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UCS 7+

112 replies

worriedmum2016 · 05/01/2016 22:00

This morning was UCS 7+ exam. Wondering how it went for everyone? Our DS gave mixed feedback about the morning. He seems very overconfident about maths but I'm not sure if it went that well. Couple of questions he recalled were reasonably tricky.

OP posts:
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Haggismcbaggis · 21/01/2016 13:21

H'g second round done. My goodness, but it's very quick. In and out in 40 minutes. And now.... the long wait.

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CB2009 · 21/01/2016 13:35

Haggismcbaggis - how did your DD find it?? I assume as so quick they are looking for validation of what they already saw in the exams or to examine weaknesses that came though in the exams or the school reference. Guess just part of the picture they formed of the child already? We have only had 1 day of waiting so far. No idea what shape I will be in by the end of next week!?

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Haggismcbaggis · 21/01/2016 14:27

All seemed fine CB. She was paired with a little boy who was also a sibling but no idea about what age he is / whether at state or independent.
She enjoyed herself and seemed to think that she was able to do everything asked of her.

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nwmum1980 · 21/01/2016 20:57

Thank you for the super helpful info ladies! I have been eagerly watching this thread for weeks. My son had the highgate interview yesterday and said he wasn't asked any questions at all directed at him individually . Have any of your dc's reported the same ? He told me only one girl in his group was asked a direct question. Wondering if I should worry ....

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CB2009 · 22/01/2016 08:02

nwmum1980 - How much reliable info any of us glean from a 6 year old is debatable. My son said that he was asked some questions in a pair as they read the page. To say, for example, where he was similar to the boy in the "story" or to say where he was different. He did say that the girl he was paired with answered some questions so could have alternated or he may just not have known the answers? He viewed it more as a chat than an interview. Exercises could alter anyway I guess across the three days? Haggismcbaggis - glad your daughter enjoyed :-)

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nwmum1980 · 22/01/2016 09:52

completely agree CB2009! Mine develops the most sensational case of amnesia where he doesn't seem to recall ANYTHING. What usually happens is I read things on mumsnet and ask him about it , and only then his memory is jogged....so frustrating ( for me).
I do think they had different tasks. He said they were supposed to compose and perform some music, and then rearrange some picture cards to form a story. He claims they weren't asked to actually explain the sequence of events....which I find suspect....thinking he just chose not to participate ... Does anyone know if the UCS results are posted on the 29th or the 1st?

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CB2009 · 22/01/2016 22:01

nwmum1980 - believe that UCS mail offers same day as Highgate and Mill Hill. 1st class 1st Feb

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Haggismcbaggis · 27/01/2016 08:57

Still 6 days to go. Don't remember the wait being as bad last time!

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CB2009 · 27/01/2016 11:38

Have no nails left to bite. Time going very slowly

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efrieze78 · 27/01/2016 15:37

tick tock tick tock. So annoying that they don't email.

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Haggismcbaggis · 02/02/2016 09:51

Delighted that we got our offer today for Highgate. Individualised letter too which was a nice touch - haven't seen that in the past.

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Haggismcbaggis · 02/02/2016 09:52

Good luck to everyone else getting letters today. Our post was mercifully early.

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circle100 · 02/02/2016 11:37

Dear Haggismcbaggis,

Congratulations to you.
My DS will try next year for Highgate 7+ do you have any tips for the exam or the exam preparation for it?
any help really appreciated!

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Haggismcbaggis · 02/02/2016 13:14

Hi Circle - thank you! I don't really have any top tips for 7+ prep / Highgate in particular. We spent about 2 hours a week (not per day as some people have suggested in this thread! Sad) doing bond papers, writing stories, doing comprehensions and so on. Don't leave it too late (I personally think you need to start doing bits before the summer, not after). A lot depends if your child is at a pre-prep or state school. We were at the latter so we did need to work ahead. If the former - they should be doing their job.

My child became a fluent independent reader during that period of very late year 1 early year 2 and I think that helped her story writing , vocab etc. So encourage that where possible.

I can honestly say that for the Highgate second round there is nothing you can prepare for - Save to remind your child not to dominate or speak over others (and if they are tutored never, ever to speak of it ) . Good luck for next year.

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CB2009 · 02/02/2016 13:37

Only Highgate reserve list for us. Letter was too thin to be an offer so feared the worst. Mixed feelings. More waiting over the next week. Our little lad has an offer from Belmont/Mill Hill which we also liked so trying to focus on that too. Hard

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efrieze78 · 02/02/2016 15:07

We got a No from 7+ nlcs (despite being a sibling) and have an offer from Highgate. Still on WL for CLSG.

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Haggismcbaggis · 02/02/2016 20:37

CB2009 - a wait list place is good though - I know a number of siblings who didn't get caught places or offer of waiting list. I know the extra wait is dreadful. Good to have Belmont as your back up. Fingers crossed.

Efrieze - hope your DD isn't to sad about not joining her sister. Would you take CLSG over H'g?

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Piece0fCake · 02/02/2016 21:35

Hi everyone. Sorry, jumping on this thread really late. Offers in today, and like you CB2009, we had a yes from Belmont and a maybe from Highgate (and a no from UCS).
I spoke to Highgate today, and apparently there are about 20 boys on the waiting list and they are all ranked "at the headmaster's discretion". They are being very secretive and won't share your child's ranking, and I'm not even sure if it's true about 20 boys, as most people we know got an interview,and the very few people I ran into today at pick-up were also wait-listed.
Anyway, I really thought that Belmont was a fantastic and above all happy school with unbelievable facilities when I first saw it, and I guess that this has not changed in the short spell of exam madness and the inevitable disappointment of anything other than an acceptance letter.

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circle100 · 02/02/2016 21:35

Thanks for the advice on Highgate.
Do you know if siblings get any extra preference at Highgate at 7+ I heard no, but wondered otherwise? So many years it is a siblings year and all the entrants are filled with siblings!
Thanks

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Piece0fCake · 02/02/2016 21:45

Definitely no priority for siblings, unless they get to a situation where you have 2 candidates with equal rankings and one is a sibling, at which point they will favour the sibling. All siblings are automatically invited to interview as a matter of courtesy, but as per comments above, parents whose (sibling) children have no chance at gaining a place are notified by phone before the interview.

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efrieze78 · 03/02/2016 13:52

We would take CLSG over Highgate but we are number 5 on the waiting list so there is a chance but it might be slim. Anyone know anyone dropping CLSG at 7+?

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Haggismcbaggis · 03/02/2016 14:03

I don't know anyone directly - but number 5 doesn't sound beyond the realms of possibility. Good luck!

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SpuriousM · 03/02/2016 16:18

We have offers from both HABS and UCS. Possibly going for UCS thinking of the pain of travel to HABS each morning. Also, UCS looked a little more relaxed than HABS. I could be wrong but I felt HABS are looking for mini adults, I mean kids with lot of maturity, than silly kids, like mine. Any suggestions?

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SpuriousM · 03/02/2016 16:20

CB2009 congrats on Belmont. Hope your DS gets a place in Highgate too.

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anisk2s · 03/02/2016 16:35

Hi all,

I started a thread but thought of asking the question here as there are more mums here. We need to make a choice between UCS and Highgate for our DS. Any suggestions would be appreciated, location wise we prefer UCS but DS wants Highgate because of play area. Thanks.

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