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Secondary education

New London Consortium assessment for 2023 entry

51 replies

EmotiveBubblez · 09/05/2022 18:58

The Consortium have announced their new assessment today that has been developed in conjunction with Atom Learning.

Details are:

The assessment will include cognitive reasoning, English comprehension, Maths and some creative new components to assess problem-solving and analysis skills.

Any prior knowledge assessed in the entrance examination will be based on the National Curriculum for Year 5, but with opportunities for additional challenge built into the assessment.

The assessment will be taken as an online assessment.

There will be five distinct components, taken in the following order:
20 minutes for Maths
10 minutes for Non-Verbal Reasoning
30 minutes for English comprehension and Verbal Reasoning
BREAK for 30 minutes
15 minutes for Problem Solving
25 minutes for the Analysis component

Familiarisation materials will be published on the Consortium website in early Autumn Term 2022. We recommend that all candidates look at these before taking the assessment.

I am happy to hear they will be tested on the Y5 curriculum bot happy that the familiarisation materials are available from he Autumn term given the assessment takes place in December.


What are people's thoughts and how are you preparing?

Y5 parent - EB

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Mystery2345 · 10/05/2022 18:21

My first thought is do they have shares in Atom Learning - what a scam!

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EmotiveBubblez · 10/05/2022 20:07

It’s interesting isn’t it, this definitely will boost Atom’s subscriptions. Although it seems the majority of parents do sign up to that service anyway.

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LondonMum20222 · 17/05/2022 15:20

Also, I was interested in this bit:

"Only Consortium schools will be allowed to run afternoon sittings. We are allowing this to increase capacity for candidates to take the assessment at Consortium schools if required, and because our schools will ensure there is no possibility of afternoon candidates finding out the questions from morning candidates."

I'm not sure how it's possible to guarantee that candidates sitting the same exam at different times of day don't communicate with each other.

Atom are clearly going to make a killing...

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pkim123 · 17/05/2022 17:40

Mystery2345 · 10/05/2022 18:21

My first thought is do they have shares in Atom Learning - what a scam!

I agree, I was shocked to learn Atom will both prep AND administer the test. What was wrong with the ISEB? And now you are going to basically be compelled to pay £60 per month?! Atom's business is BOOMING, they are already expanding in the US.

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uk2020 · 17/05/2022 21:32

This news makes me feel very uncomfortable with the Consortium. First, did they really need to mention the so-called partnership with Atom in such a high profile manner? Second, does it imply we should train our children given Atom itself is tutoring system? Third, was there any personal interest involved in the so-called partnership? I think we need to pressure the Consortium to change their mind.

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pkim123 · 17/05/2022 21:37

uk2020 · 17/05/2022 21:32

This news makes me feel very uncomfortable with the Consortium. First, did they really need to mention the so-called partnership with Atom in such a high profile manner? Second, does it imply we should train our children given Atom itself is tutoring system? Third, was there any personal interest involved in the so-called partnership? I think we need to pressure the Consortium to change their mind.

How can people pressure them to change their mind? Which parents want to put their name on a letter telling a school that they don't like their entrance exam?

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LondonMum20222 · 18/05/2022 09:59

Aside from the fact that it's a clear money-making win for Atom, what worries me is that all the schools bleat on and on about not needing to tutor / do any prep outside school for 11+. And yet now they're linking the main online provider of 11+ prep to a whole tranche of schools for the entrance exam. The obvious consequence of which is that tons of kids will be made to sit through hours of mock tests on Atom (and parents will feel duty-bound to pay £60 for the privilege). It makes a mockery out of the secondary schools' insistence that kids shouldn't be made to do loads of extra work. Of COURSE parents are going to feel that, in order to give their child the best shot, they'll have to practice on Atom. It's really bad form.

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pkim123 · 18/05/2022 10:18

LondonMum20222 · 18/05/2022 09:59

Aside from the fact that it's a clear money-making win for Atom, what worries me is that all the schools bleat on and on about not needing to tutor / do any prep outside school for 11+. And yet now they're linking the main online provider of 11+ prep to a whole tranche of schools for the entrance exam. The obvious consequence of which is that tons of kids will be made to sit through hours of mock tests on Atom (and parents will feel duty-bound to pay £60 for the privilege). It makes a mockery out of the secondary schools' insistence that kids shouldn't be made to do loads of extra work. Of COURSE parents are going to feel that, in order to give their child the best shot, they'll have to practice on Atom. It's really bad form.

I completely agree with you. That said, now everyone can at least be honest with each other that the 11+ is a great big tutoring exercise. The schools are essentially endorsing your £60 per month subscription. Time to sign-up to Atom everyone!

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EmotiveBubblez · 18/05/2022 20:56

Completely agree with you both @LondonMum20222 and @pkim123

goes against everything they have said about not tutoring.

Also impacts children who may apply for fee assistance, whose family may not be able to afford Atom.

it will pressure parents to purchase the Atom subscription as they will feel they may stand a better chance if they engage with the author of the test.

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Mummymillion · 08/07/2022 06:50

I had exactly the same thoughts as above. The hypocrisy Is ridiculous. The whole Atom learning spin is about providing excellent education opportunities to children who can not afford it , but here to apply to consortium schools we are forced to subscribe to Atom.

