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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Support thread for parents trying to get their kids to do 11+ work this holiday!

92 replies

foofi · 12/07/2009 14:24

Am already dreading the holidays as dd needs to do some 11+ practice and it's so hard to get her to do anything! Anyone else in the same boat?

OP posts:

LilyAllensThirdNipple · 12/07/2009 14:25

OH I would advise NOt to tbh
wait until about 6 weeks before the test then really up the ante.
Too long drawn out will lose anyimpetus

Original poster

foofi · 12/07/2009 14:25

The test is in September, so it is about 8 weeks away. No danger of being over-prepared here!!

OP posts:

LilyAllensThirdNipple · 12/07/2009 14:27

oh I see!! As you were then

bribe her with itunes downloads

one per 30 min session

Original poster

foofi · 12/07/2009 14:56

bump

I can't be the only one surely?

OP posts:

cuppateaplease · 13/07/2009 09:20

We did this last year and although this is a boy who always moans about homework he actually did this without too much nagging! We discussed it before the hols and agreed that this was a one off exam and we would do something most days even if it was only for 10 minutes. DS would never have sat and done the test papers for hours at a time!

We left the 'proper' 11+ papers till last and went through alot of the 'free' papers that can be downloaded from the chuckra and elevenplus website amongst others. I had already checked the contents of the proper papers and made sure that we were covering the right sort of questions and topics. For many of these papers we just sat together and discussed them - DS was far happier just working out the answers rather than having to write them down.
when he did sit to do papers (both free and proper ones) we set a time limit - sometimes 10 minutes or just one section - we rarely did a full paper just timed each section.

For maths it is essential to improve the speed of answers so often when we were out in car etc we would have quick fire questions for times tables, square roots and squares etc (he was also allowed to test me!)

This revision was just for NVR, VR and maths.

Hope it helps - try to have fun............

seeker · 13/07/2009 11:02

Brain training on the DS.

Times tables testing in the car (up to 15x if you can manage it)

And bribery. Lots and lots of bribery.

2009 · 13/07/2009 11:42

Hi Foofi, I will join your support club!
My ds has agreed to do a little everyday (at least for the days we are here, not when we're on "real holiday" as he calls it).
He said he prefers to do it first thing in the morning so that he can then enjoy the rest of the day. He won't be doing full tests however, just 15 - 30 mins or so.

smartiejake · 14/07/2009 22:59

Ours isn't until the end of November but DD has just got to grips with all the codes for the verbal reasoning and now just needs to speed up a bit so will try and keep her doing a bit of bond work in the hols just to keep her sharp.

Jonico · 02/08/2009 16:33

My daughter is fairly good at all sections, but I am at a loss as to how to get her to speed up! She has no sense of urgency at all!

I have tried all sorts of bribes and inspirational pep talks, but she is just a bit of a dreamer. Tricky, cos this side of hher personality makes her a lovely,fun person!

Any tips??

Doobydoo · 02/08/2009 21:39

Hello.Ds1 to sit his Sept.It is verbal and non verbal here.
So far he has done 1 of each paper.Think we are aiminf for 1 every other day or 1 every 3rd day.It is the timing bit I think he will find tricky.
We haven't given him a time limit yet,but are thinking of doing so for his next paper.

Doobydoo · 02/08/2009 21:40

Jonico...I too await tips

Doobydoo · 02/08/2009 21:42

Foofi,has your dd visited the school,and if so does she want to go?
Ds loved it and really wants to go.When he was reluctant the other day to practice we just said if you want to go to this school you need to pass 11+ and therefore need to make an effort...worked on that day.

Merle · 04/08/2009 06:53

Hi there, please can I join? This thread is made for me. My son sits in in the second week of September, so we are doing some every day. Sometimes he whinges a lot and sometimes he seems to get the need to practice. He has been going to a tutor for a few months now. I think he loses sight of what it is all about and thinks that the study is going to go on for ever.

seeker · 04/08/2009 07:10

For the people wanting tips about speed - have you tried racing? I photocopied papers so we had one each then we raced to see who could get the most right in 20 minutes. Dd got a real kick out of beating me, which she could always do on NVR. I usually beat her at VR and we were pretty evenly matched at the maths!

