Home tutoring for 11+ how much time per week

Julesnobrain · 2011-09-09T22:49:29+00:00

Hi my ds is in a state primary and I want him to try for a place at a grammar. He is currently in year 4. Please can you advise what would be a realistic and sensible amount of tutoring (by me - not a teacher) per week. Thanks

Henrythehappyhelicopter · 10/09/2011 00:00

Hi, I would speak to his teacher, as obviously all children need different amounts of tutoring.

Year 4 is quite early to start. Probably a good idea just to practice basic skills and read plenty of different style texts.

If you try some of the bond books you will get an idea of how much tutoring he would need.

confidence · 10/09/2011 00:14

Selective area or a single, super-selective school?

IPS do good little books of short tests in maths and verbal reasoning, designed to be completed in about eight minutes. You could get these and start by throwing one or two at him each week, on days when he doesn't have much homework or other stuff. Then they have a series of 30minute tests as well which are more like the real thing but still shorter.

General foundations like times tables for maths, or vocabulary, synonyms etc. for VR, are good to just do off the cuff within everyday life, rather than sitting him down to do "work". Do them in the car, while waiting for dinner etc. Set up a reward system where he gets something after getting so many right, or within a certain time. Keep it short, low key and motivating. Build confidence. Then when it comes time to do full-on test preparation he'll be able to take it more in his stride.

Original poster

Julesnobrain · 10/09/2011 06:55

Thanks for advice. grammers we are trying for are super selective SGS, Tiffin EG as we live in Merton. SW London. So there will be massive competition.:-(

OP posts:

Wormshuffler · 10/09/2011 07:47

I wouldn't start actual 11+ training yet, but instead get your DS really up with his mental maths skills and read read read!!!
My DS has his test next saturday, it is so stressful! I burst into tears when I took DD 2 years ago!

CardyMow · 10/09/2011 18:02

Can anyone advise what books I should be getting my DS1 to read? He is going to take the 11+ in 2012 (He's just gone into Y5). He's hoping to get into CRGS.

racingheart · 10/09/2011 20:01

If you look at Hampton School's website they have a reading list for prospective 11+ and common entrance pupils. It's a really good list. I've used it for my DC.

ROZ12 · 31/10/2011 13:51

Hi

Anyone recommend a good tutor is south west london area. Ive started on Bond assessment papers .

Thanks

gazzalw · 31/10/2011 14:17

I agree with other posters, Year 4 is too early by far.... Even starting in Year 5 is pushing it..... we have done it since Christmas Year 5 and DS has passed two 11+ thus far (another three to take). He has not been the most obviously diligent of pupils, despite wanting to go to a grammar school himself, but has obviously learned what is required. But it is a long haul even for less than a year's hard work.

We have tutored DS ourselves but personally we can't wait until the end of November to get our lives back - it is not to be underestimated what hard work it is for all concerned and can cause discord in an otherwise happy household!

There is massive competition for the superselectives, Julesnobrain, but it is possible (although we don't as yet know how well DS has done in the ones he has passed!), but we have seemingly had quite a relaxed approach compared to some parents (even though it has felt like hard work to us!).

I think at the end of the day you have to judge whether your child is really a suitable candidate (are his teachers flagging up that he is of the right level etc...). Know DS's friends who took two 11+ and failed have been deeply upset by the experience...

Theas18 · 01/11/2011 08:02

Another who's been through this (x3!) and would echo what has been said about making sure the basics are well fixed- number bonds, tables (and the understanding of what they mean not just the ability to recite them) and lots of reading, speaking and listening.

We took the scary route not to tutor heavily but work on all round education/thinking skills and it seems to have worked. Out tutors have done all sorts as well as papers including programmable lego, writing newspaper reports and art!

I was very sure that if the kids needed heavy tutoring they'd struggle once there and that would be awful for them.Primary was very reluctant to really comment on whether they were "grammar material" or not as "policy" was/is against selection.

Grammar school strugglers are very miserable kids, that is very clear from friends of the elder 2, so I think we took the right gamble- ours work well and hard but have a fairly balanced life and are at the top (ish) of their years. Some of the kids friends have tutors to try to keep them up with the rest (as they are bright but just " averagely bright" and, due to pushy parenting in the wrong school).

No child (or parent!) should come out of an exam crying surely, but that is actually pretty common at the local 11+ .

Good luck!

gazzalw · 02/11/2011 07:59

Wow Theas18, to go through that x3 would be unbelievably stressful so well done.

I am just very much of the opinion that you should be able to do these things with your child(ren) and if need be maybe get some Kumon Maths help or some late in the day Tutoring - sorry that's my opinion and I know not everyone will agree

But it sits very uneasily with me that so many people feel tutors are the answer and that you can't do it without - you can! And plenty of families do.

breadandbutterfly · 02/11/2011 09:42

No need for a tutor, esp in year 4. Play board/card games with your child that practise numeracy/literacy skills in a fun way, ensure times tables and basic mental maths rock solid, and above all, get them to read widely. bond books for thr right age can be a fun/gentle intro to exam-type qus.