I just do not understand why the Consortium would do this, and as said before, be somewhat proud of declaring they are working with Atom.

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Shitscared123 · 09/07/2022 12:18

Agree it stinks and is unethical. DS’s school paid for all the subscriptions to such services (ATOM, BOFA, Pre-test Plus), however, it didn’t have the full functionality, and so some parents forked out. Sadly, private school kids will have the advantage of access at no/little cost.

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EmotiveBubblez · 13/10/2022 21:25

Just thought I would bump this post - is anyone applying for schools in the consortium and if so which ones and how many?

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LondonMum20222 · 13/10/2022 21:29

@EmotiveBubblez We will be next year (2024 entry) and probably two or maybe even three - seems silly not to when there's only one exam to sit for multiple schools (though I'm also aware that most of the interviews take place over a fortnight - many in the same week - and you don't want to overload the girls there). Which ones are you looking at? We haven't been able to visit them all yet as some - like G&L - stipulate that you can't visit until Year 6.

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EmotiveBubblez · 13/10/2022 21:44

It is so tricky, because I am thinking what will happen if she does not get in and do not want to be in that situation.

I am thinking 4 in the LC and 2 outside which will mean 3 tests in total but then if we get interviews for all within a fortnight in January than this is the tricky part.

We saw majority last year without her then narrowed it down by visiting this year with her. Did not see G&L til this year for reason you mentioned.

WHS and PHS.

NHEHS, G&L, St. James and Queens Gate.

Bit of a mix there but led by my daughter as its important she is happy.

What have you seen so far? feel free to PM me.

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EmotiveBubblez · 13/10/2022 21:45

@LondonMum20222 forgot to tag you.

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LondonMum20222 · 13/10/2022 21:51

@EmotiveBubblez Have PM'd you.

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uk2020 · 15/10/2022 23:26

EmotiveBubblez · 13/10/2022 21:25

Just thought I would bump this post - is anyone applying for schools in the consortium and if so which ones and how many?

I will apply for two of them

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EmotiveBubblez · 15/10/2022 23:29

@uk2020 that's great.

How have you been preparing?

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MissSouri · 16/10/2022 22:57

Great thread.

We're also taking the consortium test (and will be going for 2 schools).

But Atom?! I'm angry about this brand partnership for all the reasons discussed on this thread. I'm not going to get pushed into a subscription just because of FOMO, I can't believe they advise against tutoring, it makes me want to boycott all those schools that are partaking in this. I'm sure Atom pays them well.

Basically, we refuse to buy into the Atom test.

How do we prepare? We've done GL at home as our DD sat grammar school and needed it. We've worked through some Bond books last couple of years and do CEM tests at home, plus past papers in English and Maths. That should be enough and prepare her for any question that might come up.

And if she gets a place - awesome and if not then the school wasn't the right fit for her anyway.

We have one DC at an excellent state school and another DC who was lucky to be able to choose between a few offers - who is now at CLSG.

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goMN · 19/10/2022 11:10

Hi! So they have added a new section in the consortium exams from this year --- 'puzzles and problem solving'! Anyone got any suggestions on how to prepare for this ? Are the practise questions available on Atom ?

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EmotiveBubblez · 20/10/2022 05:09

The Consortium posted familiarisation papers @goMN whixh can be found here app.atomlearning.com/public/taster/london-consortium/selection/35

not really sure how you can prepare for this

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goMN · 20/10/2022 07:26

Thanks @EmotiveBubblez I did look at the sample but was hoping that there were some more resources for practising for this.

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Seebee · 20/10/2022 07:36

Some thoughts. We did the Iseb during covid. I got a sub to atom (for a couple of months). My child started off in the top percentile, and ended up in the top percentile (and got into everything he applied to).

I thought there was something wrong with atom. How was he scoring so highly? surely you improve? Ultimately, he didn’t improve. I’m not sure familiarisation makes very much, if any difference. It tests wider knowledge. You don’t learn stuff from atom. It surprised me at the time since what is it’s point if you don’t learn or improve? ultimately, it taps into parents fears.

I might take out a months sub, but even the freebee 5 day trial is enough. If you are at a state school it is also very useful since it gives you an idea of where your kid is, and the sorts of schools to apply to. It really does seem to test knowledge. It does have explanations of how things work, but to repeat, it’s not a tutoring platform. Your child will learn things elsewhere. I’m shocked at this partnership, but don’t worry if you can’t or haven’t done loads of atom!

As above, I saw zero progression with my child. Maybe it’s because they had nowhere to progress, but even within the highest band, I wasn’t seeing a move up, over time, but more a wobble up and down within the band, sometimes dipping down to the next band, sometimes soaring in the highest band.

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Seebee · 20/10/2022 07:39

Sorry about errant punctuation. In context of writing about atom I should say this was down to the Autocorrect. I’m not illiterate. My son could probably do some nice copy editing of my text ;-)

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curiousllama · 20/10/2022 16:41

Does anyone know whether the English will be similar to the ISEB Pre-Test or the Atom's English 11+ Mock Tests? Wondering which is better for practice. I.e. is the English going to be pure comprehension or will it also ask about grammar e.g. adverb phrases?

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