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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

11+ preparation

28 replies

Turefu · 24/09/2021 15:47

Hi! My so is in year 5 and I’d like him to go to the grammar school. There’s only one within our area. However, when I checked what is required on 11+ exam , I’m overwhelmed . There’re many topics I don’t understand and he doesn’t . He hasn’t got a tutor, I wanted him go there based on his own abilities . But am I being naive ? He’s bright child , teachers keep saying that and he copes with school very well, but that’s the totally different level. Many things hasn’t been done at school yet. He’s only 9, it’s called 11+, while he’ll be 10 at the time of his exam. Any advice?

OP posts:
whatinname · 24/09/2021 16:28

You do not have to have a tutor. Children do sit for the grammar school test beginning of year 6 and they are expected to complete entire KS2 syllabus. Both my daughter and son were in top set in their primary school and the school did complete the year 6 maths in year 5. There can be VR and NVR components as well which the school will not cover. Depending on the exam structure of your area you will need to make a plan, collate resources and start preparing.

HonorHiding · 24/09/2021 20:51

You don’t have to have a tutor, but in my view it is unfair to put a child in for these exams without suitable structured preparation (which can be done at home without huge financial outlay, according to the needs of the child). It probably was different years ago, but the reality now is that the bulk of candidates in most 11+ areas will be receiving significant help, one way or another, to prepare them for these competitive exams.

OP: we are also at the start of Y5. Happy to discuss more offline if you want to PM me.

ElvenDreamer · 25/09/2021 07:06

Hi @Turefu, I recall seeing you over on the 11+ support thread, my DD yr 6 has just completed so when we get her results in a couple of weeks can let you know if what we did worked! Meanwhile DS1 is in yr 5 and I start the journey again 😫 For us our focus has been definitely not to over pressure as that is counter productive, I actually used to do a bit of visiting teacher work in a grammar school and did come across some very unhappy yr 7s sometimes who had been tutored and pressured within an inch of their lives to get in and then just couldn't cope when they got there. A little prep on the other hand is definitely required to give the naturally bright kids a chance against that hot house approach I'd say . Maths practise we've found is the most important thing, have a look at some past papers to get an idea of the standard, and it's to do with being able to work quickly as much as anything. We would naturally practise maths anyway as school of course encourage it so this was no great change in a way. Nearer the time some past papers just for a bit of exam technique is useful, time management is a tricky thing. We did a past paper fairly early ish in yr 5 to give a rough idea, then 2 or 3 more in the summer term. Books like Schofield and Sims, Bond or CPG are nice if you just use their 10 minute test ones, they're like quick little fun puzzles then. As I say, I do not yet know DDs results so can't claim my methods to be perfect but I like to think we stuck a balance of practise, which will only stand her in good stead wherever she goes, and no pressure. She enjoyed the experience over all and came out happy on the day with lots of excited chat about everything she'd seen so that's all I can ask really. We're choosing (after discussion with her( not to tell her her actual marks when we get them so that her having to think about anything is now all over.

PileOfBooks · 25/09/2021 07:18

I have a yr 5 child so just kooking at this now.

Yr 6 maths isnt usually taught in yr5 in state schools anymore ("mastery" curriculum) so this bit concerns me as to which areas we need to look at in more depth. And when - bit esrly now to teach yr 6 topics when she hasn't done yr 5. From memory in things like ratio and algebra...

We are going to work through some cgp books . Do check if it is GL or CEM ir some other exam so you get the right booklets.

Sittinginthesand · 25/09/2021 07:31

My dc has just started at a grammar - all of the class had tuition. It’s true that some may not need it and it would be better if none had it, but when the majority of people do it’s certainly something to be aware of! Personally I found it easier to have a tutor as it is a different relationship for the dc. The tutor will set homework anyway so parental involvement still needed. Mock exams are really worthwhile for exam practice. You need to find out which type of exam it is so that you get the right books. Vocabulary is v important, so lots of reading. Times tables and division tables need to be at their fingertips. Primary schools generally won’t help at all, and the fact that they won’t have covered the y6 syllabus is another key reason for tuition. Primary schools are all about ‘mastery’ whereas 11+ is about speed (tutors will teach ‘tricks’ ) and accuracy. And non verbal reasoning is not done in school at all.

Panicmode1 · 25/09/2021 07:46

All four of my children have been through it (successfully). It's such a horrible system (we are in Kent).

