Whitgift and Trinity 11+ exams and Interviews

[mummax]

Hi all
I am new to this. I am loving this site.
Has anyone's DS taken an 11+ exam at Whitgift or Trinity this year. We have taken both and have an interview at Whitgift.
Any tips for a first timer.

keepingittogether thanks for that info - like stresscity said very reassuring well done for the intelligence gathering at that party you went to!

@having a nightmare

My DS was at RGS for 11+, parents not interviewed (whew!!) and in our letter they said it would be a short, about 10mins. It was just that. From what I can gather DS thought it went well but it really was 12-14 mins. I was timing! A couple came back before at approx. 10mins and the rest pretty much out at the same time, group of about 10 taken off at the same time but all seen individually all very well organised. DS was asked what he would want to do if he could have any job in the world, apparently he wants to open a massive science lab and make discoveries (probably whilst blowing things up too!)Other than that it appeared to be why RGS?
Well all over and done with, so relieved. I'm so proud of DS think he held up fairly well. Fingers crossed for W that's where his heart lies but would be more than happy with RGS, please God let someone say yes! I'm calm....Breathe in, breathe out :) Okay back with you all, regardless of outcome I'm so up for
To all of you it's been a real pleasure to be part of this thread, has really helped to keep me sane.
Roll on results will keep you all updated.

I think im going a bit doolaly now. To take my mind off all this, Im looking to book a holiday. We got a price 3 weeks ago at 3800 now 5100!! Whats the world coming too?? I thought there was a recession-oh well-will save my rant on this for another thread. Now wheres my !!
So when are we getting together ladies

Looking forward to meeting you all xx

LIZS you can sit at 11+ and defer to 13+ entry. Sorry I was being unclear (stress!). Thanks for the info Beanie - everything crossed for W for us!!!

There may be a bit of confusion as RGS can be short for Reigate Grammar School as well as Royal Grammar School, Guildford.

Yup that'll be it. I meant Guildford!!

@nightmare...everything crossed happy outcome

Evening All,

I have not been online, so a lot to catch up on...we had the T interview today morning...phew! So glad that's over. But can I really call it an interview...no...not really.
A number of (credible) sources said to me that he will tested on his English (reading/verbal comprehension) and Mental Maths and perhaps questions on current affairs...NONE of THAT HAPPENED!
In my head he was in there for about 10 mins...according to my DH he was in there for about 20 mins. When he came out we were chatting to the HM (lovely man ), who at that stage was in the a deep conversation with my DS2 about cricket . The HM then asked DS1 how the interview went: ollows:
HM: "So young man, how was the interview?"
DS1: "It was good."
HM: "So, what was the hardest question?"
DS1: "Umm, nothing really"
HM: "Really? nothing at all?!"
DS1: "no"
We shake hands and we quickly shuffle out of the room. We enter car and I start my 3rd degree intorrogation. Apparently it was just a chat and he was asked a range of general questions, one of them being, 'what would you do if you were made the prime minister'...DS1 looked smug and answered that he would ban alcohol and smoking......I just wanted to go and lie down in front of the car so that my DH could drive over me and put me out of my misery .
I am going to hibernate until 17th...don't miss me at the party

@kravings...well done to your DS...did you do W too?? Fingers crossed for you....ooh so looking forward to the party season

hey frankies, yes we did W 2 weeks ago. After each interview I feel more deflated . I have one more to go through...KGS next Friday. Then we wait and wait and wait more...

Oh Kravings don't feel like that... we only got 20 more sleeps till Letter day...keep smiling you got 3 choices and you WILL get something amazing for your DS!!!!

AND you gotta look on the bright side, we are planning a get together with soup doing the starter...me bringing loads of wine...and whoever making the rest!!!

frankies, its a good a good thing you are doing the countdown. Well, the get together is something to look forward to, I will make the rest of the food

Whilst I know of a couple of boys who got an interview at one of the schools and then did not get an offer, I don't know of any boy who got interviews at both and didn't get an offer from at least one. [obviously no comfort if you only sat one, but the interview isn't the main hurdle]. Anyway hope that the next few weeks fly by!

@Ladymuck...comforting words...but we could be the first..who knows?! Interview at T yesterday...again prepared for the inevitable maths or english question but surprisingly not...a history one for my DS. No more interviews to go...the waiting game continues....

Well done kravings for getting through it and in particular your DS. It sounds like he was relaxed which shows confidence so im sure it was fine (funny but fine). It does make me feel that the interview process is unfare though. My DS was quized on english. To do a fare comparison in my book, I feel they should all go throuh the same quizz. How do they assess then when they see different Teachers asking different questions?!

The interview for most isn't an "assessment" though. Usually the boys will only be quizzed on maths/English either if they are in line for an academic scholarship, or if they performed particularly weakly in one or other of the papers in the exam. Ultimately the exam results will be the main factor is the decision to make an offer. Of the 2 schools Whitgift is possibly the more unfair as it does seem to use the parents interview to inform their selection (though equally it could just be parental guilt at having their child fail - that said ds2's prep does advise that first time parents jump through the hoops for W in particular). Soupy and I have a mutual RL friend who put her son in for 10+ last year but he didn't get an offer after the interview - the mother concerned had had a disagreement about educational philosophy in her interview, which with hindsight she was keen to avoid this year at 11+!

And the scholarship/borderline candidates do seem to see the same few teachers. Hence the date you are called for interview being fairly meaningless, as there are so many interviews, and these teachers can only interview one boy at a time.

Ladymuck - Hahaha! Yes, the minor disagreement :) I gather it was avoided this year.

The interviews that I've had with W have been fairly meaningless though. Inconsequential discussions abut my child... in this case DS2s laudable honesty when describing his faults! Interviewer agreed that sending DS1 to T as they had offered the scholarship was a "no brainer" so that isn't an issue. I am confident that nothing I was asked nor said would have any bearing on whether DS2 is offered place.

I think is is natural to look for reasons other than "they didn't want my child!" though. It's horrible.

Oh well now feeling terrible again Don't like the idea that the interview has very little to do with the entrance of DS thought it did

Who interviews the borderline candidates at W. Need to fan the flames of my insecurities?!!!

ditto

@having a nightmare-RGS for us was Reigate.
@kravings- Hope this makes you feel better on further questioning my DS said that the interviewer asked him some of his favorite words....He came up with kurfuffle! Is it even in the dictionary? better still he also volunteered to put it into a couple of sentences! What happened to words like alliteration and the many other "intelligent" words that he has in his normally vast vocabulary. Lying down in front of the car and being driven over seems like a perfectly good idea to me! Lets just hope that they warmed to his personality:)

Remember that they are interviewing 11 year old boys and expect 11 year old boy answers :)

We are more an 11 year old boy with 7 year old vocab..... Kerfufle sounds just brilliant. If theyd asked my DS they would've got "nice" or "fun" or worse "wicket"/"over" if he was in cricket mode..... ! Move over beanie I'm about to do some moral support in the being run over department!!