Help! Bond books or other materials for entrance exam prep?

[mountain27]

My dd is currently at state primary school (yr 5) and we are considering going down the private route for secondary school. Living in Sussex we have been looking at both Brighton College and Roedean as possible options.

With entrance exams for both schools i wanted to try and prepare my dd so that she at leasts knows what the format will be for the exams. I been looking at Bond books but no idea if these will suffice or if there are other books/example papers i should look at. Bond books talk about 11+ exam which i thought was for entrance to grammar schools. Is there a difference between these and the common entrance exams to independant schools? The ISEB website recommends Galore Park as a source of materials but this has no mention of bond books. Appreciate any guidance.

the 11+ exam is for entrance to independent schools. we used the bond books, as well as the CGP 11+ 10 minute test books. we also used the bright spark verbal reasoning paper book, and a similar one for non verbal reasoning. all the best x

We're going for Brighton Girls and using the Bond books. Have done 10 minute tests in maths and verbal reasoning a few times a week for a few months, stepping up to the assessment tests next term.

There is an 11+ website with tonnes of info elevenplusexams.co.uk

Try 11+ lifeline for independent preparation. www.rsleducational.co.uk/11pluslifeline

As I understand, Galore Park do ISEB past papers and revision books

Thanks you so much for all your v helpful responses.

The year 6 entrance exam for independents and the ones for grammar schools are both referred to as 11+, the former also known as common entrance although that term is also used for the 13+ entrance exam to year 9 independents. All rather a mess....

Find out if Brighton and Rodean actually use ISEB common entrance or their own exams, although they will doubtless be similar. So english, maths, possibly verbal and non verbal reasoning.

Galore park is the commercial arm of the ISEB. I like their 11+ maths text book and practice book for concentrated study efforts. English boom good too. Haven't used their reasoning stuff. Bond is another brand, much used. 10 minute tests good for squeezing little bits of work in here and there. Their "how to do" type books are useful to work on weak points. Cgp's reasoning stuff is so good, I prefer it to bond. Bond has the advantage of offering easier ones to work up, but don't spend too long on the under age ones - better to aim to end up one year ahead.

If doing online tests BOFA is good for practice.

Thank you Michaelapurple.