Page 1 of 1

hertfordshire selection tests

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:41 am
by mm
does anyone know what tests are used for WG, Rickmansworth & Cement Danes ? are they 11+ style exams, multiple choice or standard? Also what are the chances of getting into Rickmansworth or WG from Chorleywood? also what level would my daughter need to be to even stand a chance in the tests, she is in top groups at school but is also October b'day. Sorry to waffle on but I hear so much play ground gossip and dont have a clue how much is fiction or fact for example one mum has told me that my daughter would need to be in top 2% to be consisdered for WG or Rickmansworth.

please help! feel totally lost!!

Re: hertfordshire selection tests

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:00 pm
by WP
mm wrote:does anyone know what tests are used for WG, Rickmansworth & Cement Danes ? are they 11+ style exams, multiple choice or standard? Also what are the chances of getting into Rickmansworth or WG from Chorleywood? also what level would my daughter need to be to even stand a chance in the tests, she is in top groups at school but is also October b'day. Sorry to waffle on but I hear so much play ground gossip and dont have a clue how much is fiction or fact for example one mum has told me that my daughter would need to be in top 2% to be consisdered for WG or Rickmansworth.
The Watford Grammars, Rickmansworth, Parmiter's, Queen's and Bushey Meads share the tests. There are two tests, verbal reasoning and maths, both NFER tests in standard format. For the last two years the Maths paper has involved 50 questions in 50 minutes, with VR being 100 questions in 45 minutes. Prior to that, VR was 80 questions in 50 minutes.

My young informant tells me the maths paper is of similar difficulty to a KS2 maths test. I don't mean the KS2 format (calculator part and mental maths part), but rather that the hardest questions don't require the level of analysis and intuition of the questions on the last page of a Habs paper, for example. The most challenging question last year was about a path around a garden, as I recall. I worried that the test didn't give the best students a chance to distinguish themselves from the well-drilled.

It's hard to say what level is required, since they don't give out results (or even tell you what criterion you were admitted under). Anecdotally competition for the Grammars and Parmiter's is fierce, Rickmansworth a bit less so. This year is bound to be harder than last, as the Grammars, Parmiter's and Rickmansworth have had the proportion they admit under the test cut from 35% to 25%.

The Grammars' outer catchment area includes WD3 sectors 1, 4 and 9. That's not you, I think. Rickmansworth's catchment includes all of WD3. You wouldn't get in on proximity, but you'd have the same chance as anyone else taking the test.

Clement Danes have their own arrangements for the academic test; I don't know what they do.

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:43 pm
by mm
many thanks for that, feeling slightly less confused now, sounds like best & safest bet would be clement danes. does anybody have children there or know much about the school?

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:18 pm
by WP
mm wrote:many thanks for that, feeling slightly less confused now, sounds like best & safest bet would be clement danes.
Bear in mind that only 10% of their intake is selected by the test (with another 10% by music).

Re: hertfordshire selection tests

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:58 pm
by WP
WP wrote:The Grammars' outer catchment area includes WD3 sectors 1, 4 and 9.
That was wrong: it is WD3 sectors 1, 4 to 9, which does include Chorleywood, I think.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:43 am
by mm
yes your right, went to open evening last night and now have info, but we are only in the rest of admissions area, so still think it would come down to ability. really liked the head but not sure if it is the right school for our daughters. It would be great to hear from any children parents attending the school. Also just to let you all know Clement Danes is the same test as others so just sit the one for all choices now.

thanks for your reply

practice questiopns

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:32 pm
by sam12
anyone one who publsihes papers that have 100 VR in 50 minutes type of questions. The NFER papers that can be brought have 50 VR in 50 mins

practice questions

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:33 pm
by sam12
sorry - meant to say : anyone know where I can buy practice questions that are of the type 100 VR in 50 mins?