Sarah Beswick 11+ preparation
2024 11+ Mock Exams in Salisbury
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What's in the Mock Exam?
Our standard exam is:
A Maths paper - 50 minutes
An English paper - 45 minutes
A Verbal Reasoning Paper 50 minutes
Non-Verbal Reasoning 6x 5 minute sections (generally boys only)
Our Two Paper exam is:
Verbal & Verbal Reasoning, 45 minutes
Maths & Non-Verbal Reasoning, 45 minutes
We have years of data attached to these exams and know how to use the results to the children's best advantage.
South Wilts Grammar School has been using GL Assessment for years (GL stands for Granada Learning, formerly National Foundation for Educational Research- NFER). Their exam will be 3 papers - Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning.
Bishop Wordsworth's School has announced that it will also be using GL Assessment from the 2023 11+. Click here for more information.
The exams are multiple-choice and are usually held at the relevant Grammar School in mid to late September.
These Mock Exams have had the papers specially written for them, so the children cannot have done them before and thereby get a “false positive”. For this reason they are not released.
The papers are structured to give us as much information as possible.
Of all the things I do, I think this is probably the most useful. Most children have never sat a formal public exam before. There are many rules of etiquette that you and I take for granted, that are completely unknown to the children. The aim of the mocks is ensure that they give of their best in the real 11+, that they aren't fazed by the occasion, or embarrass themselves though honest ignorance. They can iron out any problems in a safe environment and can go on to concentrate only on the academic content of the exam.
The evidence from the reports may well be useful in the event that we want to appeal for a child should they narrowly fail. Children who have prepared well generally don’t fail, but if they do it is by a very small margin. Whilst it is not the real 11+, the reports do independently show where your child is compared with other local children who are preparing for the 11+.
Mock Exams at the Hall
2024 11+ Mock Exams are available to book online.
Click here for dates and booking
Catch-up Mocks
If you miss out on sitting Mock A or Mock B, you can still do these at later Mock Exam sessions, to better make use of the Summer holidays.
For example, if you book two or even three of the Mock Exam C Saturday sessions, one or more of these could be used for your child to sit a previous set of papers they have missed.
If you feel this would be useful to you, either book the sessions for the dates you want to use, or phone me to discuss your needs (01722 327525).
Click here for directions.
Tickets - Spaces need to be booked in advance.
Book here
Pay via PayPal.
You don’t need a PayPal account to pay; any card will do.
Your PayPal receipt is your ticket.
What to bring with you - click here
The room ready for the exam
The entrance to the Scout Hall seen from the other side of the road (St Marks Avenue).
When do we get the Results?
The papers are marked and checked immediately after the exam on the Saturday. Analysis for the full reports takes place over the weekend and the bound, printed reports are normally ready for collection or posting out by Tuesday afternoon.
What's in the Report?
Click on the link "Reports in Detail" for a closer look at the Reports.
Basic report £36 per exam with raw scores and class position. Presented in a bound A4 folder with bar charts showing the scores of all the children in each exam, but only your child is identifiable. There are also some general notes on the performance as a group. About 7 A4 pages of information.
Full report £46 per exam. In addition to the information given in the basic report there are:
- Close observations are taken of each child.
- A detailed report on each paper explaining any inevitable distractions and how the children responded
- We will give you directions to YouTube videos explaining how to do every question type that your child got wrong. This is personalized for each child. This usually amounts to hours of free individually directed tuition.
- Where relevant, we will include samples of your child’s workings or answers to illustrate where things need improving
Post There is a charge of £2.80 for post should you be unable to pick the report up in person.
Booking deadlines? If you want a particular weekend, it may be prudent to buy tickets sooner rather than later. The final deadline, if spaces are available, is the day before.
Do the exams predict the future 11+ result?
Largely yes, there is a very close correlation between the real 11+ and the final Mock Exam result. Having said that, I’d be an idiot if I didn’t add the usual caveats: ill or tired children underperform, conversely sometimes luck just goes our way. The purpose of my Mocks is not to predict the future but to look boldly at the present and change the future to the one we want, by identifying weak areas and rectifying them.
It is quite common for children to achieve less than 25% in their first mock, who then go on to have successful careers in The Grammar Schools (they have learnt how to enjoy work and not be hostages to fortune) Generally the workers seem happier, the ones who rely on natural genius usually hit a glass ceiling sooner or later and have to invent a work ethic quickly before they sink.
What to expect from a Mock Exam
What is needed?
· Four layers of clothing
· Snacks, not too sticky or salty
· Drinks with non-drip top
· Stick a note onto their snacks telling them that you love them. It makes a huge difference!
· Clear pencil case or plastic bag
· Pencils: I like the Papermate see-through, non-stop pencils. The rubbers work well and there is no need for a sharpener. Also, they don’t roll off the table. For the real 11+ you may be asked not to use a mechanical pencil.
· Rubber
· Sharpener
· Hairbands etc. for boys and girls with long hair and floppy fringes.
· Warm socks, for the kickers, so they can take their shoes off and kick freely without disturbing anyone.
· Glasses if needed.
· Watches or timers (not with calculators), if they promise not to fiddle, distract or peep. Time warnings are given.
· Check their bags for calculators, iPads, Fitbits, dictionaries etc. In the past children have bought them not realizing: it will lead to trouble. The exam board is very twitchy about espionage: so no phones or cameras. Seriously, they will disqualify you.
· No scrap paper. It will be confiscated. Written workings should go on the question sheet.
From Bishop Wordsworth's School website:
Source: https://www.bishopwordsworths.org.uk/assets/Uploads/11+-Entry-Information-Leaflet-2023-24-080623.pdf
Exam Details
The exam consists of two papers each lasting 45 minutes:
Verbal Skills test 45 minutes: a mix of English and Verbal Reasoning questions.
Maths and Non Verbal Reasoning test 45 Minutes.
Total Test Time 1 hour & 30 minutes. There will be a break between the tests when candidates will be able to have a drink and a snack and go to the toilet if necessary.
Please note that no extra time will be given at the end of the test for any candidate who either has to leave the exam room because of illness or because they need the toilet.
Electronic devices (eg mobile phones, smart watches and timers) will not be permitted in the exam room.
Source of Exam Papers: The Eleven Plus test papers are prepared by GL Assessments.