WUS/KCS/SPJ/Dulwich/City London 8+ 2023 assessments preparation thread

[simona28]

Hello all,

I've been told this is approximately the right time to start preparing with DC for 8+ entry! Starting this thread to get any help/pointers/discussion/venting on 8+ exams.

My DS will be appearing for 8+ assessments from Oct 2023 onwards. What should I be preparing him towards? Any thoughts on the following:

1. Bond books (which books - assessment papers/Stretch Assessment/CEM), which level (8-9 or higher?)
2. CGP - which books, year 4 or higher?
3. PrepPlus camps and classes
4. Exampaperplus papers/classes and timings for the same? I have bought one paper and think the difficulty levels are pretty high. When should we be looking to do this?
5. Yellowbird 8+ camps?
6. Private tutors?
7. My son is pitifully weak at Comprehensions and writing compositions - how should I build him up there? I try to read with him for 15-20 min everyday now and ask him questions to test understanding. Should I do comprehension papers with him? How should I do them so that I dont end up spoon-feeding, but also get confidence that he is improving?

Thank you and looking forward to a great discussion, tips, pointers and bonding over the next many months

First thing first - any reason why you didn’t apply for 7+? Is he in a public or private school atm? Your list is comprehensive and you might want to think about how to phase it out and not to burn him out too early.

Hi @animalplanet1 - DS is a late summer born and I did not think he was ready for 7+, seeing the caliber and level of other 7+ candidates. We took an early mock test during Easter last year and that solidified my feeling. He goes pvt but its not a prep school so they're not prepping him for early years entry. He seems to be more ready now and we have now finished Bond 7-8 books. Any tips form your end?

Sounds he’s well on track for 8+. Academically I think you already know what to do :-) For WUS, you might also to get him on Atom learning. The only tip I have is letting him slowly absorb the pressure and progress. Get a soft target every quarter and don’t make him feel (1) I’ve done this before hence it’s no longer challenging for me (2) there is another 12 months for me to go through this. I’m tired! Good luck x

Hi, my DS sat the 8+ last year for WUS and we used JoY Tuition. We'd missed the 7+ because I thought we'd be able to prepare him ourselves. I would say they are at the top end cost-wise, but I'm so glad we used them. My DS is thoroughly enjoying himself!
We too had been using Bond Books, but this does not prepare them for what they can expect on the day. My DS performed abysmally on their initial assessment and it was nothing like what we'd been preparing. They also offer guidance on schools best suited to your child and also the parent interview.
You really do need a specialist tutor (not just a 7+ / primary school teacher) and they cover reasoning as well as maths and English.

I would do the Bond books for age 8-9, and buy First Aid in English. There is also one for maths.
www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-First-Aid-English/dp/1471859983/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3E2DKM2J6P48&keywords=first+aid+in+english&qid=1674052029&sprefix=first+aid+in+%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1

Can I say that HarrowMum1 is 99% an advertisement not real? Please be careful!!!

think you have to target 8-9 bond books for 7+...so would suggest start there for 8+ but keep 9-10 as options for later once 8-9 are easily tackled. but it all depends on what the gaps are for your DC.

What a strange response?
Why on earth would this be an advertisement.
I tried tutoring my DS using Bond books and knowledge I have having tutored my daughter for City and it didn't work.
I'm simply saying the people I used were excellent.
Do you have a son at WUS having used just Bond books?
If so, then brilliant, I'm just saying a more specific approach is needed.

We are at WUS and not an advert I promise!!!

Personally I would not use the material recommended too much. I would just read read read read -- find books DS enjoys and discuss the books after.

Writing endurance needs to be built up over time so have some reasons to write in your routine to the point several hundreds words can be written to a friend as a birthday letter for example.

Most parents are generally good at covering maths without guidance.

As also mentioned make sure DS is computer literature so the online assessment isn't a barrier.

I agree, if you can't get through the online assessment, the rest is almost irrelevant. The good thing is, most boys, my DS included, loves the computer and ATOM was very good for this.

I agree with @HarrowMum1 - ime you need a proper tutor who's got experience tutoring for the 8+. We tried with the books etc but there is so much content, plus you need someone who knows what the admissions people are looking for and what they specifically want from candidates as every school is different! You will pay a premium for this service, but it's a wise investment. We use a very well known company who provide this service and actually found them through Mumsnet for my eldest a few years ago. If you send me a PM I can pass on their phone number.

I def think you can DIY. The subjects aren’t that difficult for parents to tackle but your child must be willing. I stress lots of reading and widely to gain general knowledge and vocab, a huge differentiator. Having said that, we did use a tutor for our children and it worked out wonderfully because there are specific skills and knowledge and experience that do give a slight edge in a very competitive process. Good luck on this journey.

Yes, the truth is they're only 6/7/8 years old, so the material in itself isn't difficult - and that's why you're left wondering why did x get in and not y and it's often down to something not academic at all - this is often where the tutors make the difference . . .

Highly disagree on the tutors. Those kids who are heavily tutored will be struggling at school even if they get in, unless 8+ is the end of result you want. And to this HarrowMum1, I really don’t understand why you are advocating so hard on tutoring. I will be keen to know how your DS is doing at the moment. Are you still tutoring him (then good luck for the next 10+ years) or not (then I wonder how he’s keeping up at school).

Also HarrowMum1 - To test whether you really have a son who did 8+ last year and he is in WUS Y4. May I ask where they went on Monday? Barbican, LTM or Museum of London? 🙄

Sorry OP - I just hate adverts. Whatever all the other parents said please still take a look!

OP… My middle son did 8+ four years ago so if you need any “outdated” tips just PM me.

watching keenly re. @HarrowMum1 's response

I don’t know who harrowmum is. But a 7+ parent here and we used JoY Tution this year and I would very highly recommend them. We have calls from city, highgate, latymer, habs. Waiting to hear back from the schools. Fingers crossed.

@animalplanet1 I'm really rather taken aback by your tone! I'm not sure what I'm supposed to have done, other than say that the service we used was a good one and that often it is not about the academics, but the soft skills that make the difference and our tutor helped us.
My DS was at Tate Britain (not that I need to explain myself) but it's disappointing to see how aggressive some parents can be . . . I thought the whole point of this site was to guide and help each other, not shoot each other down in flames and score points!

Sorry for the naive question but is this advice for private ie paid school or free? I have a DS who is a year ahead on reading and good at maths, yr 1, looking at what I should do! Leave him where he is or not.. but I cannot afford private fees sadly.

@grumpycow1 hi, this is for 8+ exams...I believe only private schools do 8+ but am new to this system...you can always apply for bursaries, no? talk to the schools you are keen on and find out !!

I honestly think every child is different. My son has used the bond books, as they were recommended by SPJ, as he goes to a state school and I wasn’t sure what to do. I wondered if the 8+ would be the same level of SAT’s that state school children do in year 2 and was guided to the Bond books. We used the bond books, I went up a few age levels and he got through the 8+ exam to the second round. I was told they can see when children have been heavily tutored, and do like to see natural ability.
Ring the 8+ team and speak to them. They can give you guidance.

i agree every child is different. My first one had a 7+ offer at all of the above schools with some tutoring. Second one was tutored since Jan but we didn’t even try for most of the schools in this thread! In retrospect for the first one we could’ve got away without even having done any tutoring but we didn’t know until he was at one of these schools (and were able to compare him to peers) that he is naturally very bright. For the second one clearly no amount of tutoring at age 6 would’ve helped as he is just not ready for these exams and will be better off in a less competitive environment.

Yes, it's really important that we look at our children objectively and not push for something we want, rather than what's a good fit for them.