Online 7+ exam Westminster Under School

[Mumsnot1825]

Is anyone else's son studying for the WUS 7+ next week? It's now going online... so I'm now worried this has basically turned it into a Cheaters' Charter. Surely there'll be loads of parents just completing the tests for their kids? What do you think?

[SoNervousForHim]

Results are due tomorrow 13th (the date was revised from 11th Jan which was communicated a few months ago to 13th Jan in their email before Christmas).

Longest 24h ahead!

[6bootsie8]

Anyone heard back from WUS for those who did the 7+last week? They said that they would revert by yesterday 11th and another mum was told tomorrow 13th.

[Lolakath19]

Hi all good luck to all those sitting WUS next week!
Is latymer also next week?

[Cersai]

Understand your anxiety !! terrible process/system to put a child and parents through !

From what I remember the last few days before the exams I left it kind of free.. did more verbal work - working on mental maths in a fun way with incentives , asking word meanings , asking him to describe things creatively etc. To be honest, if he is good at Math and reasoning that’s majority of the battle won. In WUS and St Paul’s focus is /was more on comprehension hence they had removed the creative writing process. King’s does expect creative writing but there is only so much you can do at this stage - most boys are reluctant writers!

Again at this stage I would ask my son to form sentences from words I would give or show him a picture and ask him to describe it . Once he did I would ask him to uplevel it using sentence starters, describing his noun and using adverbs with verbs (to reinforce ). We made a game out of it- so all of us had a go at the sentence and the winner would get a haribo. We read a lot and I asked him inference questions while reading . Day before the exam - made him play (so he was tired and would go to bed early) and gave him a good sugary breakfast - (glucose is good for brain):) He had brioche and fruits .

[SoNervousForHim]

@Worriedmum142 thanks so much for the incredibly quick reply (isn't it weird how you can feel relieved by a response from a stranger on the internet?! )

How has your son found WUS in his first year?

Would you recommend trying for maths questions that are harder than his expected ability? E.g. so that he can practice 'having a go' at a question that he might not know the answer to? Or is that more for the second stage?

[Worriedmum142]

@SoNervousForHim i feel so much for you! Most boys are weaker in English than Math. The description of your son matches 100% my son. I would not introduce anything new now. You might just confuse him/make him insecure. He just needs to practise whatever you’ve practised and make sure that he goes in confident. We had an online assessment last year. The boys had to do a poem. We have never practised a poem and I would not start doing it now. I would be surprised if they repeated it. I wish you luck and make sure he sleeps well the night before.

[SoNervousForHim]

@StrugglingPa , @Relieved1234 , @annalenav , @fionaming , @Lazymum78 and others... Reading through this thread has somewhat calmed my nerves about my DS sitting the WUS 7+ next week, but anxiety levels are still very high...

Do you have any last minute advice?? He is very strong in both maths & reasoning but struggles with English (mostly because he is just not so keen on it.... he usually gets to 75% but hates the story writing). Did they do a story last year and if so did they get 25min to do it? At KCS this year they only got 15min for the story.

Is it worth spending a bit more time in the next few days going over diary entry / letter / newspaper report?

[7PlusPP1234]

Hi StrugglingPa

We are in similar boat as yours with my DS doing well at SPJ exam but didn’t do well in interview so we are hoping to get through WUS

Would be great to get some tips from you ahead of exams in first week Jan

[motherandson1]

@StrugglingPa

Hey motherandson1

Best of luck with your prep journey.

The English prep was at par with year three. Having discussed it with non-WUS teachers and seeing the year three curriculum, I think it was on par with Term 2 of year 3. The vocabulary of some of the children I have witnessed prepping up seemed to be at v high level (at least yr 4) compared to my DS. I think such children read a lot (which my DS does) and are more aware of frequently using the words they come across. The extra-curricular were not delved into deeply. What they were looking for was genuine enthusiasm for non-classroom activities rather than no. of activities and accomplishments. Almost all the children appeared to be excellent in maths. Since it wasn't easy to assess how good he was in English while prepping for it, we focussed on making sure he gets his maths 100% right. Use this strategy to offset any losses in English assessment.

The schools try hard, but I don't think it's a fair process all the time. Please apply to at least 2-3 schools even if you are focused on WUS. At least you will know how well you guys did, which would help you understand better what worked well.

Dear StrugglingPa,

Apologies for the delay in response, I just had a spell in the hospital, and just returned home, but all ok now.

