11 Plus Exams Forum

My son has been assessed by his tutor and came out with 126 - I understand he will get additional points for his age disadvantage - he is the youngest, a very late August baby.

So... we've gone ahead with tutoring and he is really enjoying it. We are also working through test papers at home, and he's doing OK.

But... at teacher/parent evening this week his teacher said that he would have no problems and his NFERs are really good etc etc, but that he is easily distracted, and never finishes his work, and doesn't seem interested in pushing himself any further than his comfort zone.

Now, I know 'it's a boy thing' but my feeling is that he knows he can get the marks without busting a gut, so why put extra effort in. Quite simply I think he is bored at school and can't be bothered.

But my worry is that if he passes the 11+ is he going to enjoy a grammar school environment?

I keep hearing the same thing from friends, "it's better to be top at secondary school than struggling at grammar". But my view is that he will get the attention and motivation that he is currently lacking and (fingers crossed) will enjoy the challenge.

I don't really know what I'm asking here, only that I needed to vent!

He sounds like many of the boys I have taught

Yes - he will be challenged - maybe for the first time - and with others who enjoy achieving. Go for it!

However I would be cautious about trusting the tutor's '126' - it will not be standardised like the 11+ is.

Dear Nicki

Firstly he has another year to mature. In addition Grammar schools know how to deal with 'lazy' boys. So there is no need to worry on that front.

However, I do think this is rather an early to start formal tution, particularly if he is a bright boy. He may be enjoying the tests now but the chances are, he is not going to take kindly to over a year of coaching, he will be thoroughly bored and fed up with it.

Perhaps back off now and start again in the new year.

Patricia

Thanks Patricia

I guess I panicked as 'everyone else was doing it'!

I think you may be right, but we've committed for the next 10 weeks which takes us up till Christmas. I'll reassess the situation then.

However I would be cautious about trusting the tutor's '126' - it will not be standardised like the 11+ is

Guest 55 - I don't really know what this means, could you explain further?

Thanks

patricia wrote: In addition Grammar schools know how to deal with 'lazy' boys.

Don't they just!!! As the not-so-proud owner of one, I can really verify that!

Nicki, he is a boy, and boys generally will do just what they need to to get by.

A few years ago I sat next to the Head of a very large comp at a wedding reception. We talked about the difference between boys and girls, and he said this:

"Ask a 16 year old girl to write an essay, and she will write 5 pages. A boy will write 2, if you're lucky. The factual content of each will be just as good, but the boys condense it down to essentials, whilst the girls will elaborate. When it comes to an exam, the boys use that technique to their advantage - they are more focussed and their results are invariably much, much better in exams than in coursework."

A very wise man!

Age standardisation is only truly understood by about 3 people in the whole wide world, and Guest55 is one of them.

Essentially, if a September birthday needs 69/80 to achieve the 121 pass mark (which we know has been the case in the past, although it can change), a late August birthday needs a lower score. I wouldn't like to guess, but 66/80 or 67/80 should be safe.

The tutor shouldn't really be talking about "126", just the raw score out of 80.

I agree with Patricia - take it easy at this stage if you can. It is a long way until the 2009 test, and burn-out can be a real problem.

Sally-Anne