Sitting the 11 Plus without tutoring?

[MrsWinnibago]

Dd is in year 5 and keeps asking if she can sit the 11+. She's definitely bright with her literacy being her strength....I'm obviously a bit of a lax parent as I can't remember her exact levels but she's B something. Her maths isn't quite as strong but has improved a lot this year....I can't afford tuition though.

The tests here are verbal reasoning which if I;m correct could be in her favour as she's particularly good at that sort of thing.

Should I just access some tests online and maybe buy some of those books from WHSmith? Or is it hopeless without a tutor?

Starting a bit earlier, not staring!

DS got into a super-selective without paid-for tutoring (he passed all three 11+ exams he took!). It is entirely possible and don't believe any parent who tells you otherwise! There is an awful lot of 'spin' about the need for tutors. Know that the Headteachers at most grammar schools would prefer children not to be tutored for 11+ exams....

What I would say is that you do need to do some prep though - just to check that they are up-to-speed on what they'll be tested on.... In our area the schools have moved right away from NVR and VR and towards good Maths and English skills!

Good luck!

OP, if the test is on VR then you don't need a tutor. Go buy some VR sample test papers from WHS and help your dd practice at home. The most difficult part of VR is to complete the test in time. Your dd will get less than 1 min per question and sometimes understanding the question is harder than answering it. If she's familiar with the questions and knows exactly what she's suppose to do, it will make a huge difference. GL.

Thank you BlueSky and also to all the other people who've been so kind and helpful. I feel very ignorant of the process.

Any recommendations of how much we should pay a tutor?

My oldest will probably need help and there are some smart university students living with their parents close to me who have offered to help. What do you think is fair for an hour of their time?

I don't suppose I can use the same rates that I use for babysitting can I?

Local to me in Cheshire it is between 20 and 30 an hour.

MrsWinnibago, if you are on the Wirral then I assume you are looking at WK GS or Wirral GS - both of which are pretty selective.

Everyone that I know who wants to go to Grammar has had a tutor from beginning of Yr 5 (or even earlier). The one that I know about who didn't have a tutor at all actually failed the 11+ and she has just taken level 6 sats! So it's not enough just to be clever..

We had a look at the papers and there is no way my DD could answer the questions without being tutored and she is currently working at level 5 (yr 5). And I know that I couldn't help with the tutoring myself as I just dont know what they are looking for etc.

I do know of someone who got a tutor for the summer holidays only and she did pass but was stressful and not recommended.

If she really wants to for it and you can't afford it, then if you've got the time (patience) then you should go for it but it won't be easy. You will have to do your homework and get lots of papers - not just past papers but information etc.

Good luck.

Heifer we did have a go at some papers last term and she had no difficulty understanding the questions or answering them....the only slight weak spot is her mental arithmetic really. She is very good at VR and so I do think that I will proceed as she seems to enjoy the bits she's tried.

fair enough MrsWinnibago. It's good that your DD is enjoying it. Good luck