Summary of admission process for DAO. Please!

[Daogroupie]

September will be the 4th year of CEM for DAO and SW Herts. Current Y8 were the first year to do the CEM paper.

There is a separate section on here for CEM which would be worth you reading through. DAO only do English CEM so discount anything about NVR or Numerical Reasoning (NR)

Do not waste time with any book that does not say CEM format on the front. Other books suggested before 2015 will be incorrect.

The forum shop on here has next day delivery. CGP ten minute tests for CEM would be a good place to start. Also the First Past the Post books. Little and often is the key but the speed will be the issue for you at this point.

Have you done any preparation yet? DG

[Balfron]

Thanks so much for your help. Invaluable. I really feel DAO is the best so this year started about 15-30 mins most days on vocabulary to build up a word bank and began reading ‘classic’ stories a couple of years ago eg Swallows and Amazons, Alice in Wonderland.

I have a selection of books, but not the ten minute tests which I think will help with the time issue you rightly suggested have:

1000 word Brain Boost CEM style VR
CGP VR & Comprehension for the CEM - Study Book and Practice Book
First Past the Post VR Vocab ‘ideal for CEM’
Christine Draper’s Synonyms & Antonyms for CEM
DAO past papers
RSL (Lomax) 11+ comprehension
AE Tuition English Antonyms - says ideal for CEM

[ToadMum]

However, please be aware that anything you buy which says 'CEM' on it is 'CEM', not published by the Durham University Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring.

https://www.cem.org/entrance-assessments

Can we access practice materials and past papers for the CEM entrance assessments?
CEM does not provide any commercially available mock exams, practice papers or sample materials for use by
parents or tutors.
Parents should always be wary of any materials or services offered by third parties. These will not have been developed by CEM and will not necessarily bear any relation to the tests we provide. Parents are advised to exercise extreme caution should they choose to engage with any such third party in this regard.
Schools and Education Authorities using our assessments will provide any necessary familiarisation materials to parents and candidates, free of charge, prior to testing. These materials will give your child information about theformat of the assessment they will be taking. These materials never include questions that appear in the final tests.
For more detailed or test-specific information, please contact your child’s school or Local Education Authority
directly. We are unable to provide further information for parents.

So however much 'CEM' stuff you buy, make sure also to have a good read of the (real) CEM document provided by the school.

[ale21279]

Also FYI Rubik, CEM papers are age standardised, the English and Maths papers are not.

[Balfron]

REALLY?! I’ve read their website so many times. Thought it was all age standardised.
Thank you so much.

[tasha73]

Are you considering applying for a music place? The Director of Music position is being advertised so I wonder if the current Director is moving on? DAOgroupie will probably know more.

Could this mean change in the music exam? Might be worth emailing the Music dept at the school.

[Daogroupie]

The Head of Music is leaving after 12 years.

The Music test details have already been posted for this September so will not change.

The new Head of Music starting in September may wish to discuss with the governors and the Head changing the test for next year but it is bringing very high quality applicants in so it is likely to stay the same. The first round reduces applicants down to a reasonable number for the audition. DG

[ale21279]

Rubik:

http://damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk/admi ... key-dates/

[Balfron]

Not musically gifted. Keen but not likely to be successful.
Thanks so much for that link. I had been keeping an eye but that’s very interesting to see the stats: 1067 registered for tests. 8 children of staff! Wow.

[piggys]

The new head of music at DAO will be coming from Henrietta Barnett! Our loss is your gain