Independent assessment

[toutlemonde]

Hi, I'm hoping one of you wise heads on here can advise me! My year 5 DS is going to try out for a couple of independent 2ary schools (bursary assisted) and maybe a grammar. I have time to help him and am happy to work through bond papers and similar this year - I don't think tutoring is the way to go for us at all. But what I would really like is for DS to have a tutor go through assessments with him one time ,and give us a breakdown of what his chances are and what weaknesses to work on. What is extra annoying is that he did some exams for 10+ and (apart from NO INTERVIEW :() we had no feedback whatsoever on how he did. So, anyone know who could do this well? I think a bunch of tutors say they do assessments for free, but they are looking for potential business, so I wouldn't consider that independent... I'm a bit wary of getting ripped off, so where do I start? So grateful for anyone who has done this and can share some tips!

I'd just add (by way of bumping :)) that having googled around, I have see stuff on education psychologist's assessments and IQ or gifted & talented type assessments, but... I'm not looking for validation that my DS is bright (or not!) - what I am looking for is an assessment which looks just like the 11+ exams do, and at the end of which I can be clear that DS needs to improve xyz, should practice abc, has nothing to worry about with regards to pqr, if you see what I mean.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to start home tutoring with this kind of foundation - or am I?!

Oh if it were that straightforward - I am going to start with some bond papers that are age appropriate and then see what that throws up for maths. For verbal reasoning, you could probably do the same to start with and then try using Verbal Reasoning Books 1-4 by Susan Daughtrey. These go through some actual techniques for the types of questions. I have no idea about non verbal reasoning or english papers but would probably do the same. I would also try doing different papers from different places (ie. not just Bond) and read lots and lots to improve vocabulary.

TLm - did you ask the 10+ schools for feedback? Would be worth asking?

There is a local tutoring company here (SW London) who will assess your child exactly like that, though I fear that they always say how much they need to be tutored by them! I think the schools will give feedback at 10+ - I know people who've called and been given some verbal guidelines (eg maths good, need to work on the creative writing).

Thanks for the responses all!

singersgirl thanks for that, I'll maybe have to accept that any assessor is going to be trying to sell their tutoring services and not give a completely impartial analysis - a bit frustrating though.

And MrsGuy and singers - the 10+ school were very curt in the rejection letter that no feedback would be given and shouldn't be asked for! Maybe I should just ignore and ask anyway, what have I got to lose... well apart from being embarassed if they say no and pissing them off enough that they remember when same school is applied for at 11+!

Thanks mrsm, I've heard of the daughtry books also, nice to have recommendations.

bump? :)

The problem with any one-off assessment is that it would be just that - a snapshot of your child on a particular day. Your child will develop over the coming months anyway so you are not going to get a definitive answer. How about asking your child's school - after all they see your child every day. They should be able to give you some feedback about their national curriculum level and roughly where they are in the class (eg top quarter, average). If they are average, and you are looking at highly selective schools then possibly their chances are not great.

There is a tutor near hear (probably same as singersgirl mentioned) who run mock exams - if you could find something similar near to you (I don't know where you are) then that may give you a guide as to how your child has performed in a test situation and also relative to the other children taking the test that day.

I don't think there is an easy answer I'm afraid.

Thanks for that harassed, great suggestions - I'm West London so would be really grateful to know the tutor you mention. Am embarassed to say that when his class teacher told me levels at parents evening last week, they went straight out of my head as I didn't know what they meant!

Toutlemonde,

Sent you a PM.