2023 Eleven Plus support thread

[elevenduck]

I thought it might be useful for parents of 2023 children taking the 11+ test next school year to have a space to talk everything 11+ - tips on managing stress, approaches to the different papers, ways of relaxing etc.

Let's try and keep it positive and supportive!

Note that there are no data or research suggests that - in the same sixth form college or grammar sixth form, the students from comprehensive schools perform worse than from the grammar schools or vice versa for A level subjects.

There are a few cases parents try to request such information from FOI in some selective grammar sixth form but the result is not conclusive.

@PreplexJ If you do not have a child currently going through the 11+ process, please may I suggest you leave the thread? Constantly telling us that grammars aren't that important is all well and good but this is not the space for it.

@elevenduck I think you are being unreasonable, a lot of other participant in this thread, do not have child currently in the process, a lot of them share about their experience on the school choice and the rationale going through the process - this include factors of choosing certain characteristics of schools. You are allowing poser to opinion grammar is a nice place with their experience in this thread but does not allow alternative opinions based on evidence and facts.

It is a public forum and thread, if you have concern on certain content of my post, feel free to report to MNHQ and let then decide.

@elevenduck I get your frustration - best to ignore and don't fed the troll. Some people don't know when to stop.

I’m ignoring too. Most of their posts are irrelevant to this thread and they clearly have a weird anti-grammar axe to grind.

Not a single comment I made in this thread are expressed as my opinion on anti-grammar. The main thing I suggested is there is no evidence that grammar schools has benefit to a child academic attainment at a national level.

Nor do I express in any way not supporting parents doing 11+ process in this thread. I do suggest expectation management on the process outcome, which can course illusion and misalignment with their expectations.

I do understand some posters in this thread, who viewing grammar school education through somewhat rose-tinted spectacles, any comments, even it is neutral and objective are seeing as negative objections.

I’m going to give that a go. First thing in the morning. That’s a good idea. I’m finding that my son is getting bored of the questions on mocks! Anyone else had this? Maybe it’s time for a break - although we had nearly two weeks off when we went away.

I am finding it difficult to judge whether we are doing enough or too much? I’m not stressed about it all just want him to have a fair chance at it. Anyway thanks for the tips people and emotional support really appreciate it.

Dd has a day camp for 3 days so I’m going to hold off doing anything until can assess how tired she is after this.

the tutor is so good at calming her down and convincing dd she is actually intelligent and is able to do this, we suffer from having friends who are in the “”scary bright” category and seeming a bit thick in comparison to 10 year olds could probably have a punt at GCSEs this year and still smash it!

the tutor is so good at confidence building, I really think she should become a life coach or be someone who goes give team talks before World Cup matches etc.

I think the hardest thing is knowing they could be doing all this work and not get a place…. Sorry know that’s not very positive. Just feel like it’s taken over the summer a bit. I know it’s her future and she’s working so hard. It’s so competitive and the pressure is getting to her now. Her best friend is applying and getting very competitive which is upsetting her as well. Ah it will be over soon.

Have another mock tomorrow and hoping it goes well. Then a break as camping with friends for a few days.

@LimeCheesecake maybe I need to borrow your tutor 😅 she sounds amazing!! Hope you enjoy the camping trip

We have 10 more days to the big day! Will be a relief when it is done and then its a waiting game.

I know! Although on one hand wish we had more time will be grateful when it’s over for DD and for me 🙈

If my dd fails and wants to do 13 plus does she have a chance?

Not many selective schools (private) has major intake for girls in 13+ ( there are but few options and some of them did pretest at 11+). But you can always try in year admissions or wait until sixth form.

I mean does failing preclude her from being allowed to try

Depends on school u need to ask individual school to check.

You will need to read the admissions docs of the school. Some will not let someone who failed at first attempt retry. The majority however will still have e a chance but only when a place comes up. Bear in mind those places are very rare and you are competing with those who want to transfer from a highly performing independent school, those new to the area etc, often for one place. In DD’s year only one place came up Y7 to Y9.

Generally 16+ (sixth form entry) offer much more options and opportunities.

I've already got one in grammar and we have slim to zero chance of getting her in on sibling before other one leaves the school. But she won't work with me or revise.
She could just scrape in on English and nvr but how much of the maths paper would she have to pass?

Older dd had no tutor, we showed her more complicated nvr on u tube, showed her some books with the close stuff but she only ever did bits here and there with no formal sitting down to do it at all. She was already greater depth anyway.
No half an hour each day etc.
I put her into 11 plus school mock to familiarise herself with the exam.
Younger isn't working at gd though but is absolutely adamant she wants to do it!
It's quite tricky because I'm sort of dammed if she doesn't and damed if she does and fails which is likely at this point.
I'm trying to view it as good exam practise.
She won't do any work and she needs too however she will let me try and introduce her to new words so at least I'm able to generally boost her vocabulary.

It will be a shame though if this half arsed attempt cuts her off at a later date

One thing to bear in mind is that, regardless of their tests results, none of this revision is wasted learning. It’s all valuable knowledge even if they don’t get a grammar place.

The outcome is less important, and might not make any difference in the long term, the process is more important.

I agree with you as far as maths, comprehension and aspects of verbal reasoning (eg vocab) go, but honestly NVR and code breaking are not going to be useful after the exam. They absolutely might be indicators that your child is good at engineering or DT, but they are never going to sit an exam based on cube nets or rotated buildings in the future.

(Separately, as an English grad, I find the grammar testing entirely unnecessary. I still don't understand what a determiner is or why you would need to identify one!)

@elevenduck I couldn't agree with you more! I have no idea about half the grammar that crops up in 11+ and nobody will ever need most of it. When, as an adult, have you ever needed to identify a frontal adverbial clause? 😂Ditto your point re NVR - utterly futile for anything other than passing an NVR exam. At least the maths and English should set them up well for Y7 whichever school they go to (or, at least, that's what I'm telling myself...)

I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds the English unnecessary… good to hear from an English graduate! It’s been making me feel rather inadequate .😂

I also think if they don’t get a high enough score they’re not failures and like pp said none of the learning is wasted.

Non-verbal reasoning is a type of psychometric test that assesses a child’s innate ability to solve problems using logic and visual reasoning. Unlike English and Maths, which may be influenced by home environment and education advantages, NVR tests are designed to measure a child’s problem-solving skills without relying on language skills. It is believed that, for NVR, each kids has a ceiling level that can be achieved even with reasonable practice and repetition, regardless of the child’s background or education . As a result, NVR tests are still very popular among many selective grammar and private schools as a compulsory subject for the 11+ exam .