11 Plus 2008 format

Ed's mum · Post by **Ed's mum** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:13 pm

Is this for the WHOLE of Warwickshire Ken? None of these sound familiar for our area of Warwickshire. Last year, for example, The Revel (Monks Kirby) had about 16 children selected for grammar schools (girls and boys combined).

KenR · Post by **KenR** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:21 pm

Not sure, the list I obtained had a total of 164 primary schools although of course some were in adjoining LEAs. Don't know what the total number of primary schools would be?

I think Milverton is in Leamington isn't it?

Ed's mum · Post by **Ed's mum** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:25 pm

It sounds vaguely familiar...I think I know someone who teaches there...it would be interesting to lay my hands on a list that includes Rugby schools.

KenR · Post by **KenR** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:32 pm

Hi Ed's Mum

The Revel (Monks Kirby) wasn't on the list, however there are quite dramatic shift's from 1 year to the next. For example one primary went from 50% pass in 2005 to 0% in 2006!

Regards

ranjana johal · Post by **ranjana johal** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:36 pm

KenR and Charlotte, thank you very much for your comments.

Now you really have given me the colleywobbles Ken, after seeing that list of words I had to go and have a lie down!
I've never seen anything quite like it - where would you start if you were thinking of preparing a list to help your child....? On this site NfER do a word list and I guess that's the logical place to start. Are KE still doing this kind of thing? And do you think Rugby will do something similar - does anyone know for definate what the papers will look like this year?

And does anyone have the names of good Rugby tutors though thinking about it, would I be better off trying to get a tutor who specialises in the KE exams.....!

Ed's mum · Post by **Ed's mum** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:36 pm

They do REALLY well every year. Known for it. I think you sent me this list a while ago and it only included one Rugby area school - if memory serves it was Clifton. I shall endeavour to track down this information...I am curious now!

Ed's mum · Post by **Ed's mum** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:44 pm

For everyone else's benefit - KenR has just PM'd me the complete list of passes for each school. There are, however, a lot of schools which do not appear on the list which I know do very well in the 11+ selection tests.
First one to find out more about Rugby's schools gets a prize...

KenR · Post by **KenR** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:59 pm

Hi All

For information, I have found a summary of this year Birmingham KE Foundation exam which was supplied by fm (many thanks).

Below is a rough version of what was in this year's exam according to my pupils. Maybe others can improve on it.

Comprehension: Boy escaping from palace guards. 12 Questions. Multiple Choice. Sats level 5 readers found easy, level 4 considered hard.

Proofreading: Spelling, punctuation (no speech again), English grammar. Passage was hard but mistakes weren't. It was not the basis of a comprehension this year.

Non-verbal: Several 3d models of cubes (think Lego) given at top of page. Then list of 2d views. Had to say from which 3d model the 2d view came. 20 questions.

Maths: Data interpretatoion. Routes, timetables. Speed/time problems.Money problems. Fraction problems. Test their ability to read an interpret information. 25 mins approx. 18 questions with subsections to most. Very few of my pupils finished this year.

Break

Vocabulary: 56 words. 12 minutes. So much easier on time. Don't know if it was easier words. Several of my pupils did claim to know at least half the words (which is more than other years) but I did target this area more thoroughly this year. Sample words: altitude (back in from 3years ago), trivial,emerge, pigment, covet, antiquity, tranquil, drought, passive, incision, bewildered, device.

Missing Word: Several passages with omitted words. Choice of 3 to fill in . Best fit in context. 10 words per passage and 7 passages. 13 minutes. Words not complex e.g. choose from 'air, summit or peak' but close in meaning. Varied passages including one from Northern Lights by Philip Pullman so that will give you an idea of level.

Quick maths: This was reintroduced, having been taken out last year. 12minutes. Anything from 20 to 50 questions according to my pupils. I would appreciate if anyone knows this for definite and can pass it on. At a guess I think it was 40. Fractions, ordering fractions, decimals,algebra, powers off. Most children found impossible to finish. Very demanding on time but suited to good arithmeticians.

Non -verbal: 6 hexagons arranged around a central hexagon. A pattern connecting all, with a ? on one blank one. Select the most appropriate to replace the blank from a choice of I don't know how many. 12 minutes. 20 questions. All seemed to finish and my 'naturals' found it relatively easy.

I have to emphasise that this is not going to be a wholly accurate description of the exam. Basically I got 8 different descriptions of the exam and based timings on the most frequently appearing time.
My best advice to people targeting KE next year would be to stay flexible. By all means tutor towards the components above but do not expect an exam which replicates this. Above all, as well as doing formal work in maths, non-verbal and English, the best practice your child can do for this exam is read, read and read some more. The best thing you can do is listen to them, read to them, create an environment that encourages reading.
From personal experience,I wish I had done less maths and non-verbal, and more reading with my child. It is certainly not something you can expect a tutor to address in an hour a week.
Good luck to this year's entrants and any more information from last year's would be appreicated.

As you can see they like to vary this year by year. Looks like they took onboard the complaints about the number of synonyms - only 56 questions in 12 minutes!

It does appear though that they repeat some words from previous years - suggest you take a look at previous years post exam threads in the Birmingham forum.

Hope this helps

Ken

teacher · Post by **teacher** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:24 pm

Ken's list is for the South Warwickshire schools that feed into KES (Stratford), Shottery and Alcester Grammar. Just adding a bit: the South Warks 11+ was difficult last year and it was the 'new' format. I know one primary where several were expected to pass and no child did.

Ed's mum · Post by **Ed's mum** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:51 pm

Teacher - So was the South Warks 11+ the same or different to the one for the Rugby area?