Queen Elizabeth Boys QE Barnet London - How was it last week?

[RzRzRz]

Wanted to ask mums on the prep journey and what it was like on the day?

How much to take notice of scores in the prep exams and mock papers etc...

We used Atom learning and we found time difference.

• English: mock has 50 minutes for 54 questions but real test has 45 questions for 64 questions
• Maths: mock has 45 minutes for 60 questions but real test has 50 minutes for 60 questions.

There is only a short break between Maths (first test) and English, about 5-6 minutes for bio-break.

For English, my sons doesn't like fiction but he said 2 comprehensions are for fiction.
For Maths, 1 son said easier than the test but the other one did not say.

Thanks for this as super helpful , what should we aim for in terms scores of ATOM mocks and paper mocks ?

236 is about the cut off so you need 118 sas in both papers I guess

I can't give you useful tips currently because I am not sure what score my boys will get from the real tests. I will try to give you my views.

For Atom learning, one boy of mine is better, he always gets 57 out of 60 for Maths, however, the score Atom gives was always different, sometimes, 117, sometimes 120. Based on this experience, in my opinion, if the difficulty level in the real test is same as Atom, whether my boy succeed or not is really random and depending on that day. For example, he was happy and may get 58 but he may get 55 if he is not happy. 55 vs 58 might not be very significant different, but the standard score is very different.

then it goes to the 'bar' set by Atom. The bar was set by Atom based on the previous boys but not very accurate. For example, a boy always get 55 in Atom but that day, he got 58 in the real test. then, the bar will be based on his experience.

I am really not sure whether the real test is easier or difficult. for my 2 sons: one said easier but he is always a little bit of overconfident and he only get 105-110 in the mock test. Yesterday, I asked the other one (who always get 57 out of 60), he said this test was harder. he can maximally get 55 correct this time.

It is very scary how achieving 90%+ scores consistently in practices still is not a comfortable benchmark!

I can't say always 57/60 but a lot tests get this outcome but different scores.

I would assume that .57/60 is minimum to get opportunities?

You would think having solid scores like that puts you on the mixer!

Did the boys sit any other schools?

Yes. I am still very un-confident from the beginning. I am less confident after he complained the compression f 2 fictions (which he doesn't like).
Yes, they are siting for another grammar school. All options are open, including private school.

@CrazyArrow How did they do in the end? Hopefully positive!