Eleven Plus Noise

What would it be like if you could simply dial one number and have instant access to all the different eleven plus information you need? Your child’s needs will change over the next few months. Your desire and demand for information will also need to be serviced. The `One Stop Eleven Plus Shop’ could help. Here you could find all the eleven plus social media including at least popular forums, books, papers, advice from tutors, advice about tutors, publishers, Face Book applications, DVDs, CDs and Twitter comments. This would give you access to a veritable cornucopia of ideas, advice and solutions. You may even be able to have s sensible dialogue about `Sound and the Eleven Plus Child’.

It is possible that your child would really like a sound proofed bedroom. Unfortunately there are few really practical ways of keeping sound out of the Eleven Plus Room’.

Perhaps others in the family will need to be good neighbours. A thick carpet outside the door could eliminate at least one pet hate. Moving siblings is not so easy – unless you live in an `Eleven Plus Castle’.

Every parent will use the technique of moving a wardrobe or cupboard to the wall where most noise emanates. A cupboard full of games, clothes and general `junk’ will help to eliminate most noise.

When the `Studious Eleven Plus Candidate’ complains that he or she can still hear the source of the sound – then parents could consider building `An Eleven Plus Wall’. This would be a new wall – spaced away from the existing wall with battens and plaster board. The cavity would need to be filled – but most mothers would have ideas on that point. (Foam or expanded polystyrene may spring to mind.)

The space around the doors is another potential source of noise. Draft proofing may help.

One further thought. The famous `No Entry – Eleven Plus Candidate At Work’ sign may bring immediate quiet through out the home.

The best thing about a sound proofed room could be something that may not spring to the eleven plus mind.

Your child may occasionally hear those dreaded words: “It is time now to go to work”.

A sound proofed bed room could keep out any crashing and banging.

What price `Eleven Plus Peace?’

Eleven Plus Books

Some eleven plus parents have a problem finding books for their aspiring candidates to read.

“What about all those lovely books I got you last Christmas. We are in October now and you have not read any of them. Your Aunt Edna will be so disappointed that you did not find time to read the trilogy that she bought you.”

“But Mum, they are so boring.”

“Yes, but your father and I love reading. We can’t understand why you will not read. You are always playing on the computer. You never pick up a book and sit down to have a `nice’ read.”

There could be a solution.

John Grisham has written `Theodore Boone – Half the Man, Twice the Lawyer’. (Hodder and Stoughton 2010 ISBN 978 1444 71448 7) It is about Theo Boone who is only thirteen years old and thinks that he is a lawyer.

If your ten year old child ever needs to read a book that is inspiring and utterly compelling then this is the one. I can not believe that any bright child will not be able to identify with Theo Boone.

I hope also that reading the book turns some very able children into believing in themselves. A child who is able and articulate may not always feel that they can fit into the company of `mere mortals’. Theodore Boone is loved, respected and admired. These are all attributes that some eleven plus children crave.

Every single Eleven Plus parent in the world will want their child to be loved, respected and admired.

A word of warning. If you do hand the book over you may not be offered a single word until the last page.

The Eleven Plus Black Box

Your mission. You have been tasked to obtain the Back Box recording of your child sitting the first Eleven Plus examination.

You are waiting for your child’s results. There may have been some confusion with the instructions in the examination room. You have been told that two experienced invigilators were on duty and `running’ the examination on behalf of the authorities.

The examination was due to start at 9.30 in the hall. This is situated in a normally quiet and peaceful section of the school – rather away from the other buildings and definitely shielded from the busy road. You know too that any dustcarts and lawn mowers were banned from the school over the duration of the eleven plus examinations.

We pick up the transcript just as your child notifies the invigilator of an approaching disaster. Were this an unforeseen circumstance, plain neglect or lack of training?

Invigilator to Class: Er, good morning. We are just about to start the Eleven Plus examination. I would ask you all to listen carefully – but if you do not understand please do not hesitate to ask for help.

Class Member: What do we do if it rains today?

Invigilator to Class: That is possible, but try not to think of anything that you can not control. Just focus on the task.

Class Member: I am getting drops of water on my paper.

Invigilator to Class: Please try to stop crying. You will only upset yourself and the rest of the children. Just use the tissue you were asked to bring.

Class Member: I am sorry to speak again. The drops are growing in size. My paper is getting wet.

Invigilator walks towards the right rear of the room: Er, what is happening here? (Looks up at the ceiling.) Oh! There is a large puddle forming in the roof. We had better move away.

The children, teachers and invigilator leave the room in a hurry. Papers, pencils and rubbers are left on desks.

