QE Boys Entrance

[loulou]

My son is in year 7 and loving every minute of school. Certainly the best decision he ever made.

are the exams same level as the nfer papers?

The exams are all (or have been in recent years) NFER multiple choice and my son found VR harder than NFER as he said the vocab was more challenging. NVR and English about the same as NFER and maths easier. He was thrown with the different format of the English to papers he had been practising ie. comprehension, grammar section, comprehension despite me telling him this was the likely set up. Maths he found easier than NFER. I can confirm that the timings mentioned by previous posters were the same for last year. NVR is actually broken into two ten minute sections with 20 questions in each section. I vaguely remember that all questions for each section were of the same type but unfortunately can't remember what the types were.

ive heard you need about 80 85 to get through, does that sounds about right?

I wouldn't get too hung up on percentage needed to get through as nobody really knows. Your estimate is probably about right or possibly slightly higher. I panicked after reading posts on this forum about percentages scored and comparing them to my sons but needn't have worried myself.

I live near harrow so the commute will add to his long day, the minibus takes about 40 mins each way.

My son travels by public transport which takes him about an hour by the times he has waiting for other boys travelling on the same bus, gone into the sweet shop and stood gossiping. He probably could do it in less if he tried. The first couple of weeks were exhausting but now he is used to it. One thing you will have to think about is the fact that there is only one coach drop off/pick up each way. Many activities take place outside school hours eg swimming, water polo, basketball before school, cricket, rugby, chess etc after school. He will then either need to be picked up or be able to use public transport with ease.

With regard homework/life balance how long it takes your son will vary. They are supposed to be given 3 subjects at half an hour each in year 7. We frequently only get two subjects and it would be rare for them to take half an hour. Occaisionally they take longer but usually much less. One day this week he didn't get any homework at all. However, talking to other parents some boys do struggle with the homework and take a long time over it. I guess it varies very much between boys. My son does 4 different sporting extra-curricular activities and chess. He also plays football twice a week, tennis once a week and will start cricket again in the spring. He still gets time to socialise with friends, go to parties and play on his x-box. So it can be done!!

Good luck with the exams.

loulou

[Spatel2]

Hi my sons did the nfer VR papers over the weekend and did well, considering VR is his weakest subject after english he should be ok. After the first exam I will spend some tiem with thim on his english so we should be okay.
Thanks for your help.

[Spatel2]

Thank you very much for taking time out to reply, that was very useful. Where abouts does your son travel from? we are thinking of moving somewhere near edgeware so if we had to drop off or pick him up it would make it easier.
The pick up times from harrow are 7.20 ish so he would have to leave home at 7.05 at latest. Shouldnt be a problem as he's up early anyway.
thanks

[loulou]

He travels from Finchley. A very large proportion of boys travel from Harrow so there is always the option of car shares with two or three other families.

[Spatel2]

thanks again...attended the open day and i asked about 4 kids where they travelled from and they were all from harrow! Public transport from harrow is not an option, you would have to go into the city and out, or get about 3 buses
one more Question...
you ever do any work, or too busy helping panicking parents on here? lol

[loulou]

Good luck for the exams.

Now I'd best get back to work

[moose]

Spatel 2,
All the best with your son's exam.
My son is in Y7 and really likes school and so do we, the parents. He really respects and likes most of the teachers, made lots of new friends and is absolutely thrilled about PE lessons and rugby matches. Fingers crossed for a win in today's match with UCS Hampstead!
Homework is manageble though requires a good organisation from the parents (in our case anyway) to avoid pile ups.

I wouldn't worry about the distance too much. The children commute from all over the place (SLOUGH!! ) and manage just fine.
Of couse the closer the better, however I really think now that it is no point to demonise the distance. There are lots of helpful parents there.
At the start of the year you will get a list wth the details of all Y7 pupils, so with a bit of luck you can organise some sort of school run rota.
My son has 3 - 4 extracurricular activities per week, is not particulary academic and eager to learn but is managing well.

[naxa]

Moose - you say your son is not particularly academic and yet he managed to get into QE!
Does this mean that my son: sporty, musical, bright but not brilliant, has a chance? I have been put off by thinking that there's no way he'll get in, so your comment shone out like a glimmer of hope.
MY DS is being tutored but even so I worry about his chances because the competition seems so fierce. What do you think was the decisive factor in your son's case - was it being very logical (maths. NVR etc)? was it being calm in exam situations? was it consistent hard work and tutoring? or something else?
Any advice / tips greatfully received!

[moose]

What do you think was the decisive factor in your son's case - was it being very logical (maths. NVR etc)? was it being calm in exam situations? was it consistent hard work and tutoring? or something else?

Helo,
I think probabely combination of the above factors, perseverance and ... faith.
My son was tormented by me for most of the primary school (I always thought that the level of maths and homework in general in his state primary was unacceptable) and had a very good tutor for a year before the exams. He was definitely above average in maths (far from being genius though), had very good general knowlege , however was just Ok in English. And yes we worked hard for a year before the exam.
QE's English exam suited my son more than eg DAO's. There is no extensive writing.
It is definitely worth practising lots of tests because it is not enough to know. As you are probabely aware the speed is essential to pass.

And yes he seems to be happy, very interested in science maths design etc. predictibly less keen on English, history.
and if the choice was left to him he would have spent 50% of time on computer and 49% on sport and1% on music. Maybe I got the percentages wrong , but definitely there wouldn't be a place for academic learning.
I am just hoping he will mature in due course and that the school will help him with that.

Be assured that although all boys in QE are very bright , not all of them are geniuses and nerds and they all have their strenghts and weeknesses.
Definitely worth trying. I would recommend the school to anybody.

[ElevenplusParent]

Hi

can someone please suggest a good book for vocabulary for VR?

I bought Chris Gough. But really looking one for VR.
thanks in anticipation,

Epp.