Y6 child is capable in Maths/English but too slow in assessments - thoughts on helping him speed up??

[Hohohohobo]

regularly have good feedback about his ability in both Maths and English, and he’s fine in class, work is usually correct, seems to grasp the concepts fine. But he can be so slow. He’s not getting to the end of assessments, as a rule - left over half the questions out in the practice SATs papers. The ones he did - he got right. He can do it - but not quickly enough.

any thoughts, advice on helping him speed up please? He doesn’t like being rushed. Generally in life but I just figured that’s common for most kids this age. I am fairly sure he doesn’t have a slow processing issue, as he’s fine in class. It’s the assessments…

Have you actually had him assessed? Get him a WISC V booked in and actually see if there is a processing issue.

DD is a high achievers, her academic skills are in the highly gifted range, her processing is 'average' which holds her back particularly in essay subjects and although she appears just fine in class most of the time that is because of her ability.

Thanks, no I haven’t - forgive my ignorance, how would I go about that?

Year 6 TA here. This isn’t unusual at this point in the year. Arithmetic test has 36 questions to be answered in 30 minutes. The reasoning papers have between 20/25 ish questions in 40 minutes. The key is having instant recall of times tables including using them to divide quickly. So many of the questions rely on quick application of times tables and it really slows the children down if they are having to think about the answers to basic times tables questions. If children know their times tables really well then the speed normally picks up with practise as they get familiar with the style and type of questions which are the same just with different numbers. Twinkl have a set of practise tests for both arithmetic and reasoning which are very good. They also have practise arithmetic papers which are topic specific. Hope this helps.

I’d suggest an assessment too. If you can afford it you can get a private educational psychologist to do it, otherwise you’ll have to ask the school or your GP to refer you for one and, if they agree, you’ll be waiting a long time.

Slow processing, even with very high ability, is a way dyslexia can present itself and if it is that, it would be better to apply for extra time for tests rather than try and force away a genuine need.

For perspective
SATS are 2 terms away.
A scaled score of 100 (meeting) is usually just over half right.
I'd say he is doing well if he is accurate! He will speed up with practise over the next 2 terms.
SATS only really matter for school data anyway! Kids shouldn't be stressing about it!

I would also add that Reading and grammar are the same. The reading is 60 minutes and has 3 different texts to read and answer questions. We generally say children should be aiming for 15/20/20 minutes for each section of reading as 1st text is normally the easiest. This then allows 5 minutes checking time at the end. The grammar 45 minutes number of questions vary but anything from 45/50 questions. The more practise they do the quicker they get as they get used to the style of question and the pace. It is early days. Only our most able children have been able to get through the whole papers we have done so far. The rest of the class varies from 1/2 to 3/4 of the way through but not all answers are correct.

I was wondering if there are possibly any additional needs? Not that these tests aren't tough for many. I saw the paper and would struggle.
My child struggles with the same. Very capable yet focus is hard. ADHD is diagnosed which makes a difference. He was allowed to get up and have a break, walk around then come back.

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated!

"He doesn’t like being rushed. Generally in life but I just figured that’s common for most kids this age. "

No, I disagree. Well, partly. Many of us don't like being rushed. I mean who likes being rushed? I know I don't. In certain things.

So, maybe it's a processing issue. But even then, even if tested and then given more time in exams, he'll still need to speed up. Fact. In life. So look up techniques for that.

But also talk to him. He maybe very laid-back but in life there are certain things that need to be done quickly and promptly. plus not all children are very laid-back. Some are extremely competitive and want to get it done as quickly as possible and take pride in getting 99% or 100% especially in maths questions which are often fundamentally right or wrong with the correct answer and you can easily get a very high mark.

he doesn't want to, or can't, or maybe has no interest in this aspect, or another reason? and that's maybe his personality and you need to talk to him about techniques and actually wanting to speed up, wanting to show what he can do, show the best he can do, as a sign of success, in order to proceed.

Very bright children who just grasp concepts easily, and then fly through exam papers, happy at challenging themselves as to how quickly they can complete it all, clearly have a different mindset.

Talk to him, I think there's lots to explore here.