3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2018

[mumteacher]

In previous years I have started these threads to help and support all those involved in the independent school admissions process.

I wasn't going to start one this year as I know I would not be able to check back on it as regularly as I would like, which then defeats the purpose of the thread.

However, after numerous positive PM's about the threads I think it would be a shame not to start one where at least the hand holding can continue.

There are many many people who have been through the process and 'live to tell the tale' . There are also other tutors I know who read this thread and it would be great if you all could help and support and share your ideas👏🏼

(Roll on 2018!) 😉

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2783435-3-4-5-7-support-thread-2017

@HappyDad3 Don't worry. "Detailed" as in their assessment was very detailed. They really knew lots/enough about DD already.

We decided two weeks ago to go down the prep school route. We have a year 3 starter in sept and a reception starter. So they are both going to sit 7+ and 4+ assessments next week. Naively (we are state school educated and were clueless to all the assessments), we have done nothing extra to normal stuff we do at home. We haven’t had time to get a tutor or look at booklets. The schools all said not to tutor, which we just accepted. But now sm seriously panicking, my 6 year has never done any VR or NVR work😵. Am now hoping he wow’s them with some super intellectual chat 🤗 and some fabulous comphrension 🙏🏽. X

It all depends on which schools you're sitting then for @Mummymode and how willing you are to accept two at two different schools. I'd say you've got a much better chance at the 4+ than the 7+ without preparation.

We spent 2.5 months crazily preparing for what we should have spent over 10 months for the 7+. Wish somebody would have been upfront with us half a year earlier on what it really took.

Oh no! We have one weekend! 🙄🙄🤦🏽‍♀️
Looks like what will be will be @gtijerina

@Hopintothescotch Thankyou! It’s not really possible to have both boys at two different schools, the two which have spaces are in different directions. Will try and prep my eldest for the 7+ this weekend and hope for the best.
So I’m right in thinking children are tutored for these?? Is that for general maths and English or the VR and NVR?? X

Matupatlu - for someone who doesn't want to share information you sure ask a lot of questions.

Mummymode - have a look here for 7+ sample papers for a highly selective school: www.habsboys.org.uk/Prep-Pre-Prep-Sample-7-exam-papers

We just heard from Dulwich College for the 7+ and DS has made it through the first round! Does anyone have experience of the Dulwich College assessments? I have no idea what to expect!

Also, does anyone know how many usually get through to the assessment round?

@Mummymode Don't panic, you still have time and can only try your best. I don't have experience of 7+ but have done 11+.

At this point, do some sample papers so at least she knows what to expect. Make sure she understands how to manage her time. For a lot of kids, they CAN do the work, just not in the allocated time.

Not all kids need oodles of prep. But she must know the exam format and she needs to know what the exam conditions might feel like. Make sure you know if it's MCQ or standard format for each school you're trying. Then just a big smile on the day

Good luck!!

WTF did I just read? That reading comprehension paper is disturbing!? Why on earth did they decide smashing a turtle to bits would make a good story? Apparently a growth mindset is not an attribute helpful to turtles....

Matupatlu I understand you entirely. You are perfectly happy to give yourself an advantage by asking for information on this thread but aren't willing to share information yourself. Pretty shameless really but it's how this thread goes every year.

Have I missed something? All my posts have been removed!

Mummymode it looks like your posts have been removed in error after Matupatlu flounced off when I called her out for only taking information to give her DD an advantage whilst being unwilling to share information herself. Now she has derailed the thread for everyone by having her posts deleted.

@Mummymode I agree there is still time. I would say download sample tests and walk through the solving methodology with DS. If the child is bright enough it's about trivial exposure to the question types more than anything else.

Is no one else going to comment on the turtle? I'm in disbelieve that the comprehension paper plot includes the violent death of the main character! For six year olds!

Thankyou! Hope is all I can do at this point. We had no idea how much prep goes in to getting these 6/7 year olds in! How naive were we! @gtijerina @stareyed
I’ve just downloaded a couple of NVR AND VR worksheets just so that my DS can hopefully get the jist of what is expected! I feel like we have failed him massively, by just looking at the papers! There is no way he has done anything like it before in his current state school. He has an assessment on monday! But he is joining a class tomorrow. We missed the assessment day last week so he is doing an adhoc one where he spends the day with the current year 2 class and is read with, then will go off with the prep head and do his assessments, comphrension and maths 🙄🙄🙄. I’ve encouraged him to smile a lot, and try and participate in the class. He’s only 6.5years old and is more worried about going to spend the day with a new class (understandably!)..... I can’t wait till Tuesday! Really wish we had considered this route months back and done our research xx

WinLose, website says 90-100 get called back for 45 places. We got the letter too, my D'S is dreading "more maths"!

Where are you sitting for? To be honest, apart from the super selective’s it’s generally a morning in class and then a session with a teacher doing a bit of English and maths. Exclude the Habs Highgates and UCS’s of the world and you don’t need any prep at 4 or 7

Hi, just checking if anyone that's applied to 4+ at Saint Albans girls (STAHS) know when they will send out offers? Or has received one, perhaps.

I did ask them and they said "soon" and I've come to realize we obviously have different definitions of the word.

My DD has a 4+ assessment at STAHS tomorrow - alongside 4 others I believe. We couldn’t make the assessments on 8/9 Jan so this is their supplementary day.

Looks like offers are made on (by?!) 26th Jan - no idea if this is by email or post though!

Stareyed STAHS post letters on 26th Jan.
Looks like we're doing the same set of schools, perhaps we've met already

@pk4317 Best of luck to your DD! STAHS had a very relaxed atmosphere and lots of tea coffee and croissants, yum! 

@4plus Were you the one actively reading the newspaper with your DD while mine was just shovelling croissants and biscuits non-stop? If so I really do apologise for the jealous evil eyes I cast your way

Thanks for the date, gonna put it on my calendar! 8th till 26th isn't "soon", is it? Ha!

LOL no Stareyed we never did last minute prep DD is into colouring at the moment (and biscuits too :) ), that’s what she probably did, voluntarily