Bond assessment papers

[THK]

Can anyone help confirm whether these are close in type for independent school entrance exams?
I have started using them with DD but wondering how useful they may be. Are they more suitable for 11+ or would both exams be of similar content?
Appreciate any insight.

I think different schools have different sorts of papers (just like different areas have different 11+ papers). It would probably be a good idea to contact the schools you are thinking about applying to and asking what sort of test they use.

Oh.. didnt realise different areas have different exams
am living overseas and hoping to move back for DD starting secondary school.
hadnt thought of asking the schools for their exam papers

some of the independent schools have sample papers available on their websites. Worth checking.

Claig's right, have a look on their web site. Ds's entrance exam in Jan consisted of reading a passage and writing 4 different texts relating to real life and the text IYSWIM, ie, he had to write about his favourite book character, then about what the world would be like in 10 years time, then a story which had already been started and something else. He had a maths paper which was level 5 maths at key stage 2 and a verbal reasoning test. I don't think this was designed to be fully answered as he ran out of time for a few questions (60 seconds to answer as many as he could), it just see's how they cope under pressure. We did have the bond papers but I don't think they were very helpful to be honest, each school sets it's own entrance exam though. Hope this helps

BDC-
thx for details. Had you previously checked to see what he would be expected to do? Was it consistant? can I ask what age yr DS is and how did you prepare him? was it based on past papers or did you use a tutor?
How long in advance did you start to prepare?
Sorry so many questions .
Ive just started the Bond papers and have found it a good way to introduce a timed test to DD but had no idea if the content was relevent.
Creative writing doesnt seem to feature in these.
Definately having other mnet's feedback helps hugely.

This is where things get complicated.

Ds used to go to a prep school that claimed that all the pupils recieved offers from their prefered school (they kept the fact that half went to a state secondary quiet though), he wasn't there for year 6 because I moved him when he had finished year 5. In year 5 they were given copies of the entrance exams for many different schools so they had the experience of what was involved. Ds skipped a year when he was in this school as he's incredibly bright, they had a sudden and unexpected change of headteacher so I moved him, the new school wanted him back in his age group so he ended up doing year 5 twice so spent 12 months learning absolutely nothing as he had done all the work.
The school he's in now (there's a thread on this) did no prep for entrance exams at all as we only decided to sit the test the week before (there's a thread on this aswell), even with the waste if a year he's 4 years ahead in maths so he didn't do any revision for this at all. He spent an hour revising how to set out the english answers, I just printed off the sample paper from the schools web site, the english questions were very similar so he didn't have a problem, it's a highly academically selective boys school, they would rather have spaces then allow boys in who wouldn't manage. He's a very bright boy so having a tutor was never a thought. We have used the Bond books though, this is because he gets very bored and they give him something to do but we have stopped using them a few years ago as he kept getting 100% so there didn't seem much of a point.
If it's an academically selective school then the bond verbal reasoning is a good book to use. If your daughters working at the level 5 sats then she probably won't have a problem but it depends on the school. Have you contacted them for guidance?

Many thks for full reply.
DDs teacher has suggested she try for St Pauls as she is naturally very bright . We are currently overseas and were planning to send her to Wycombe Abbey. Ive now re thought and am thinking to relocate with her if she can get a place at St Pauls - no idea if this is feasable.
She is currently in an academically selective independant through school following IB, which is why I have concerns about entrance exams for the UK schools and how closely the IB fits with UK curriculum.
Have been doing the bond verbal and non verbal books, but as you say they are not so challenging but a novelty at the moment so will carry on.
Will re look through msnet for your mentioned threads.
Reassuring to hear you didnt need tutors etc.
Once again big thanks.

There are threads on here about St Pauls so do a search, the opinions are really helpful as the prospectus and the web site just show you what they want you to see. I'm not in London so I don't think my earlier threads would be of any help to be honest. There are schools in the UK that offer the IB.

I hope it all works out for you