11 Plus Exams Forum

Dc is just about to go into Year 5, reads lots and is v good at times tables recall. We have a tutor lined up but when is the best time to start. We are already "playing" games using the Ipad and 11+ books we've bought. When is the best time to start formal tuition? Had been thinking of starting a year ahead but that maybe dragging it out a bit and I'm now thinking after Christmas would be a good time to start. I'm also a bit worried that we'll lose our tutor if we don't start early enough!

Scaredycat-Welcome to the forum. My Ds will be sitting the test in October. I'm sure there are many opinions as to the best time to start tutoring. DS started with his tutor not long after the exam. This gave us the day and time that best fitted in with other family commitments, after school clubs etc. DS has done one hour a week without fail and although we have done vocab such as free rice and some mental maths, we haven't needed to get too involved. DS is now at a stage he is ready for the exam without having to do any cramming and has found the whole process stress free. Yes he could have started later and still be ready but I feel this way has fully prepared him, he is feeling confident and the whole process has been so easy. It does help if the child feels happy and likes their tutor and enjoys the weekly visits. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Dixon wrote:DS started with his tutor not long after the exam.

Which exam do you mean?

I guess you are talking about the Gloucester test. I started with DD after Easter with a tutor. I am DIYing with DS and started after Christmas but we have had a break over the summer and starting again next week. Depends on your child I guess.

My DD starts at Denmark Road next week and we started in the January before. She peeked in the June and did very little over the summer holidays. Looking back Easter would have been perfect but you never know. She got into her first choice school so we are very happy

If she's bright and confident start her after Easter (i.e. April or May).

Less confident/needs more help, start around March.

Don't forget to work through the summer holidays (I've known several kids underachieve because parents slacked off "because it's the holidays"); and to stop all work a couple of weeks before the test so she goes in keen.

BUT, as a previous poster noted, it very much depends on the individual child and how much you hope to do with her yourself. If you have a tutor in mind, get her/him to assess your daughter and/or try some of the tests out on her to see if she has a natural facility for VR.