10 Plus Extrance : City of London Boys

[NRANA]

Hi All,
DS is currently attending a state academy and will be sitting CLBS in 2 months. He has been preparing for a year and we have mostly used Bond and CGP books so far.
I have found past 10+papers for Eng & Maths but none for VR.

Are Bond and CGP books (age 10-11) sufficient for 10+ ?
Has anyone used exampapersplus for 10+ preparation? Is it worth investing in practice books from exampapersplus.co.uk ?
Any last minute revision resource tips ?

Any honest advise, review or pointers will be greatly appreciated .

Many thanks
A nervous mum.

My son also switched from a state school to city at 10+. I would not recommend Bond books at all. The level and style of the questions in the actual exam are very different. He should be working at 11+ level and if you still want to use bond, switch to 11-12 books. Exam papers plus were good, but pricey, I only bought a few VR tests from them and they were challenging in a good way.

Thank you @Cellomum12.
Really appreciate your inputs.
DS is currently doing 10-11years in bond books (comfortably) , would you recommend migrating to 11+ in Exampapersplus or going down a level to 10+? Do you recommend Exampapersplus for Eng & Maths as well?

Many thanks

10+ City exam is very much like 11+ elsewhere. I would do 11+ papers from other schools like Trinity,Alleyns, Dulwich, Manchester grammar, etc for English and Maths practice. I would also recommend Atom learning app, it’s similar to exampapersplus, but it’s cheaper per test and also you don’t have to mark it yourself.

Thank you @Cellomum12.
Will definitely give Atom learning app a try.

Just a heads up-my DS ( now yr 13) passed the 10+ exam paper ( we didn't tutor him as it was a last minute decision) However coming from a state school and being a really shy boy he didn't pass their "interview" which was held a couple of weeks later. In hindsight we should have prepped him for answering questions, keeping eye contact, speaking up etc. This is something children are most probably guided on in the private sector but definitely not in the state sector. Their feedback was that although his exam paper was very secure during the interview he was "unsure of his answers" I felt if they were only looking for very confident and vocal children the school wouldn't be the right fit for him.

Most of my son’s classmates come from state primary schools. We did not tutor him to pass the interview and he is very shy and does not talk much. The interview was academic - he was asked a few maths/English/science and current events questions. I am not convinced there is a way to prepare, we just exposed him to as many experiences as possible since he was a baby. My son is very passionate about his hobby and I have a feeling they are looking for enthusiastic, curious and reasonably academic children. Of course some kids can have a bad day and fail to show themselves in the best light on that day. So a gentle talk on the way to interview will help. Just to remind him about his hobbies, discuss news, favourite books etc..

Hello
how did you find the whole 10 plus experience?
Did your son pass the exam/interview?

My son sat the exam, had an academic interview and was offered a place on Tuesday.

He found the whole experience fine. The exam (at school in December) he described as ‘easy’ although I suspect he means it was easier than stuff he’d been working on in the lead up. The English paper was in old English and he had to answer questions about the passage and then finish off the story, he loved that. The maths paper he described as ‘wordy’ so had to read the questions lots of times to make sure he was doing the correct number work. Consequently he left the last 5 questions as he ran out of time. The vr paper was 85 questions in 35 minutes, he said that was easy and he’d finished in 20 minutes plus checking.

The interview was on google meet and he had a great time. General chat about family, 3 academic problems to solve without pencil/paper and then chat about hobbies/current book/the school/current school (local primary in north London). Think that’s everything. I’m happy to answer more questions if I’ve missed anything.

@LondonLulu Congratulations on the offer of a place! Fantastic school!

It sounds like your DS is probably quite naturally bright and curious?

Did you do much tutoring beforehand? Is he top of his local school?

Not sure my DS quite up to CLSB sadly but just trying to get a measure... thank you.

Thank you. He’s very very bright and seeks to learn things himself and always has.

He had a tutor every other week, we got him when B was in year 3 as he was so bored in school. Our school refuse to do much stretch and challenge with him so the tutor gave him stuff to do to occupy him. We didn’t do much prep at all. In November we did a couple of papers under exam conditions at home so he had experienced the timings but nothing heavy. We worked through some 10 plus paper packs from exam paper plus. We didn’t drum in a technique, we left him to it, hence the 5 questions left on the maths paper.

He’s very confident, while he was naturally a bit nervous, the whole process was enjoyable and he came out from the exam smiling. There were quite a few boys who were very overwhelmed after the exam, I noticed. My daughter is a school year younger, the whole process would finish her off, tbh. I think it’s geared towards very particular kids.

Thank you for the information. Yes he sounds like the type to thrive there! Worlds away from my son from what you’ve described so sadly we will probably have to give it a miss. Good luck to your DS!

Hello, Is your DS joining CLSB in Sep' 2021 ?

My DS also got an offer for 10+.

Hello @LondonLulu, Congratulations !

Is your DS joining CLSB in Sep' 2021 ?

@user1488286199

Hello *@LondonLulu*, Congratulations !

Is your DS joining CLSB in Sep' 2021 ?

Hi! Yes, my son is starting in September, in year 6. We’ll done to your son

@LondonLulu and @user1488286199. We have a WhatsApp group for OG2021, dm me if you would like to join.

Congrats!!!

Am very much new to England. My son will be giving 10+ in 2022. I've few questions

1. Is it true that kids can give either 10+ or 11+ exam ?

1. How should I start preparing? What topics and books I should refer?

@BBLY
Can I join the group ?

@LondonLuli

Congratulations!!!

Can you share the tutor details, if I can connect?