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Secondary education

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

Original poster

2023 Eleven Plus support thread

854 replies

elevenduck · 19/10/2022 16:30

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!

OP posts:
Coraline353 · 27/08/2023 08:46

Sofishticated · 26/08/2023 18:35

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 .

Around here the state secondary schools also use NVR tests for 'banding'. All kids applying to those skills have to sit that test so the school can then accept children across a range of abilities. B

It's good in theory but if you've been practicing for 11+ or are naturally good at NVR like DS, you could end up in band A or B and they only accept tiny numbers from those bands, often only sibling places. So we run the risk of DS not getting a grammar school place but.alos not getting into our decent, very local secondaries. It's such minefield.

ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood · 27/08/2023 09:42

My 2 innately understand the nvr which is one reason i encourage her to try

AutumnLemon · 28/08/2023 10:04

Does anyone know if the CGP books get progressively harder? DD has been doing pretty well so far but on the last few 10 min tests in each book she's barely been getting half marks.

I can't work out if these last few tests are the super-hard tests aimed at superselective candidates (we're not) or if this is the standard she should be at - and isn't.

Coraline353 · 28/08/2023 10:45

The GL ones we've been doing go up in age brackets so do get harder. The 10-11 age are harder than 9-10 age.

AutumnLemon · 28/08/2023 11:34

Coraline353 · 28/08/2023 10:45

The GL ones we've been doing go up in age brackets so do get harder. The 10-11 age are harder than 9-10 age.

Thanks, yes, was aware the books step up in difficulty between school years but wondered if the tests within the books progress too - eg, are the tests on the first few pages of the 10-11 book easier than the ones on the last few pages? And if so, are other DC struggling more with the later tests?

Coraline353 · 28/08/2023 12:07

Oh sorry @AutumnLemon yes, I did find that with DS. The tests do stretch them as the books went on alright.

Idlovetostayhereandbenormal · 28/08/2023 12:14

My DS is the same. We’re approx 2/3 through the 10-11 CGP tests and he struggles on some of the questions as he’s not familiar with the vocabulary. Our exam is only a couple of weeks away so not much time to learn new words!

yoshiblue · 28/08/2023 13:33

@AutumnLemon yes the tests are supposed to get harder but I wouldn't say to super selective level.

There is only so much you can do now, may even be good to have a couple of days off if her scores are dropping significantly.

PreplexJ · 29/08/2023 10:16

We found the CGP workbook and the small tests not to superselctive level. The CGP test papers is a bit harder

Discodiva101 · 29/08/2023 13:22

My DD has anxiety and is starting with the feeling sick/headaches now 🙈

LimeCheesecake · 29/08/2023 13:40

So total meltdown yesterday at bedtime , resulting in dd being awake until 4am (I am very tired). Seems we all thought it would be helpful to tell her she could do it, just needed to relax etc, and that was stressing her more, because if everyone thinks she’s clever enough to pass, then if she doesn’t she’s let everyone down and it would be better if everyone thought she couldn’t pass…

so long chat this morning about it not mattering if she passes or not, it’s just we wanted her to try.

ahhh! Wish I could do it for her. Eldest child genuinely didn’t care about it, just sat it and that was that. No stress, don’t think it had occurred to him he’d be letting us down if he didn’t pass.

Idlovetostayhereandbenormal · 29/08/2023 16:34

It’s so tough on them. DS has been tearful this week too and as much as I try to reassure him, he is still very anxious about it all. We’re just doing 10 minute tests in the mornings and then I’m trying not to mention it again.

Are you planning to do much in the week before the exam? I think I’m going to keep things very light as I don’t want him to burn out and it’s a bit late to cram by then anyway.

Thinking of having a bonfire of practice papers after the exam!

curiousmamma · 29/08/2023 17:50

That sounds really tough @LimeCheesecake. We had a similar reaction a few weeks ago when my MIL said would do well and not to worry. Well we had tears over that as she felt everyone was putting pressure on her and she'd be letting everyone down if she didn't get in! DD is definitely still anxious about it but I'm trying to keep things light and breezy. Not sure it's having the desired effect though.