There is an ominous sound and a section of the roof gives way to a flood. The Eleven Plus Back Box picks up shouting from outside the room.

Questions

Depending on the circumstances; do the parents of these children have a right to appeal?

Should there be a Black Box recording of eleven plus examinations so that parents can know exactly what was going on?

Eleven Plus Planning

What next after the Eleven Plus?

It is easy – fleeting thoughts will enter your mind about Grammar Schools, GCSE examinations, the A Levels and the International Baccalaureate. Your focus will move to which university will deliver the goods. It looks as if university students are going to have to pay more for the privilege of attending university. Which course would offer the best return?

Step One is UCAS (http://www.ucas.ac.uk/) where the application is made.

Step Two is BMAT (http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/) the admissions tests from Cambridge.

Step Three is UKCAT (http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/) the UK Clinical Aptitude Test)

Step Four is LNAT (http://www.lnat.ac.uk/) the Law Aptitude Test.

Step Five is for pupils interested in studying in the USA (http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings.aspx).

It is not too early to start planning ahead. After all you started planning for the eleven plus before your child was born – so the next few years will go very quickly!

Good luck!

Eleven Plus Stars

We have been thrilled to receive the results of the Eleven Plus children from the Medway towns who have passed. Congratulations to all these wonderful children and their fortunate parents. Earning a place in a grammar school could change the course of the lives of some of these children.

The Medway examination is interesting because a proportion of the marks are awarded to the ability to communicate in writing. One of the children who has passed has always had some problems with his spelling. We added a little spelling to his program to try to help.

Some educationalists look at a spelling problem and try to categories it into two different areas. One area suggests that the child may well have a reading and a spelling problem. A different child may simply have a spelling problem.

When a child reads there is often the ability to look at contextual clues to help with spelling. Spelling, however, demands a recall of words that have been learnt and assimilated.

The eleven plus child with a spelling problem may have to be able to generalise rules before being able to spell unfamiliar words. Children sometimes use one strategy for writing words down – and a different one for checking the spelling. Some children may even be able to analyse the word into components – like root, suffix and prefix.

Eleven plus parents will hope that their child will be able to pick up spellings easily and intuitively.

Some children find it useful to collect all their spelling mistakes into one place – and then try to learn the words. Rote learning of spellings, however, is sometimes very difficult. It may be more helpful for the bright child to learn various strategies.

So congratulations to all the stars that have passed. Super Nova congratulations to the star that had a spelling problem and still passed!

Eleven Plus Control

“My dear, the answer lies in cybernetics.”

When a ship drifts off course the helmsman has to move the rudder to the port or the starboard to compensate for deviation. The word cybernetics is derived from the Greek word for a `steersman’.

When the eleven plus child drifts off course then gentle chat is sometimes needed to guide the candidate back onto the preferred route.

Suppose your child starts reaching failing marks on eleven plus exercises. You hope that your words will help to bring his or her grades up `Controlled guidance’ could be an invaluable asset.

Persuasion and the Eleven Plus

Some parents may sometimes feel that their attempts to persuade their child to feel a little more confident are falling on deaf ears. Naturally by the time their child has reached ten years old, parents have a pretty fair idea of how their child will react to most situations. Some parents may feel, on occasions, the need to be slightly heavy handed in their persuasive methods.

The eleven plus, however, because it is such a demanding examination, may sometimes throw up apparently childish perversity and utterly unpredictable behaviour. Some parents may also feel that their conventional methods of persuasion are being treated with some degree of suspicion.

One problem that some children may fear is that the dialogue with their parents is heavily weighted on the side of the parents. Their parents are urging them to respond in a particular way – but the children may not offer the hoped for response.

Able and articulate eleven plus children are probably good at more than just answering multiple choice questions. Combinations of sport, dance, drama and chess could be part of the makeup of the after school life of the eleven plus child. Work and study may need to fitted into a busy academic and social life.

We have a boy who comes to us for an evening lesson – and he has already done two after school activities.

Somehow some eleven plus children may feel they need a balance in their lives. Missing the odd lesson or exercise because of fatigue or overload is not going to upset the final balance of marks in the examination.

Some children may need to feel that they are keeping their parents pacified. These children may want their parents to be easy, thoughtful and appreciative. Persuasion, under these conditions, may be less consuming.

Taking Stock of the Eleven Plus

All the big retailers – and many of the smaller ones – will take part in a stock take. Years and tears ago the stock take took place on a certain day and everyone joined in the count. The results were laboriously collected and then analysed.

It would a dream for every retailer if all the stock could always be sold – but some items will remain obstinately on the shelf. Unsold goods must be taken into account when calculating the gross profit at the end of a financial period.

