7+ 2024/25

[Caps0218]

I haven't seen another thread similar to previous years, so thought it would be beneficial to start one as exams are now 1 month away.
I think SHHS, UCS, KCJS and WUS are all in October.

Also - Curious to see if number of applicants are down this year, with Labour's VAT raid.

@daddy888 are you doing City? Curious why if you have Kings? Would you consider City?

I’m assuming at some stage during the assessment, kids will be asked some questions by either the headmaster or teachers which constitutes the “interview” element I suppose.

Not anymore, as the CJS assessment and our SPJS second round clash, and we’ve decided to skip CJS.

@daddy888 SPJS would not move the 2nd round day for you, They really should have planned it better, really not fair.

For those who have offers thus far.. how did you study? Did you do classes/tutors/how much did you do and from when? In particular, how did you tackle reasoning? We will brace for 8+….

We also received an interview invitation after a blow from King's and WUS. Fingers crossed for everyone going back this week!

Question on City exam on Friday - half the kids are doing it in the morning, half in the afternoon. What is stopping someone from the morning session telling someone from the afternoon session some of the questions, especially the creative writing part? Would they have separate papers?

Why would they?

@Choccybuttonsandprosecco A boy in the morning who is in the same school / or friends with a girl in the afternoon (so no competition). The parent can plan the story with the child in 15 minutes, super simple to do.

Honestly I think you’re over-thinking this…..it would have to be the parents very quickly making a phone call as well. I’m sure there are very few if any parents who’d do this, they’re still panicking from what went on that morning with their own kid!

@Choccybuttonsandprosecco You would be surprised. There is 1-2 hour gap between morning and afternoon sessions. Plenty of time!

Really though? Is it plausible ….

That a child exiting is able to recall correctly the papers and questions accurately?
That this then gets shared accurately with the parent.
The parent shares this accurately with another parent
This other parent now spends the last moments before their DC enter an exam coaching them and perhaps putting undue and unnecessary pressure on them? All on the feedback of a 6/7 year old?

I know my DC would not recall everything!
or much at all!

I would honestly be surprised that they give the same paper when the 2 sittings are not at the same time.

@Holidayissues The only thing that really needs recalling is what the picture (for creative writing) was. Not difficult to say, it was a boy in a play ground, or kids building a snowman etc.....and with 2 hours between morning and afternoon. We certainly can plan an excellent story in 15-30 mins, at least some key sentences.

This would just stress out a child surely, particularly if you’re not sure it’ll be the same? I just think not only would people not share but parents would hopefully not jump on it either as it’s just too much for the kid!

@Choccybuttonsandprosecco Really? My DC would be happy to know what the story is about and trust me there is already plenty of chatter on this and there will be phone calls! Every child is different, but ours would not be stressed and will have a general idea what to write, obviously we are morning so hence my concern.

It is easy enough to change an image from morning to afternoon in which case this additional prep would be silly.

Instead of making assumptions it’s best to ask the question:
How do you ensure the integrity of the assessment when there are morning and afternoon sessions?

And where I am there’s no flurry of phone calls and updates. Everyone tends to just keep things to themselves particularly as it’s stressful enough having to complete assessments and then wait to find out if you have a place, are proceeding to the next round, have a wait list place or just been put on the NO pile.

@Holidayissues I agree, I would assume they have a different image for the creative writing for morning and afternoon. I will actually ask and let people know on here!
I know if we were in the afternoon or morning and we had friends whose child was the opposite gender, we would give them the story and any tough dictation words etc...and vice-versa.

So risky! What if city changes the instructions slightly or asks the children to focus on a different aspect of the picture? Like a picture of a snowy scene and the afternoon instructions are: write a story about this scene in the opposite season. Imagine if a child went full steam ahead based on a pre-prepared story under morning instructions (eg write about a snowball fight), showing that they’ve caught wind of the morning paper contents? Wouldn’t that mean disqualification and maybe even a longer term barring?!
We are exactly in the position of having friends of the opposite gender in the other session and even if it involved money being thrown around, I would not have the guts to consider this… I would also be concerned about a chain reaction that might end up affecting our odds: what if the friend then shares with another and another of both genders?
But definitely acknowledge @Caps0218 that this is a very real possibility and hope City have made two different papers…

@Fullmoon99 I would be astonished if they asked to do something opposite to the scene. Kids at this age have trouble reading questions to be given something so complicated.
I'm going to call them tomorrow and ask.
I already know some will be passing on the story part.

Also I feel older kids are in the afternoon, usually harder for kids in the afternoon than morning?

Honestly I wouldn’t call and ask. Schools have been running exams for years. I just think so few people would even dream of talking about it anyway for whatever reason….

they won't be naive and could check this pretty easily... If average scores for certain questions are noticeably higher in the afternoon session... Glad we're in the morning and won't be bothered.

@dreamwork101 Indeed, but can’t be proved and they can’t really doing anything about it. I think if it is to happen, it will be a handful of kids so won’t be noticeable.

@Choccybuttonsandprosecco It’s just a phone call, I’m curious as to if it’s a separate paper or not…and whether they ever thought that this is something that may happen.

Please don't call- Admissions are super busy with 11plus and 16plus as well as the younger years. They really won't appreciate you making suggestions about their admission process..if you must call, don't give your name...

Having been through all sorts of school exams and more recently GCSEs my advice would be not to ask your child anything after the exam- just move on as nothing can be changed...

And don't stress about getting into a particular school. There are tons of good ones, state and private, and it's hard to know at age 6 what might suit them as they get older.

@ucasdone First of all City only do 7+, which will be on Friday. This is a concern for me, so I just want to know. They will either say it’s a different paper or this is the way it is, but they need to be made aware that this is a possibility, 2 hours and my child will write an excellent story, if I tell him what to write, so I don’t want him to be at a disadvantage.
I won’t be giving my name….just a quick question.