SW London Independents...11+ A question for those who've survived..

[OMG007]

We are about to embark on the horror of the 11+ for DD and despite promising myself I'd be relaxed about it am already completely stressed...

DD is a bright girl, good at maths, VR, NVR and creative writing but, by god, does she struggle on comprehension. She's ok if they're relatively straightforward but gets into a complete state otherwise. She is at a very good state primary and we also have a tutor who is concentrating on comprehension but I just wanted to know if anyone's DCs were weaker in one area but still managed to get into a school!

We're looking at more 'middle tier' rather than the (perceived) too notch ones. She loves sports, drama, music etc etc but not outstandingly talented at anything, just likes to get involved in everything.
Trying to get her to read more etc etc but it all ends in huge rows and I can't cope with all this until January!
To be honest I find some of the comprehensions she's been given pretty hard myself and I'm by no means stupid- some of them seem extraordinarily hard for 10/11 year olds!
Sorry - slightly panicked waffling...

Yes and yes and yes DD got into a good school!
Don't worry too much , some of the comprehensions out there are beyond ridiculous!
DD did the 11+ last year - the school she chose which is perceived to be the most academic of the 3 she sat for, she said the comprehension was straightforward. The "easy" school she found the comp "weird" and on discussing it with her she completely got the wrong end of the stick. She got an offer.

It's just one part of the exam. She'll be fine.

Thanks! I recognise your name from some old threads and we are going for similar schools! I think I may try and refrain from mumsnet until March!

One

One thing that helped both of mine was for me to 'narrate' how I would answer a question.
'Well it's asking me about the description of the forest so I'm scanning through to find that bit. I'm going to start with this simile and explain why it's effective, but hang on it's a 5 mark answer, so I need a second point, what about the alliteration...' Etc etc
I think they just needed to see the process, if you know what I mean.

Sounds useful- will try that. Although we've normally fallen out within 3 minutes if I try to help...

I don't post often but thought I would respond to reassure you as I was in your shoes last year with DD.

I was super stressed (as much as you can be) as she attended an average state primary, had EAL and so was relatively weaker in English, especially comprehension and was summer born. Although I know she is bright, my confidence dropped dramatically, probably not helped by some of those scary forums.
In the end, she got offers from all the schools she applied to (the "so called" best London independant schools).

So it's not as bad as it sounds provided you have a reasonably bright child (otherwise why would you put your child through it?) who is reasonably well prepared.

As for your question regarding the chances of passing exams despite having weaknesses, my DD improved hugely in writing 2-3 months before the exams and in comprehension ... she "clicked" the Christmas before so a couple of weeks before the exam The irony is that it happened when I took the time to work with her on those subjects (and not with the tutor...).

Good luck

Please read the previous years threads carefully and you will see that once waiting lists move etc everyone ends up with a couple of offers. It is nowhere near as competitive as people are made to think. The situation in SW London is made worse by schools with a very small intake releasing their offers first which causes panic because although they have long waitlists and they will use them, they can only make a limited number of first round offers. Good luck your DD will be fine.

DD struggled with comprehension and because she had no problems with writing, spellings etc just the answers! we used to practice them orally. Its a lot quicker than writing out the answers and you can cover a lot of them quickly and hopefully it starts to get easier. It worked for her and its nowhere near as frustrating to be told you've said something incorrect than to have written half a page on it.

My DS was consistently in the high 90's for all his maths and VR (didn't have to do NVR). His story writing was interesting-but it improved a lot with practice. He kept inventing complicated stories that would take too long to complete. His comprehension was all over the place. TBH I am sure it is nearly impossible to get top marks in it. I wasn't getting great marks myself! We just did as much practice as we could. He was state school educated (in a needs improving school).He got into all his schools which were very competitive to get into. Now I am a year on I can tell you I listened to others far too much it scared me and worried me! If your DD is bright she will shine as long as you plan your studying, let her have space to do her own things like sport or music and do a few 'test condition papers'. Good luck and try hard to hold on to your sanity!

I remember a comprehension breakthrough we had was when I was tearing my hair out with her and got a book of 11+ multiple choice comprehensions. She did fine on those, so it wasn't about actually understanding (usually) but getting the marks and not going off on a tangent. I don't think we ever did make much progress there, but it all worked out anyway.
You really don't need to be brilliant at everything.

I would disagree with "everyone ends up with a couple of offers"

More like - most people who want a fee paying school will find a place somewhere eventually

I went through this hellish experience with dd last year. We are in north London. It was very stressful as did was also at a state school and I really had no idea what standard was expected. And yes, some of the comprehension papers are really hard and often the texts seem weird choices for such young children! As long as your dd is good in some areas, and you do a reasonable amount of preparation, you will get offers.

AveEldon - read the SW London threads from the last three years. The only exception to this has been for people applying from overseas "outside the loop".
This is an area with fantastic state options and parents realise that they don't have to pay fees for their DCs to do well at senior school.

Thanks all! I have calmed down a bit...we also have a good chance of a State School we would be happy with and would prefer her to go there rather than some of the private schools just for the sake of going private.
I will try comprehension tips you've mentioned and try to keep us both sane..