Funnily enough I'd mentioned a bonfire too for the mock tests we've got! I'll be glad to see the back of them let alone DD. Smile

Discodiva101 · 01/09/2023 10:43

Should I put my DD having anxiety on her secondary school application? Or should this be added at the point of if she is accepted ( regarding additional transition into the school?)

E mail came today to apply for her place but obviously can’t until know if she passes the exam 😬🙈🙈

If she doesn’t get in I don’t think the local inadequate secondary will work with her anxiety (know many students absent as no support.) So have everything crossed.

Coraline353 · 01/09/2023 12:11

Idlovetostayhereandbenormal · 29/08/2023 16:34

It’s so tough on them. DS has been tearful this week too and as much as I try to reassure him, he is still very anxious about it all. We’re just doing 10 minute tests in the mornings and then I’m trying not to mention it again.

Are you planning to do much in the week before the exam? I think I’m going to keep things very light as I don’t want him to burn out and it’s a bit late to cram by then anyway.

Thinking of having a bonfire of practice papers after the exam!

We took a full week off last week to go on holiday and have a total break and it's taken DS a few days to get back into the rhythm and speed he was at before so we'll probably keep up a bit of work into the final week. I think he's as prepared as he'll do ever be really.
We should be finding out today the actual date and location of the test for DS (we're out of borough so won't do it in his primary school). We know it's week commencing 11th September but not the day.

Coraline353 · 01/09/2023 18:36

So, we didn't get our email with the date and venue today. Don't suppose anyone else is sitting Bexley test? Did you get the info today?

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 01/09/2023 19:00

@Coraline353 I was wondering the same thing (expecting a Bexley email today and haven't got it yet!) I'm glad to see that it isn't just me, but then I hope they haven't been caught up in this concrete issue!

Coraline353 · 01/09/2023 19:39

Ok @BlackLambAndGreyFalcon at least we know we're not alone in not getting it. But yeah the concrete thing would be awful. I haven't heard of any schools in Bexley (or Greenwich where we are) being affected.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 01/09/2023 19:43

@Coraline353 we're in Greenwich too. I'm afraid that St Thomas More school has been affected (not a full closure though). Hopefully we'll hear something soon.

Coraline353 · 01/09/2023 19:54

Really? I hadn't heard. My neighbour directly across the street has a child there but didn't talk to them today. Nightmare.

Do drop back when you get your email (I'll do the same).

ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood · 02/09/2023 08:50

Does anyone know what the fine format is please. 45
Eg 45 mins maths, then comprehension 45 mins then nvr 20?

Ladybowes · 02/09/2023 09:30

ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood · 02/09/2023 08:50

Does anyone know what the fine format is please. 45
Eg 45 mins maths, then comprehension 45 mins then nvr 20?

It depends on which grammar school you are trying for... varies quite a lot. The one we are trying for changes every year which is deliberate to try and stop tutoring to the test.

ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood · 02/09/2023 09:32

I think we are gl?

How can they change the composition and times of each section?

PettsWoodParadise · 02/09/2023 09:40

ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood · 02/09/2023 09:32

I think we are gl?

How can they change the composition and times of each section?

They write a new paper. DD sat Kent way back when and the year after they changed the number of maths questions as hardly anyone finished. Then some questions have components that mean they add up to more points per question but next user they may have more questions but less complex. Some GL areas include spatial type questions, some don’t. Some have a tie-breaker style paper that isn’t marked unless goes to a headteacher appeal. Elevenplusexams forum has a lot more info by region.

Ladybowes · 02/09/2023 09:43

@ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood I am not fully sure but I have heard for example, one year you might get 70 questions in 50 minutes and another year it might 65 questions in 45 minutes - so basically they change the number of questions and the timing is what I understand. If that helps?