late now! I'm feeling very deflated.

My ds is in a state school and I have been tutoring him for a few months. He's at the top of his class but I feel now that I've under prepared him.
He's taking exams in KCS tmrw, Latymer and Colet Court next week.

Would like to know how everybody's son fares tmrw after the exam as my DS doesn't reveal much.