Merle · 04/08/2009 07:42

That's a very good idea, seeker. We haven't been timing his work, as we've been trying to build up his confidence etc. He is ultra-competative, though, so would respond well to this. I'd enjoy the VR but find the NVR make my mind boggle.

seeker · 04/08/2009 07:47

It's important to do the 'most right in 20 minute" bit though. Otherwise you might get a very fast but all wrong paper!

Merle · 04/08/2009 07:52

Will do.

deaddei · 08/08/2009 14:10

We are doing either a 30 minute test each day (maths) and I am racing him too- I am so crap at some bits in maths!What is the point of rotational symmetry ffs?, He's ok on vr and nv, but for some reason his english is not particularly good at the moment. Probably just got lazy. He doesn't start tutoring again till Sept, then has tests for 2 grammar schools Nov and Dec. Us and 2000 other boys.
One school I may not put him in for as I don't particularly like it, and don't think he'll be comfortable there.But should he just do it for expereience?
TBH, I'd be just as happy him going to the local boys- no doubt would be lynched at our school gate for even saying that out loud! (it does not have particularly good exam results, but is very much on the up. Know lots of parents who have sent ds their over last 3 yrs and are very happy)

Merle · 09/08/2009 08:27

Deaddei - is it your husband/partner who wants him to go to the grammar, then? I don't think I could go through all the hassle of practice/tests etc if I would be happy with my local school.

QOD · 09/08/2009 08:41

Oh halllllllllllloooooooooo!
Dd takes it 16/17th Sept then another test at Dover grammar (miles away but what the hay) on the 18th
We have an agreement that she does 2 x 10 min papers (V, NV or maths) a day - plus a 1.5 hr stink weekly with a tutor - we have stuck it it throughout.
She has had lots of whinges but she wants to go there, and well, only she can do the work.
She has good sats levels for appeal so at the end of the day the test isn't the be all & end all.
(4a maths 5c lit 5c reading comp 5c science)
Having said that, if they pass life is so easy innit!!! Appeal results wouldnt get advised until June 2010!

deaddei · 09/08/2009 09:08

Merie- ds is a bright lad and we thought he would stand as good a chance as any other boy to get in. However, recently I am really looking hard at the schools and just wondering if they really are the holy grail parents think they are.
One is EXTREMELY academic- one of the top grammars in the country in terms of results. But it has a wide catchment area- a friends ds is in yr 7 and only 2 boys in his class live in our borough. Other school has much nicer feel imo, although 7 miles away but bus virtually door to door.(you probably know which schools they are !)
I want ds to have local friends- I'm not being a taxi service for the next 6 years, and also want him to have a life outside school- he plays lots of sport, and I don't want him coming home with hours of homework.
Parents at our school have looked at me as if I am the parent from hell when I say how impressed I am with local school- most of them go private rather than go send their ds there. But most of them have never been, and judge on hearsay. Private isn't an option, not through cost but it's not something I'm comfortable with.
He'll be in the top stream if he goes there and yes- he'll come across all sorts there- but that's life. Lots of his current friends will go there.
I think dh would like him to go to grammar as he went to a crap school, was bullied and got out at 16. But at the end of the day it has to be right for our son.

QOD · 09/08/2009 14:01

Oh my god............. just did a verbal reasoning test with her - I wish humans could eat their young.
Still she got 86.5% which I think is good enough

Doobydoo · 10/08/2009 20:09

We have just discovered that ds will be doing the standard yests in sept and not the multiple choice[which we thought]
Only makes a difference in the verbal really as instead of 5 choices for answer you get no choices and write the answer down.
QOD,My sister went to Dover Grammar she is 30 now

Merle · 11/08/2009 13:24

deddai - I don't know why but I've sent messages in response twice not but they've not made it onto this thread. I've forgotten what I've said now but basically I sympathise re. the decision for and against the schools. Can't work out where you are but presumably the London/SE area. We only have one possible grammar near us, so at least we don't have to think about any others.

QOD · 11/08/2009 17:00

Oh cool Doobydoo!
I went to Folkestone girls - but I am 40 so waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too old to know anyone in common LOL
Are you near us Dooby?

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