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12+ practice

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:22 pm
by Rob Clark
Hello,
Could I ask anyone who’s been through the 12+ exam at what point their DCs started practising?

DD seems to have settled well at her new school but is still keen to have another try for the school she had really set her heart on going to and at the weekend talked about looking at some papers.

Is this too early? Should we be encouraging her to enjoy her current school for a bit longer before getting into the whole ‘exam thing’ again?

I’d really appreciate people’s thoughts on this.

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:28 pm
by Y
Is this for Bucks? You might do better in the Bucks forum. If you search it, you will find references to the 12+, and when people started practising - generally, it seems to be only a couple of months(ish) before the real thing.

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:46 pm
by Rob Clark
Y – thanks for the tip.

Mods, is it possible to move this thread to the Bucks forum for me? Many thanks.

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:07 pm
by hermanmunster
Done!

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:28 am
by kiki4
Hi Rob,

I would say it was too early to start practising papers for the 12plus as the exam date will be in April. It would be more worthwhile to look back at any weak areas which may have prevented her from passing last year.

Working on mental maths, encouraging building of vocabulary will all help with her progress at her current school rather than detracting from her settling in. Support her to aim to be top in maths, to write wonderful poetry etc.

Make settling in and working to the best of her ability a priority and her desire to try again will take a natural course, either to increase or drift away.

As a tutor I have helped several pupils pass the 12 and 13 plus but places have only been awarded after an appeal. Therefore a glowing report from her current school is part of your preparation.

Please be aware that passing the exam does not guarantee a place. I advise my pupils to think very carefully about telling their new friends that they are considering taking it. Your daughter's friends may feel rejected and therefore treat her differently.

I am not trying to put you off, but failing at 12 plus or passing but still not getting a place, can be very deflating. So think carefully.

Best of luck.

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:49 am
by Dad40
We started about now (last year). Exam was in Feb.

Also, which school(s) are you targeting? People here might be able to help in assessing how realistic your chances are of winning a place (i.e. if your child gets as far as passing the exam).

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:53 pm
by Sally-Anne
Hi Kiki
kiki4 wrote:I would say it was too early to start practising papers for the 12plus as the exam date will be in April.
The 12+ was moved to February half-term last year, that will be the same this coming year.

If you had no 12+ tutees last year you would not have known that though.

The information booklet for parents has just been published, and can be viewed here:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/schools/a ... sfer.page?

As soon as I have time I will amend my 12+ Sticky accordingly.

Sally-Anne

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:17 pm
by Rob Clark
Thanks for the tips, Kiki, very helpful.

We will let DD decide whether to go for the 12+ or not, and we won’t be making a big deal of it or telling people either way whether she’s going to be doing it or not.

If she ultimately decides she doesn’t want to put herself through the stress (which exacerbates her chronic illness, in any case) of the exam, that will be find by us.

In answer to yours and Dad40’s question, she wants to go to CHS and we understand they do usually have a 12+ intake (though maybe less than in previous years?). She wouldn’t want a single-sex school so CHS was her first choice and remains so even though none of her primary school friends have gone there.

Thanks for the link, Sally-Anne.