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11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:18 pm
by Lucky13
I'm after some really honest answers please! If you child is after a super-selective Grammar place (in catchment), how much work are you getting them to do over the Summer hols? Trying to get my ds motivated but he's lost interest (and yet it is HIM who wants the super-selective (but I can see it would be the best school for him)....gggrrrr!)

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:05 am
by Herewego1
Hi Lucky, same situation here. DS keen for super selective. I am giving him 10 days off now not even mentioning the 11 plus. Then about 45 mins a day. What about you?

There is such a mix of advice, from do nothing to 2 hours a day!

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:31 pm
by Lucky13
Thank you for the reply Herewego...sorry for the late reply but I forgot my password to log back in! Anyway, 45 mins per day would be great...but no chance of that here. I had a bit of a pep talk yesterday and suggested 30 mins a day - something must have sunk in as he ran off to make a timetable (also including piano practice which hasn't happened for about 6 months!), and today he did both! BUT, I know this will be a 5 minute wonder. I will try and encourage him but it certainly won't be more than 30 mins per day (as he just won't do it and I'm not prepared for the battle or for pushing him that much so what will be will be, I guess...although I thought if people were doing drastically more, it might help my cause with him when talking to him!!)

Anyone else care to share their approaches please?

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:08 am
by doodles
It is a while since I was in your position, but the summers before my DS did their 11+'s we agreed that they would do any prep straight after breakfast so it wasn't hanging over us all day.

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:16 am
by Leighmum2019
We did an hour a day 4 days a week (we did Wednesdays off!) through the summer then a timed ‘mock’ every fortnight.

It wasn’t the best summer holidays - for me or for her- if I’m honest but it paid off and this summer hols (about to go into year 7) is all about her.

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:55 am
by lapindebois
DS got a SS place last year. Our 'deal' was that he did 30 mins every day that we weren't either on holiday or doing something 'big' (ie a full day out). So he probably ended up doing work on about three weeks out of the six. We also did one paid-for mock test over the summer. I wouldn't have done more than one, but I do think that one was helpful.

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:57 am
by turnip08
We're not going for a super selective and there will be a range of answers from parents on this. From having gone through the process before with DC1 (again not going for SS), it was interesting how much 'noise' there is out there and my guess is that some parents are honest about how much their children do and others are perhaps less so. Some seem to spend 45 minutes per day, sometimes more (we were in that camp), others did 1 hour a day plus 4 hours spread over the weekend but then there were others who were spending 2-3 hours per day (3 or 4 days/week) at 11+ summer schools and spending another 6 hours (!) over the weekend. That's probably on the extreme side and I personally think there needs to be a balance, but I wanted to be honest that the range is wide in terms of the time people actually invest.

We did go on holiday but took the 10-minute papers with us. My DC, although frustrated with having to do the work (honestly, what child wouldn't?), he never once cried with anxiety or worry and was overall very calm about the process. We also made sure there was plenty of downtime/days off, especially before the tests. I remember that a mum had written on here that it's important to take a couple of complete days off before the test and I would really recommend that.

Good luck!

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:14 pm
by lapindebois
Also, forgot to say, we drew up a very detailed work timetable (eg 3rd August Bond VR book 3 paper 2 etc), and found that helped massively with the motivation. DS was much happier to do the work if he a) could see that that was the 'preordained' task for that day, and b) could tick off the days as he went. We drew up the plan together so he had more buy in.

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 10:25 pm
by Lucky13
Thank you all. Yes, I suggested my son draw up a basic timetable and he has allocated 30 mins per day for 11+ work and 30 mins of reading (he never reads!) (frankly, it will be a minor miracle and I will be singing Hallelujahs all the way to church if he sticks to this!) There is no way he will tolerate more than this so we'll have to deal with what will be will be. Thank you for the replies...I will try and show him!!

Re: 11+ prep over the Summer

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:10 am
by Herewego1
All useful info!
It’s difficult to know what to do over the last few days as the exam is so much later this year and they will be back at school.

I think I will just try and get him to forget about it. @lucky do you prefer Skinners or Judd? Are you also interested in TWGSB ? It is such a minefield!