Every time we go into a large supermarket we see hardworking people counting and analysing stock. Of course the tills will record every transaction and warn when stock levels drop – but canny shop keepers also make their own regular checks.

We could, for example, illustrate the importance of stock with a little eleven plus example.

Mrs.Winterton, who runs a wedding hire business, has a child working towards the eleven plus. She needs to buy some stock for her shop.

July 14th Buys 6 six small chairs for £80.00 each

July 15th She sold two chairs to a customer for £160.00 each.

July 16th Bought two more chairs for £100.00 each.

July 16 Paid £20.00 for flowers.

July 18th Sold three chairs from her original lot for £500.00 the lot.

July 18th Paid delivery charge for £20.00

July 18th Paid chair covers £20.00

The eleven plus question: `What is the value of her stock?’ An eleven plus child can work out the actual arithmetic in this question. But the value of the stock is a bit more confusing.

Any book keeper or accountant would tell you immediately that a debit is made in the Stock Account while a credit is made in the Trading Account.

Eleven plus parents take stock of their child’s progress every day. All week long parents are crediting successes – and debiting failures. All parents can do is hope that they land up in a profitable situation at the end!

Eleven Plus Interests

The interests of eleven plus children are changing all the time. The interests of bright and able children will cover diverse areas like T.V. programs, music, mathematics, art, dance, literature and science. It would be wonderful for many children if more eleven plus questions could touch on some of these areas.

Many, but not all, eleven plus questions seem to follow a fairly rigid formula. Just because questions from major publishes seem to follow a remarkably set pattern, so the myriad of teachers, tutors and smaller publishers have churned out eleven plus questions that all seem to be remarkably similar.

If we asked children to devise their own tests for entry to grammar school we could conceivably be enchanted by questions that do not fall into the present categories.

Chatting to an eleven plus child a teacher could conceivably ask:

Which would you prefer?

a) Going to school
b) Visiting an art gallery
c) Going to an adventure centre.

What is most important when you are studying towards the eleven plus?

a) Keeping fit
b) Working through eleven plus papers
c) Being the best you can at school

The responses of some child would naturally follow a desire to answer in a manner that would please the teacher. Other children would answer for themselves. Others would enjoy the whole experience and offer unexpected and delightful answers.

Eleven Plus Expectations

The perennial question – how easy is it to meet the expectations of eleven plus parents?

Teachers, schools, tutors and publishers are all concerned with satisfying at least part of this weighty anticipation.

Parents want, at each stage of the eleven plus process, information about how much work has been done, what work needs to be done and what are the chances of passing. There are many factors to take into account:

The health of their child;
The emotional maturity of the candidate;
The degree of social adjustment;
And, of course, the innate intelligence and motivation.

Many parents are reassured by marks and percentages – as these give physical evidence of progress. Factors like work ethic and study skills are far more difficult to quantify.

It can be argued that teachers and tutors with access to evaluative instruments and carefully constructed standardised scores should have an advantage. Who can argue, however, against the confidence of the much loved and highly experienced tutor who can tell at a glance if a child can pass?

Special Eleven Plus Brains and PHP

One day, is possible, that some of our current eleven plus students will decide to go into computers. Some may want to manufacture, others to sell while one or two may decide to concentrate on web design. It is almost a certainty that any web user will have come across a website written in PHP.

PHP is a programming language designed for creating dynamic websites. It fits into a web server and processes the instructions in the web page before the instructions are sent to the server. PHP talks to a range of data base systems. A good example of PHP in action is an online store – where you enter the search word and then find the product that you want.

When we log into an online store we may decide to change the number of items that we are purchasing. For example there may be only one product in a particular line – but the customer can be given the opportunity to change how many are purchased.

A brain that can cope with this sort of programming does not necessarily have to be an eleven plus brain. Eleven plus brains have to be able to think and reason – and perform a range of calculations. Some even have to cope with comprehension and written English.

Eleven plus brains have to be mature and forgiving. (Is there ever an eleven plus child who is able to say accusingly: “But I have already done it!”)

Eleven plus brains can not say that the dog ate their eleven plus paper – especially if there is no dog in the family.

Eleven plus children have to respectful and accommodating. (Sometimes parents are right!”

What parents do want is for their child to adopt a dynamic approach to the eleven plus. They want their child to be able to check work carefully. They want their child to be able to follow instructions. Parents do not want to have to repeat something – especially if it to be contentious.

Receptive Eleven Plus brains are pretty special!

