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!

Hi! This is my first time commenting on MN. Discovered this thread yesterday and been keeping an eye on it since. We’re in Bucks too, and this is our first time doing the 11+… Just wanted to comment that my DS also found the NVR in today’s practice paper a bit tricker than he had expected.

Anyone giving QE test next week?

Hello, sorry what area are you in that you get a practice test?

@Testpreo we’re in Bucks. The Local Authority sets a shortened version of the 11+ paper which the children sit as a practice two days before the real thing. Just to familiarise them with what to expect on the day.

@historyrepeatz how did your ds get on yesterday? My DD found it OK, but said that she preferred the Kent test.

For those of us in this area, BGS open days are now available to book in the week commencing 16 October. You have to cancel the booking if your child doesn't pass the test. Really don't like that way of doing it!!

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon DS said it was harder than Kent but also he was fresher for Kent and didn't sleep before yesterdays (not nerves). I don't know whether he will pass but there's no pressure on him and I've told him not to worry. I wouldn't want him to be in grammar and struggle.

How did your DD find the whole experience? My DD is at Townley and she said she felt bad for the kids as she saw some when changing class. Having 1500 big kids around might be a little daunting. We were lucky as they sat it in their own classrooms and the school is closed to all other pupils.

@historyrepeatz My DD had a similar reaction about the difference between Kent and Bexley. I think Bexley is more time pressured than Kent though. When I went to pick her up, the first girl out of the door went straight to her mum (who was standing next to me) and said "mummy I don't think I did very well" (bless!) so it sounds like everyone found it a challenge. DD in particular did not like the Comprehension text!

DD was at Townley yesterday, but she was in the hall so I think they just went directly from the entrance door to the hall. She didn't mention seeing the school girls on the day. (Another reason that she preferred Kent was that they were in a primary school classroom with mainly other children from her class, whereas she wasn't particularly near her classmates in the hall yesterday- which is obviously just something she'll have to get used to!)

Just one more to go now (NW), but it's next Friday so we have a bit of a break and it's only reasoning so "just" two subjects to revise instead of 4!

I was relieved that Kent kept the kids together with their classmates. Reassuring to have those familiar faces and glad that they had Kent first. If your Dd is worried about the time thing you can let her know my neighbour was worried too as she had to leave a few and she got top 180 and is now at NW. :)

One of the reasons we only went for Bexley and not Kent as well , was to prevent burnout/over stress. At least DS could just focus on one.

The girls in his class all went to Townley and the boys were at Beth's. In a massive hall, sitting alphabetically which meant he was directly behind one of his friends and they could chat in the short break.

That said he told me yesterday there was one awful woman who was screaming at them if they were perceived to move out of line at all. DS shifted in his seat as they were settling down (before test started) and she absolutely screamed at him to stop moving and sit still, and he was on the verge of tears with nerves as it was. Unimpressed.

But he said the test was ok. Thought comprehension was fine but NVR was tough on timing

Geez they're only ten years old. I would feed that back. What an awful start to the test. If she's Beth's staff she would put me off the school! Wilmington Grammar staff were very nice.

We didn't do Kent with DD but DS wanted to do it as his friends were doing it. Realistically there's only two options there for us and we are probably too far for one and the other requires very high ooc scores which isn't likely. I've heard that lots of Bexley people do it simply as a mock as it's earlier to get the DC's nerves dealt with.

Yeah I can see the logic of using it as a mock. Just didn't really think about it at the time!

I am definitely considering feeding back about the woman. I sort of want to substantiate it, but also not sure if she was staff or a Bexley invigilator!

I would also speak to the school about that woman. They are meant to be making the kids feel at ease and not upsetting them before the test. That's not the best start for the poor lad at all. Hope he's ok.

He settled down as soon as he got the paper and read the first question. I'm torn between raising it and not wanting to be 'that parent ' or somehow disadvantaging DS even though I know that can't really happen. Or making them think I'm looking for some sort of accommodation as a result.

Beth's even gave parents dropping off a letter reassuring parents that they'd look after their children and help them feel.less stressed and recommending some places nearby for parents to kill time until pick up which felt really nice.

I would definitely complain about that woman. Such cruel and unnecessary behaviour.

For Sutton SET Second Round, will they need to show the working for Maths? Will there be Step marking for second round?

DD had her exam today. She seemed ok if not totally confident she had passed. She said maths and NVR were tricky. Just a waiting game now. Hope all Bucks pupils came out feeling positive.

For both boys and girls second round, it is advised to show working to get some marks.

That's not what the Nonsuch and Wally Girls guidance says here. Only the final answer is marked apparently.

I'm glad to hear it @Coraline353. Something like that would have really upset me as a child so it's great to hear he was able to put it to one side and concentrate.

@elevenduck Glad to hear things went well.

Still more than a week to go here. DD did a mock the other day and didn't perform too well so it's knocked her confidence a bit. She usually gets decent marks but this was much lower than usual. I am longing for all this to be over.

You are right, girls dont boys does.

Exam tomorrow morning. Bright and early 8.30am so will be leaving at 7am to park 🙈 Any top tips? 😬🙈 Hope everyone is getting on ok

Annnnnnd breathe! DD sat her test (GL Assessment) this afternoon and I’m so relieved it’s over. Felt cathartic to bundle away all the mock test papers. She came out beaming, said it was “easy to medium” except for English which was really hard. She wasn’t nervous going in and was mostly just annoyed that she had to miss school!

There were hundreds of kids lining up for the test and I heard from a parent in the queue that there was a similar number in the morning session. Realistically, I think DD getting in is a very long shot. They will be taking 180 pupils and I estimate around 700 pupils probably sat the test. I think I accepted this mentally a while ago plus DD really doesn’t want to go. She has pointed out that logistically it will be a nightmare (no direct bus route, I can drive her in 10mins but DS starts at a different school at the same time..).

I just wish I’d researched schools in the area before we moved here last year. I had no idea the secondaries in our immediate catchment were all so poor. We have such limited options and this Grammar is the only one for around 20 miles. I’m envious of friends in Kent/Bucks/Essex who seem to have so much more choice.

But it is what it is.

Over the next few weeks we will going to open evening’s at the secondary schools including the closest one to us which I really don’t like. The new HT has responded to the last Requires Improvement Ofsted with an "action plan" and apparently things have improved. So I must try to visit with an open mind.

I'm sending the very best of luck to everyone with DC sitting exams in the coming days!

Today is the day for DS2 (we're Salisbury). Trying to hide my nerves from him. We're happy with our backup school but he's worked hard and DS1 is already at the grammar so it would be great if he could do it. He definitely knows the content, but isn't at all consistent under test conditions.

Good luck to everyone sitting today and we'll done to those kids who've done theirs recently.

Last tutoring session for us today and then the countdown really begins.

All done! More questions and less time in the English so a bit of a curve ball. What will be will be now. I know DS tried his best so that’s all that matters. Hundreds sitting the exam today. Let the long wait begin.

Good luck everyone :)