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for taking the time to respond to my query, I really appreciate it, and very useful to know indeed!
Fingers crossed, I will be able to share some good news next year ;)!! ( LOL, I am joking! we will go with the flow, if it happen, it happens.)
Thank you so much again for your response.

[StrugglingPa]

Hey motherandson1

Best of luck with your prep journey.

The English prep was at par with year three. Having discussed it with non-WUS teachers and seeing the year three curriculum, I think it was on par with Term 2 of year 3. The vocabulary of some of the children I have witnessed prepping up seemed to be at v high level (at least yr 4) compared to my DS. I think such children read a lot (which my DS does) and are more aware of frequently using the words they come across. The extra-curricular were not delved into deeply. What they were looking for was genuine enthusiasm for non-classroom activities rather than no. of activities and accomplishments. Almost all the children appeared to be excellent in maths. Since it wasn't easy to assess how good he was in English while prepping for it, we focussed on making sure he gets his maths 100% right. Use this strategy to offset any losses in English assessment.

The schools try hard, but I don't think it's a fair process all the time. Please apply to at least 2-3 schools even if you are focused on WUS. At least you will know how well you guys did, which would help you understand better what worked well.

[motherandson1]

@StrugglingPa

Firstly, a huge congratulations on the amazing offers your DS received, its incredible and very impressive indeed! Just hoping you could enlighten us a little bit as we are considering applying WUS for our DS for 7+ entry in 2022, and was worried about the English skill level required e.g. should they be at the Year 3 or 4 standard of English at the entry exams?

Reading the other parents comments, we are not sure if our DS can handle very intense preparation at this stage, so may drop this dream for now...
Our DS is already attending a prep school, but wanted to understand whether additional extra-curricular preparation is recommended from your experience?

Many thanks for your time, and really appreciate any advice you can share 😊

Best Regards

motherandson1

[annalenav]

@SPJmum thanks for sharing! It is a big decision and some families obviously include considerations that would never cross my mind.

[SPJmum]

@annalenav There are lots of reasons people want to keep their options open. They may want to move and are finding it difficult. If you have more than one child the logistics of the school run are important. Some don’t think of the questions they need to ask until offered a firm place and want more time to check out the schools in detail when it’s a reality. They don’t give much time to make up your mind. Some wait to see where their friends (or enemies!) are going. Some want to know who will be in their son’s class. Some just like to keep their options open in case something comes up. It’s a big decision.

[JDabhi]

@annalenav complete agree with you. We are in a similar kind of situation post 8+ results.

[annalenav]

@JDabhi but still when you apply you have a preference order. You might be indecisive between two schools but still you’ll have to make a decision and I just don’t understand how more time helps. However I am someone who has rather strong opinions. This probably helps in situations like this. We applied to one school only.

[JDabhi]

@annalenav @Spjmum - This time SPJ didn't give enough time for parents to make a decision to accept offers post 8+. They had less that 24 hrs to accept. So i believe, this may be one of the reasons.

[annalenav]

@SPJmum out of curiosity what is the reason people pay several deposits? I just can’t understand since they won’t have more or better information to make a better decision than they have now.

[SPJmum]

We have known people to be offered places way into the summer. People’s plans change, they move, financial circumstances change or they have been deciding between two or more schools. I would have thought this year that would happen more then usual due to Covid. People are moving out of London, losing their jobs and no the schools had no tours.

I know two families who have paid more than one deposit. It happens every year. The number in a class isn’t an exact science and so the place may be offered or they may just take the hit and be on with two less.

[JDabhi]

Now that deadlines are over for all schools for 8+/7+. is there still a chance for kids to get a place who were on the reserve list at SPJ. I mean if parents had paid deposits at multiple schools and come September they don't opt for SPJ and go for KCS or WUS. Will SPJ offer the place to someone who was on the reserve list or that place goes a waste?

[annalenav]

@Charlie65 don’t have any insights!

[Charlie65]

@annalenav have not as yet. Any insight on RL movement?

[annalenav]

@Charlie65 Did you get a place?

[Charlie65]

Is anyone turning down WUS 7+ admission spot as deadline approaching? DS is on the wait list.

[StrugglingPa]

@happybusymom5 The last date for WUS is noon 3rd march

[happybusymom5]

Just wondering whether someone might be able to tell me the closing date to accept offers for Westminster 7+ this month?