Time to start a list of private schools moving their dates

[Daogroupie]

Habs boys and girls both moving from January to 17th December for Habs girls and 17th December pm and 18th December for Habs boys.

Habs boys have already stated that they are moving to a 90 minute online test of VR, NVR and NR and ending their written tests in English and Maths. They will instead use the interviews which are moving forward from late Jan to mid Jan to assess the applicants skills in English and Maths.

Are they hiring a bank of pcs for two days to do socially distanced online testing for both schools over 2 days?

AM on 17th December for Habs girls and "afternoon only" on 17th December and all day on 18th December for HABS boys?

HABS boys will need 1.5 days to get through all their 600 applicants.. DG

[JessieDee]

Does this actual mean that they won't be doing a written maths and English paper at all?
So what happens in the second round?
Does the first round have a comprehension element - like the QE boys exam?

[Daogroupie]

HABS boys are not doing a written English and Maths exam, they are doing online NVR, VR and NR

However they will be asking English and Maths questions in the interviews which have been moved forward to mid January. DG

[Saintrockz]

so there is no second round, akin to Henrietta Barnet? and am i presumptuous to ask is this a temporary measure or moving forward? with a two and half hour paper that would mean roughly 150 sitting at one time??? then the maths of the laptop/computer lab would be feasible.

Hailbury has removed their written papers to have an online exam which is monitored remotely.

Berkhamsted has moved 11 plus to ISEB pre test

I am not sure of others.

DG was it your take on the interview? will it be longer? multiple strands of maths tested? i am assuming the English will be like St Pauls - read a piece of prose and questions?

its uncharted territory

what i do not understand is why move the exam to december?

[Daogroupie]

Latymer Upper have just announced they are abandoning their written tests in English and Maths and are instead using the ISEB online pre-test.

If you are already sitting this for another school you can only sit it once so that result will be used by Latymer Upper.

They are closing their registration on Friday 9th October which is in 11 DAYS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They hope all the preps applying will be able to sit in their schools but those from state primaries will have two opportunities to sit at Latymer Upper: 25th November and 5th December.

Any student who has not sat by end of day on 5th December will not be able to apply.

A real shame as I really liked their English papers.

A lot of parents are going to miss out here as registration normally stays open until end of November.

The normal action packed January exam slots are starting to thin out! DG

[Daogroupie]

In answer to saintrockz they are all moving earlier as I think they assume everything is going to get worse, so get it done asap.

No second round but more in depth questions on English and Maths in the interviews which are moving forward to mid January.

I do hope there will be some private school exams left that students will actually get to pick up a pen and write in.

HBS, DAO and Latymer Enfield still going ahead with their standard format papers. DG

[Saintrockz]

NLCS have also moved their dates


11+ ENTRANCE EXAMS:
REVISED DATES
10 AND 11 DECEMBER 2020

[Daogroupie]

CITY girls are moving to a one hour online CEM test.

This will take place the week starting 23rd November.

Those that do well will be invited in to meet the English and Maths teachers who will then be able to assess their levels.

I think that their letter is excellent and very reassuring for parents:


Y6 - CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
In common with many schools, C19 and the resulting restrictions and risks have meant that we have had to reconsider our admissions processes and I wanted to let you know as soon as possible how we will be organising our 11+ assessments this year.

In place of the English and Maths 11+ January examination, this year we will be holding socially distanced 1-hour assessments in the week beginning November 23rd 2020. Each candidate will sit a socially distanced, one hour, computer-based test. The test will assess numerical, verbal and non-verbal skills and will be designed by CEM. Candidates will sit the test in one of a number of different sittings across the week, in a livery hall local to us. It is a lovely space, in which we have been teaching in this term to enable us to zone our pupils effectively and we think that 11+ candidates will find it a comfortable and conducive space. By removing the subject specialist tests and offering sittings of one brief test on multiple occasions over the week we expect to be able to accommodate all candidates. The timing and space will mean that it is safe and socially distant, but also give applicants a chance to get to know the school and the City a little bit and engage with our staff and pupils safely.

I recognise that any alterations can make candidates anxious, but please reassure your children. The exam will operate as any aptitude test does in that it is not designed to catch candidates out, nor does it require much preparation; in fact it is impossible to train for, though if your pupils would find it helpful to practise they can find an example of the kind of test on the link on our website.

Pupils who have been successful in the assessment and for whom we have received a good school reference will be invited to City for an enhanced interview session in the week starting 18th January, where subject specialists will assess pupils Maths and English in more detail, provide a taste of lessons at City and offer school tours. The session will be designed to give pupils a flavour of life at City and allow them to ask any questions. We will publish further details of the interviews on our website later in the term. We hope they enjoy it!

No change is ideal and I hope that this one does not feel too disruptive for your children. Our aim is to find a way through to an assessment that is safe, effective, fair and allows applicants to get to know us a bit. We are also very mindful of the disruptions and differences in provision that Year 6 pupils have experienced over the last 6 months and hope that these changes will give pupils an equal chance in these most peculiar of circumstances.

We want your children to feel as confident and comfortable as possible, so please do not hesitate to get in touch if have any queries. Ms Nicoll, (Head of Lower School) and our Admissions team are happy to help.

[Saintrockz]

john Lyons also looking to bring their exams into December

[Daogroupie]

Are they changing format or just moving the exams forward? DG