Reading and Comprehension

kevin8 · Post by **kevin8** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:20 pm

Please can someone suggest reading comprehension (multiple types) papers that one can expect for KE test. We have used Bonds 11+ English; are there any other paper types similar to that?

Thanks
Kevin

za1 · Post by **za1** » Tue May 05, 2009 12:14 am

Hi Kevin

Try the Secondary Selection Porfolio English Papers (publisher = Athey). The English papers are quite tough. I reckon they were even tougher then Bond English papers.

fm · Post by fm » Tue May 05, 2009 12:08 pm

Yes, I use those although I'd probably start with something slightly easier first if he hasn't done any other MC comprehensions.

I would also split the papers up into smaller, 10 minute comprehensions because that's what he will face in the exam (not a full 40 minute paper on English).

clarendon · Post by **clarendon** » Tue May 05, 2009 2:54 pm

fm, a question for you, please. My son is doing Bond English more 4th but finds the comprehensions heavy going. I have the Athey papers you mentioned and bought them specifically as they are M/C. In your opinion would it be advisable to get him to leave the Bond comprehensions in favour of the Athey, but complete the reminder of the Bond test ie the grammar sections?

He wants to go to KE so does need the M/C choice practice.

Thanks to fm or anyone else who advise.
clarendon

kevin8 · Post by **kevin8** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:14 pm

Za1 and fm

Thanks for the right direction, but I could not find the MC version of Athey English, does it exist or only the standard version available.

Regard
Kevin

clarendon · Post by **clarendon** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:19 pm

kevin8,

I have these Athey papers... paper 6 which confusingly states on the cover standard but the comprehensions ARE multi choice. It's a purple and white pack which I bough in Waterstones in Bham city centre.
Hope this helps you,
clarendon

fm · Post by fm » Tue May 05, 2009 11:37 pm

To Clarendon,

My pupils are also finding the More Fourth hard-going but I intend to make them persist.

I am not, however, making them do the grammar sections unless they are spelling or vocabulary related questions. It's not that I don't think they are useful in a general sense--just possibly not directly helpful for KE.

I am also testing them with Alpha comprehensions in a build up to starting the Secondary Selection Profile in about 6 weeks. As I said to Kevin, my advice would be to split up the Athey papers so he does one comprehension at a time (in about 10 minutes) rather than do a complete paper which is not what he'll have in the exam.

clarendon · Post by **clarendon** » Wed May 06, 2009 12:17 pm

Thank you, fm

newdawn · Post by **newdawn** » Sat May 09, 2009 7:02 pm

I would be interested in your views on the Schofield and Sims series of books.

They seem like good old fashioned learning material, not aimed at the 11 plus particularly.

Some of the maths workbooks seem very good.

fm · Post by fm » Sat May 09, 2009 8:01 pm

I use Schofield and Sims Mental Arithmetic 4 for the children Year 5, term 2. I also use earlier books to get children up to scratch.

I have used Schofield and Sims English and Maths Progress Papers (which are not out of print) for those children who are very well ahead of the game.

I have used Schofield and Sims Spelling for spelling rules.

I have a copy of Schofield and Sims punctuation but no longer use since the proof reading disappeared.

Don't know about any others.