In year 5, start revising/filling in gaps in maths and looking at vr etc

loveyouradvice · 26/11/2011 15:33

agree with above.... I started gently in year 4 and now have year 5 dd and its getting more intense.... in year 4, we did 10m verbal maths on way to school twice a week (multiplication, division, add, subtract) + 10m Mathletics (which is brill for them and fun - on the web) 4 x a week ..... aiming to consolidate maths skills and get her into a routine of expecting to do it, which has meant its been easier to add in extra stuff now without resistance. Also in year 4 we did what we called quiz books - occasional Verbal and NonVerbal reasoning using Bond age-appropriate books - together curled up on sofa so fun for both and enabled me to understand she wouldnt have much trouble with this aspect of tests... we did erratically for about 5 months and then have had a break til now. Again it feels familiar to her going back to it so I am glad I did it - makes life easier as she isnt the keenest studier!! I didnt do much English reckoning she was pretty good at this - just bought fun games like Boogle and Articulate to play, both of which she loves.

loveyouradvice · 26/11/2011 15:33

agree with above.... I started gently in year 4 and now have year 5 dd and its getting more intense.... in year 4, we did 10m verbal maths on way to school twice a week (multiplication, division, add, subtract) + 10m Mathletics (which is brill for them and fun - on the web) 4 x a week ..... aiming to consolidate maths skills and get her into a routine of expecting to do it, which has meant its been easier to add in extra stuff now without resistance. Also in year 4 we did what we called quiz books - occasional Verbal and NonVerbal reasoning using Bond age-appropriate books - together curled up on sofa so fun for both and enabled me to understand she wouldnt have much trouble with this aspect of tests... we did erratically for about 5 months and then have had a break til now. Again it feels familiar to her going back to it so I am glad I did it - makes life easier as she isnt the keenest studier!! I didnt do much English reckoning she was pretty good at this - just bought fun games like Boogle and Articulate to play, both of which she loves.

Moominmammacat · 30/11/2011 16:24

We started 12 weeks before the first exam ... one paper a morning before school and one in the evening. Hell, but short-lived and it worked.

Lutravers · 30/11/2011 16:54

DS started doing Bond papers, recommended by the school, approximately 8 weeks before the test. He did one an evening, he saw a tutor for an hour on Saturdays for the four weeks prior just to run through the papers and set him an essay, mainly persuasive writing. He wanted to go to the Grammar himself so was happy to put the effort in and it paid off for him. He is naturally bright, questioning and pushes himself so is in the correct place. His elder brother, although naturally bright, had to be pushed kicking and screaming to do homework, revision, etc... It wouldn't have been the right place for him even though tutoring would probably have got him in. Year 4 is far to early to put the pressure on, concentrate on the reading - absolutely everything, fiction, non-fiction, newspapers - First News is great for that age group and encourage him to question things, you end up learning more too.

loveyouradvice · 30/11/2011 16:56

just to say starting in year 4 was more about improving her maths at school than pitching for the 11+ but has made it easier to add in more.....

IslaValargeone · 01/12/2011 20:32

Can I ask, what those who have paid for tutors feel that the tutor has provided that you couldn't? What resources did they use?

Lutravers · 02/12/2011 12:38

We only used a tutor for an hour, once a week, in the four weeks running up to the test. It was really just to reassure DS that he was on the right track with his persuasive writing. We knew he was ok with the bond assessment papers at home and the tutor, a lovely elderly lady who had been tutoring for years, just gave him a confidence boost. I don't agree with intensive tutoring, if they need that to get in, then they will struggle to cope with the work once there.

barbaraavon7oaks · 06/12/2011 22:13

I have 3 boys all who passed the 11+. I would suggest you buy the Bond Assessment books relevant to your childs age and start with the first books.

If the 11+ is Maths, Vbl and non verbal reasoning then just get those but if your child is going to do other entry exams then the English one would be useful too. As you are giving yourself a good deal of time you do not need to do these tests in a pressured way. I wouldnt time them just let your child take their time, then you can mark them and discuss any problems. As your child is in Year 4 you will be able to work through any problems calmly as there is no imediate pressures. You will also see what areas you need to concentrate more time. Also it want matter if it doesnt get done particularly over Christmas etc. Good luck

SheHulk · 07/12/2011 10:02

DS preparing with Bond papers now (he is in Yr5). Last summer I started him on NVR, 15 min everyday during hols, just because it's something they don't do in school, he enjoyed it, and the more he did the better he got at it. Which makes a joke of "IQ testing"!!

JaneSilver · 10/12/2011 19:20

I think the difficulty with judging whats necessary for the 11 Plus is that so few children are clearly , visibly capable of doing it having just done some papers and a guide book. Their performance will undoubtedly improve, but they'll only perform to the very best of their ability if they develop their core skills. Starting mid -way through year five or later is fine if you are just planning to polish and see how they go in my view.

If however you think you have a child who could thrive in that environment, but who perhaps ( for whatever reason) hasn't made fast enough progress at school then it might be better to work on those core english and maths skills for a greater period of time. Whatever happens it won't hurt them, they just might get ( effectively) half an hour a night or less if you spread it out over hols etc to do. Personally I think there's absolutely no problem with recognising your child could do better and helping them imporve their core skills to see how good they can become.

treaks10 · 14/12/2011 17:13

We used the bond books from yr4. Basically we did 1 paper of maths, verbal and non-verbal per week at a gentle pace. That was to pick up the methods of verbal and non-verbal and to also support Maths at school. It was very low key and we did not put time limits on each paper.

About half way through year 5 started to look at working a bit quicker and in the summer holidays we got together with friends and did some timed mock exams - the 11+ is at the beginning of yr 6 where I live (Bexley). Overall her level in Maths shot up massively with all theextra practive and now she is at a GS she has settled in so well, its good to see.