Ours all went to Kip McGrath once a week and had probably an hour of homework a week. They also did a 'summer school' to help them practice under test conditions.

I agree with a PP who said that having a tutor or an external teacher works better and takes the emotion out of the equation, but it is possible to tutor them yourself. Check which company set the exam (GL/CGP) etc and just work through the books. And read, read, read - the VR needs a good vocabulary.

Good luck!

withiceplease · 25/09/2021 08:09

The eleven plus forum is a great resource. Covers all the different areas of the country.
I coached my DC myself using info found on there

Callmecordelia · 25/09/2021 08:11

If you do decide to buy books/test papers, we liked the cgp ones because the answers had explanations of why something was right, rather than just which option.

Original poster
Turefu · 25/09/2021 08:52

Hello, thank you for all your replies. I realised now he need a tutor, as some parts of exam are not cover at school year 5 and I won't explain it to him. He's good at maths, not so keen on reading. I need a plan.

OP posts:
Stokey · 25/09/2021 09:13

@Turefu I was the same as you and thought my daughter would just be able to give it a go. In May of Y5 I got some past papers for her to try and it soon became clear that there were quite a few bits they hadn't covered at school. I then got her a tutor for the next 3 months up to the exam and it was well worth it. She not only covered the Maths but also really improved her creative writing and comprehension for the English paper.

Dd2 is now starting Y5 and I think I will tutor her earlier to give her a bit more time to prepare.

Bin85 · 25/09/2021 09:54

The Bond books now have explanations alongside the answers too.

barefootNpregnant · 25/09/2021 10:25

@withiceplease Where can I find the eleven plus forum please? Is it MN or external? Sorry clueless, just getting started on this! Thanks.

Splatling · 25/09/2021 12:03

@barefootNpregnant I think this is the one.

cricketjoys85 · 25/09/2021 12:21

@barefootNpregnant
It's www.elevenplusexams.co.U.K.

It has a chat forum for each region of the U.K. so you can talk about Tiffin entry etc in the Surrey section.

barefootNpregnant · 25/09/2021 14:08

@Splatling @cricketjoys85 Thank you both!

Blubell46 · 25/09/2021 14:28

@Turefu hi both my ds and dd goes to a selective grammar school. My first point would be to find out what the school is testing them on and how many stages.. check out their website.

Some schools focus on VR and NVR and others on grammar, essay, punctuation.

Don't worry if your ds son doesn't read that much...it can be done. We had a tutor but yiu can't leave it up to them you will need to be involved in a more fun way...

Simple things like when you go for walks think of how you would describe the tree...it maybe strange but the idea is to expand the vocabulary

There are also of books but bond on line was the cheapest and caters for all.

Plus check independent schools they have free sample papers to print out and practice

withiceplease · 25/09/2021 17:40

Just google 11+ forum or as link as already shown
Broken down by area as it varies a good deal across the country
Lots of free resources on there that I used as well as other books
Most seem to have a tutor though I think. I just didn't want to be driving younger DC around after school to get to tutoring sessions and I work part time so had plenty of time to sort out questions, do printing off, planning etc etc

withiceplease · 25/09/2021 17:43

And as bluebell says, loads of private schools have sample papers that I used for comprehension, vr, nvr, maths

barefootNpregnant · 25/09/2021 18:58

Thanks @withiceplease

Original poster
Turefu · 13/10/2021 22:35

Hi all
I started online preparation with KSOL. Some questions are very hard, other not so much. It's ok .

OP posts:
Horizon17 · 14/10/2021 01:09

Hi, I'm new to this forum. My son will be sitting the 11plus next year. Does anyone know what the 2nd stage essays were previously for Sutton Grammar and Wilson?

AntiMaskersAreTwats · 14/10/2021 01:32

Go on Outschool and search for 11 Plus. My DD does a weekly group 11+ lesson on there with a UK teacher for $6. It’s been fantastic so far.

Blubell46 · 14/10/2021 05:40

@Horizon17 I think you are best logging into 11+ forum and selecting Surrey...

busymomofadd · 23/01/2022 09:00

Can please recommend a good (tried and tested!) private English tutor for creative writing and comprehension, for one on one online lessons, for Yr5 DD. TIA.

7plus11plus · 30/01/2022 21:44

Get a tutor, even just for the source of past papers. But a tutor is not enough. You as a parent has to know where is the “gap” and how to fill it. After all you know your DC the best.

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