11+ concern

[zonegran23]

I hope this is the right thread. My 10-year-old son will be taking the 11+ exams for entrance at grammar school in 2020. He has developed a tick and is impertinent, disrespectful and argumentative. I've noticed a change in his character in the last few months. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it normal and how do I deal with reassuring him that he will be okay whatever the result?

We don't have the 11+ luckily in our area, so no direct experience.

Are you being equally positive about the non grammar option?
Could you have a complete break from practice / any tutoring?
Plan lots of fun things for the summer?

Oh dear... I wouldn't say that's normal and it's also very concerning.

It sounds like he feels under a lot of pressure. To try and improve things make sure he's listened to about his concerns, he's got time for hobbies and relaxation. You need to praise the effort he puts into exam prep and celebrate little successes. If you'd like to do regular practise, get him involved into planning out his work. That way he should feel more in charge instead of being made to do things.

If things don't improve over time, then I'd probably look for a good comp. unfortunately, grammars (and especially the super selective ones) are very demanding so you need to be the type who likes studying a lot to cope. They can also be quite high pressure environments with many competitive children.

not normal

Time to time we have some problems with our DS but he never argued with us for a long period because knows we are reluctant: discipline, timetable and sport.
We are not strict too much and our son understands that these lessons help him to be in the top of school. Yes, it is summer outside now, we slightly reduced the pressure but it is just for July.