How is everyone getting on for the sep 2010 test?
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:05 pm
I just wanted to find how is everyone is getting on for the september 2010 test especially those who have gone the DIY route. Still early days but I thought maybe we could share some tips before the 2009 parents have dissapeared too.
Maths : Has really been a doodle. It is DD's supposedly strong subject and is in the top sets but the gaps I found are unbelievable. We are now spending double the time in maths than VR and NVR. The areas she has found a bit difficult are some fraction, decimals and percentages esp where she needs to come up with a common factor. I have noticed several careless mistakes too. She is pretty much ok with timestables but her speed is much slower on division. I have mainly been using the ae tuition workbooks and of late bond how to do maths and rarely the ae tuition maths testbook 1
She really wanted a whiteboard so i bought it for her a pink one in early learning center a few weeks ago and its been amazing how she has been concentrating, standing and writing with chalk on the board. This has worked wonders hope it continues to be so.
NVR : We have mainly use the ae tuition workbooks but have started on the Bond NVR 10minute test and she is really struggling with some bond questions. I actually struggle too even working out the right answer. I am hoping its the intitial shock and will soon get the hang of it. Its how we felt when she started the AE tuition workbooks.
VR: Its vocabulary vocabulary and vocabulary and my DD isnt one of those avid readers, She did the oxford reading tree until early year 4 at school and loved it and getting through the stages. When it was stopped she losts her interest in reading. I have tried going to the library and get her books but she doesnt read them. I have even tried reading a few chapters with her but she will only sit and read for 5mins thats it.
What I have been doing is to use some of the words by patricia in the downloads section and I also have the new AE tuition testbook which I have found to be good for building her vocabulary. It has a daily test and I just let her use dictionary on words she doesnt know. Initially we used the IPS how to do verbal reasoning which is very useful and I highly recommend it.
English : Havent touched it and dont plan to do anything until a few week before the exam since it doesnt really contribute to the marks. However I bought the Achieve level 5 English that Yoyo recommended and I have only looked through it, I also highly recommend it but I will really start using it a few weeks before the exam
Timing: This is something I am starting to work on. My DD hates being timed and she moans like there is no tommorrow. However she needs to get it how important timing is. I got some really useful tips the other day and after half term I am really gonna get tougher on timing and gradually introduce it. Someone suggested a cool idea about mobile phone. She has been begging me for one for ages but no way. I will give her one of my old mobile and it will be "hers" for timing.
Mock test: I am thinking of letting her do the Sutton Grammar Mock test in june just for her to get similar conditions to the test. The sutton gramma is a bit more appealing as they give you a score unlike the kent one. Havent fully decided but I am leaning for the sutton one since its VR, NVR and maths too. I understand the mock has fewer question than the actual exams but I am sure that will help her out
Practice papers: We havent started on any, just did one of each myself and times myself just to get any idea of the type of question. This was an eye opener and I highly recommend to do it. The main issue was timing. I needed almost an extra 30mins to complete and it made me realise how these poor kids need to work at rocket speed. I plan to start on papers in early june or late may (if she is going to do the sutton mock)
Would be interested in hearing of any tips or just how you are getting on.
Maths : Has really been a doodle. It is DD's supposedly strong subject and is in the top sets but the gaps I found are unbelievable. We are now spending double the time in maths than VR and NVR. The areas she has found a bit difficult are some fraction, decimals and percentages esp where she needs to come up with a common factor. I have noticed several careless mistakes too. She is pretty much ok with timestables but her speed is much slower on division. I have mainly been using the ae tuition workbooks and of late bond how to do maths and rarely the ae tuition maths testbook 1
She really wanted a whiteboard so i bought it for her a pink one in early learning center a few weeks ago and its been amazing how she has been concentrating, standing and writing with chalk on the board. This has worked wonders hope it continues to be so.
NVR : We have mainly use the ae tuition workbooks but have started on the Bond NVR 10minute test and she is really struggling with some bond questions. I actually struggle too even working out the right answer. I am hoping its the intitial shock and will soon get the hang of it. Its how we felt when she started the AE tuition workbooks.
VR: Its vocabulary vocabulary and vocabulary and my DD isnt one of those avid readers, She did the oxford reading tree until early year 4 at school and loved it and getting through the stages. When it was stopped she losts her interest in reading. I have tried going to the library and get her books but she doesnt read them. I have even tried reading a few chapters with her but she will only sit and read for 5mins thats it.
What I have been doing is to use some of the words by patricia in the downloads section and I also have the new AE tuition testbook which I have found to be good for building her vocabulary. It has a daily test and I just let her use dictionary on words she doesnt know. Initially we used the IPS how to do verbal reasoning which is very useful and I highly recommend it.
English : Havent touched it and dont plan to do anything until a few week before the exam since it doesnt really contribute to the marks. However I bought the Achieve level 5 English that Yoyo recommended and I have only looked through it, I also highly recommend it but I will really start using it a few weeks before the exam
Timing: This is something I am starting to work on. My DD hates being timed and she moans like there is no tommorrow. However she needs to get it how important timing is. I got some really useful tips the other day and after half term I am really gonna get tougher on timing and gradually introduce it. Someone suggested a cool idea about mobile phone. She has been begging me for one for ages but no way. I will give her one of my old mobile and it will be "hers" for timing.
Mock test: I am thinking of letting her do the Sutton Grammar Mock test in june just for her to get similar conditions to the test. The sutton gramma is a bit more appealing as they give you a score unlike the kent one. Havent fully decided but I am leaning for the sutton one since its VR, NVR and maths too. I understand the mock has fewer question than the actual exams but I am sure that will help her out
Practice papers: We havent started on any, just did one of each myself and times myself just to get any idea of the type of question. This was an eye opener and I highly recommend to do it. The main issue was timing. I needed almost an extra 30mins to complete and it made me realise how these poor kids need to work at rocket speed. I plan to start on papers in early june or late may (if she is going to do the sutton mock)
Would be interested in hearing of any tips or just how you are getting on.