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Why is the Saturday 14th (OOC) Test so long?

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 12:44 pm
by Luckline1
We are actually in catchment but daughter goes to an East Sussex primary as we live on the border, so she is taking the test at Cranbrook School on Saturday.

The letter says she has to be there by 8.30 until 2pm and bring a packed lunch! 5.5 hours seems like an awfully long time for the test! I’m certain my daughter will fatigue if it drags on that long.

Surely the primary schools where testing happens on Thursday won’t take this long to complete the test.

Quite worried now as elder daughter did 13+ couple of years ago at Cranbrook at it was very disorganised and they had to wait around an hour for people who hadn’t turned up.

Last minute nerves kicking in for me now!

Re: Why is the Saturday 14th (OOC) Test so long?

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:17 pm
by olucares
Luckline1 wrote:We are actually in catchment but daughter goes to an East Sussex primary as we live on the border, so she is taking the test at Cranbrook School on Saturday.

The letter says she has to be there by 8.30 until 2pm and bring a packed lunch! 5.5 hours seems like an awfully long time for the test! I’m certain my daughter will fatigue if it drags on that long.

Surely the primary schools where testing happens on Thursday won’t take this long to complete the test.

Quite worried now as elder daughter did 13+ couple of years ago at Cranbrook at it was very disorganised and they had to wait around an hour for people who hadn’t turned up.

Last minute nerves kicking in for me now!
I'm pretty sure our letter said till 12.30pm. He's taking it at a different school to yours though.

Re: Why is the Saturday 14th (OOC) Test so long?

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:36 pm
by Sorrel
Ours is arrive by 8.15, pick up at 1.15. They have a break and a lunch break, and there is a writing task which isn't marked unless they are borderline.

When my elder son sat it I don't think any of the children found it too long or stressful. There was a bit of a scrum of parents outside the school which made collecting children slow - would be better if people stood back so that all the children can see all the parents.

Re: Why is the Saturday 14th (OOC) Test so long?

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:09 pm
by BMF
We’ve had a letter today giving the timings for the 11+ on Thursday for our in county primary - English and maths before break, both reasonings between break and lunch then the writing for an hour in the afternoon. They expect the kids to go back to class when the writing exercise finishes, so overall it sounds very similar to the times you have been given.

Re: Why is the Saturday 14th (OOC) Test so long?

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:52 pm
by Luckline1
Ah ok, so it is similar then.

It just seems such a long time given the total length of the actual exam times. I am pleased that it will all be done before lunch with just the writing afterwards....if this follows the same pattern.

I guess whatever will be, will be...