11 Plus Exams Forum

My daughter is aJuly born year 5 pupil and will sit the Bucks 11 plus in 2012. I recently began home tutoring her focusing on techniques and methods, then a couple of days ago I had her attempt a Learning Lab introductory paper under exam conditions. She scored 73 out of 80. Is this a satisfactory level at this point in the process, or are these introductory papers quite simple?
Having just stumbled upon your excellent forum I plan on forgetting about the tests for now and following the regimen outlined by Patricia. Is now a good time to start following this schedule or will I need to play catch up?

Welcome!

Learning lab [introductory] use relatively easy maths and codes, however some of the vocabulary is challenging, so to score 73/80 at this stage is very good indeed!

You can start now without playing catch up, I started my new cohort only last week.

This forum is a wealth of information and there are many members here willing to help you through the process.

Good Luck with your venture!

Patricia

The following thread is one "new to all this" has mentioned...

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 510#p48510" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Many thanks for your encouraging response Patricia. Will now go and order the materials you recommend and start following your oulined scheme of work. Best of luck to all your students.

Hi,

We are OoC and I've sucessfully home tutored both of my children to achieve a qualifying score in the Bucks 11+ test for Sept 2007 and Sept 2012 entry.For what its worth thought I'd pass on my experience/strategy;

(1) Start tutoring no earlier than 12 months before they are due to sit tests.

(2) Essential to start with the IPS Verbal Reasoning Method & Technique book-This includes all 21 Types that appear in the Bucks Test.It is essential to learn the method/technique for each question type yourself before trying to teach your child.

(3) Then do IPS Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers Book A & Book C.Go though each paper with your child on the day they do it.Note Types they are struggling with and do more practice on those.

(4) Then do GL Assessment VR Pack 1 followed by Pack 2.Note each pack has 4 tests but these are 85 questions in 50 mins but the real test will only have 80 questions in 50 mins.When child is confident enough ask then to do test under timed conditions and mark on the day and note question types they are struggling with and do more work on these.

(5) Next do Letts VR Practice Papers.Again these are 4 tests of 85 qustions each.

(6) Next do Susan Daughtrey 11+ VR Practice Papers Pack 1 followed by Pack 2.These are very close to the level of difficulty in real tests.

(7) Next do Learning Lab 11+ VR Introductory Papers Book 1 & Book 2.Followed by Learning Lab te4st papers Book 1 (geen colour) and Book 2 (red colour).

(8) Nearer the test time do IPS Daily Practice Tests Book 1 and Book 2.These are short 10 question tests covering all question types.

(9) Also go through Familiarisation & Practice Pack you will get from Bucks County Council when you register your child for Bucks 11+ if OoC.

In the last couple of months before they sit the tests your child should be doing test papers under timed conditions and scoring at least 70/80.

All above books can be purchased from Amazon which I found to be chaeper than anywhere else.

One last tip.Children sit 2 VR papes in the Bucks Test on different days.The 2 tests together cover all 21 question types so the types that don't come up in the first test will come up in the second test.After first test concentrate on types that did not come up but you will only have a day or two to do this between tests.

I'm sure there are many other ways to get your child(ren) though but the above is just what worked for me.Its not esay and you will have ups and downs but don't give up.Hope it is of some help.Best wishes and keep

Hi,
We also followed Patricia's order of papers/books and the order of level of difficulty
was just right. You start off with the easier ones and work towards the difficult ones.
GL assessment pack 1 should be done earlier on and pack 2 which is much harder should be done in the weeks leading upto the exam.

The IPS Methods and Technique book is definately recommended I also went through this before starting my ds on the papers.

Good Luck

Thanks for the tips hasmum and roo007. Have worked through the IPS method book now. Thankfully my daughter is quite happy to work with me at home and consequently is progressing well. The only questions that are sometimes problematic are the closest in meaning/most opposite types. So we are making vocab flashcards, going over new words on the school run and playing on "freerice". Any advice on other strategies to build on her vocabulary would be greatly appreciated.

Dear All

I use GL Assessment Pack 1 at the end of my tutoring for two reasons...

1] The look and style is exactly the same as the real test.

2] They are relatively easy, therefore children score highly giving them confidence as they move into the real tests.

At the moment I am using Pack 2 as session time, not tests as they use 3 stage bracket maths [type K] and use type Z with the question "Find a statement which CANNOT be true" I therefore prefer to discuss the differences rather than let them feel negative just before the real tests.

With regard to vocabulary, without the biggest problem!

Take a look at the following thread, you could also use the search facility, there are a number of threads...

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... =3&t=18206" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Patricia

Many thinks for the link Patricia. Your advice, as ever, is excellent.

Hi Guys,
I was wondering if I could pick your brains again. Can you advise me as to the difficulty level of the three IPS daily 10 minute practice test books. Over the last few days I have been giving 8 sets of these 10 question tests as a 50 minute 80 Q test. My daughter been scoring 95%. obviously this seems very encouraging but am unsure as to their level. Are they comparable to the actual Bucks test questions or easier?

IPS are at the easier end of the spectrum. Despite that, the daily tests can be quite challenging because the child has to switch question types so rapidly, so 95% isn't to be sniffed at.

Take a look at Patricia's DIY thread on this section for the relative difficulty of various materials.