11 Plus Exams Forum

My twins would like to apply for a grammar school with 180 places. Usually approx 350 girls apply according to past figures.
We have been doing GL papers in English, VR and Maths. The first VR paper they didn't have a clue. With practice it is getting better.

Twin 1 has scored 82%, 78%, 77% and 79% in English.
Twin 2 has scored 61%, 57%, 65% and 51% in English.

Twin 1 has scored 46%, 80%, 82% and 89% in VR.
Twin 2 has scored 40%, 55% and 67% so far.

Twin 1 has scored 52%, 44%, 66% and 56% in Maths.
Twin 2 has scored 38% and 50% in Maths.

I am seeing their Maths teacher tomorrow because they both seem to be struggling and the basics seem to be missing yet their school reports have never reflected this.

I dont know what sort of scores at this stage are good or how much chance they have. I've always known Twin 1 was more able but these scores seem to show a big gap. The school is looking for the top 16% of girls.

What do I do and how do I help Twin 2 who is losing confidence?

Go back to basics. Get the Peter Robson maths books from the forum shop next day delivery and work through the topics. Don't give up, just find out where the weak areas are and tackle them one by one. VR will improve dramatically the more papers you do, but Maths won't improve until you inset the building blocks. DG

Twinmumdorch wrote:What do I do and how do I help Twin 2 who is losing confidence?

You don't say which school year the twins are in and whether they are a "pigeon pair" or not, and which GS(s) you have in mind. Is "dorch" Dorchester, and if so would Poole therefore be the GS(s)?

My twins are in year 5. I'm not sure what a 'pidgeon pair' is? Do you mean identical? No, they are fraternal; twin 2 is much more sporty and Twin 1 is more of a bookworm.

I saw the Maths teacher today who gave me the results of their Summer exams and one has achieved Level 5C. Her sister was expected to achieve a level 4B but has achieved a level 4A. He is really pleased with both their progress and says we should apply. I feel rather confused as their practice paper scores didn't seem that great. I'm not sure what they should have been scoring.

It is Parkstone Grammar that we are interested in.

Progress is the important thing. Are they improving and clearly they are. It is great that you have the vote of confidence from school. Keep doing what you are doing, it is obviously working. DG

Twinmumdorch wrote:My twins are in year 5. I'm not sure what a 'pidgeon pair' is?

Pigeon pair is one M one F ~:-), be it twins or a two child family. As the girls are in Year 5, I imagine that you are aiming at the upcoming 11+ exams, and in which case you don't have an abundance of time. The single best thing you should probably do, if you haven't yet but if you still can, is to sign up for as many mocks as possible; they will highlight areas of weakness to aid focus, will help to ease exam anxiety, and were certainly of inestimable benefit for my DC.

I've been looking out for discussions on twins and the 11+ on the forum and I'm in a similar situation to you. My twins sit the 11+ in September.

I thought they were pretty similar in ability with Twin 1 possibly having the edge. Over the course of the last few months in tutoring, the gap has widened. I think Twin 1 has a good chance of qualifying while Twin 2's chances are less certain.

I don't know how we should handle it if one qualifies and one doesn't. When I've broached the subject with the DDs they say they don't care if they go to different schools but I think that could feel quite different in October.

At the moment I'm just focussing on the positive with them both and my plan is try to prepare us all for the different possible outcomes in the time between sitting the test and getting the results.

Does anyone else have thoughts on this? How have other families dealt with the 11+ and twins?

I don't have twins, so you might think I can't have the full perspective.

In a way, I think you have to forget they are twins and prepare them both in the same way you would two siblings each of whom you wanted to give the best education, chances and opportunities to.

So do your prep in a way that does not allow them to make immediate comparisons with one another.

Preparing two at the same time - that is hard. But, on the other hand it means that each can see the other having to work too. My biggest issue has always been getting a child to work when the other sibling ( two academic years apart) does not need to. So you have one big problem solved for you.

Agree with mystery - treat them as individuals - if they end up in different schools, whilst it may be more challenging logistically for you, it will give them the space to spread their wings and be individuals, whilst still having each others support at home.

I have twins. They both qualified for grammar but on.y one qualified for the GS they actually wanted. Wwe didnt especially like the GS offered to our other boy and then he got offered a scholarship at an indie and has gone there.


Regarding work for the 1+, it is of course very important to treat them as individuals but on practice it is very hard when they are both working for the same exam at then same time. But you can at least, very definitely refuse to make a comparison between them. I.e. We are talking about you, it doesn't matter at this moment what your brother is doing, we are talking about you and you and he are different.

Regarding qualifying disappointments, obviously ours both qualified, but for different schools, so one didn't get the school he wanted. You cannot protect them from that disappointment. We did try to prepare them up front. Obviously it helped that he had qualified elsewhere, and then helped even more when got offered scholarship. But of you asked me if there is any residual stuff about bro getting the school and him not? I'd say possibly yes. But we did all we can and ultimately its up to him to come to terms with it. He had every chance not to take part in thee race, I'm very glad he chose to as it proved to him how capable he was, but entering anything is always to risk disappointment. That's life.

Regarding logistics and separate schools. Our schools are in two separate counties, 40 mins away from each other with our house in the middle! It can be a right pain but in general, GS boy gets bus in and out every day, and I share the car journey to the indie with a neighbour who has a daughter at the same school, for another year only though!
I won't lie, it's sometimes quite hard, with two school plays, two sets of events etc etc. However, now for the good side.
Our boys get on so much better being in differ schools. They were always best of friends, best of enemies, and they still do argue. But they don't live in each other's pockets, they have news to share, friends to share when they are here but individual choices. They love to come together at the end of each day and have a good gossip on the trampoline. And best of all, people see them at each school as individuals, and don't compare them either deliberately or even sub consciously. That's worth the logistical difficulties in my opinion. Plus of course, they cannot compete like they tended to before, as they do different things.

Do pm me if you have any other questions.

Good luck