Eleven Plus Change

How can an eleven plus child suggest to his or her parents that there may be an alternative route towards the eleven plus? Some children may choose to use a form of a suggestion scheme – but this depends on how receptive their parents are likely to be.

One problem an eleven plus child may face is that his or her parents may not want to hear the solution that is being promoted. Eleven plus children learnt when they were very small that timing is all important. How ever good the suggestion is, it could fall on deaf ears if the timing is off.

One suggestion to any child who is thinking about changes in attitudes towards the eleven plus is that it is possible that a novel approach is needed. It may not be good enough to argue and keep arguing. Eleven plus children seeking change may need to create a whole new image for themselves.

Any eleven plus suggestion may need to include saving time. Parents may feel that they under pressure – and that prolonged negotiations can only waste time. (That is when children go on and on!)

Children may also take note of how governments for years have brought in change – namely the leaked secret. The leaked drip could be offered with maximum publicity just twenty four hours before any crucial meeting. Eleven Plus children may have limited financial resources – but major emotional resources.

So eleven plus children wishing for change may need to:

Argue less
Think of novel approaches to developing suggestions.
Forget negotiations.
Try dripping away.
Play on the emotions of the parents.

The Eleven Plus and Arbitration

Some eleven plus children need to embrace change. Working towards the eleven plus examination will mean changes to their lives. Some may need to adjust to working to a schedule. Others very bright children may need to do some real academic work for the first time in their lives. There could even be a group of children who, although they are doing very well at school, are challenged by the complexity and the range of eleven plus work.

Listening to some eleven plus children it almost seems as if they don’t understand that targeted work will help to give them a better opportunity. There are even a few who appear to think that resentment is a necessary price before change and improvement takes place. Some children will not try to be negative but if there appears to be a hint of criticism then the emotions can become turbulent.

When things go wrong in the adult world there are various mechanisms to help mediate and give advice. Some adults may feel the need to turn to Samaritans, others to the Citizens Advice Bureau – while others will need to engage professional negotiators – witness how strikes are handled.

The eleven plus child does not have access to a professional body. The `sometimes grumpy little face’ may feel that there is no one to turn to. But parents must have non arbitrational rights. No child can be allowed to breach health and safety. No child needs to be rude and offhand. No child needs to be disagreeable. Eleven plus children probably want to be treated in a right and fair manner. Many will want to voice their thoughts – which can be useful - unless it goes on and on!

In the world of business people usually try to effect change when the business is expanding. The expansion helps the business to be able to move people to different jobs without losing their seniority or suffer pay cuts. The eleven plus child does not have this luxury.

If agreement can not be reached within the immediate family then any unresolved disputes may need to be submitted to arbitration. The arbitrator could be a much loved grandparent, or an aunt or uncle. Sometimes an older brother or sister could help immensely.

Imagine the pride of Grandmother Molly. Her new family title:

Grandmother Molly – The Eleven Plus Arbitrator.

The Eleven Plus and the Ryder Cup 2010

A number of us will have been working with eleven plus children – and then enjoying watching shots of the Ryder Cup.

A number of eleven plus children will have been watching the Ryder Cup with their parents.

Today was Day 2 – and the Ryder Cup foursomes were out in force. The commentators were commentating, the players were playing and the crowds were crowding.

Eleven plus child can learn from golf – they can learn the need to concentrate. They can also learn the need to play as part of a team. (The attire of the players from both teams was a thing of beauty.)

The one extraordinary habit that I hope no eleven plus child will pick up was displayed by both sides. This is something that we never see a boxer doing after a good blow to the head of an opponent. An Olympic swimmer can not do this action in the middle of a race. The winner of the stage of the Tour de France usually raises both hands as a salute – but then he has cycled 200 kilometres.

These Ryder Cup golfers – on both sides – when they have sunk a putt – raise their eyes to the crowd. They then clench their fist and use a dramatic pumping movement to show their joy at sinking the putt.

The hope is that your precious eleven plus candidate does not get into the habit of clenching the fist and pumping after every answer. This could be quite off putting to others in the middle of the real examination!

Variety in the Eleven Plus

It is very hard to generalise – but here goes – a reasonably significant number of parents will hope that their eleven plus children will go onto university.

When their child reaches university there will be a bewildering variety of courses to choose from.

The primary school is already a veritable cornucopia to some bright children – with the opportunity of a wide range of activities and a number of different subjects to study. There is often time for a variety of outside classes and activities. There is also the spectre of the eleven plus. Preparing for the examination takes time and effort.

The eleven plus examination itself can be regarded, in some areas, as a remarkably narrow examination. Coping with analogies, for example, in verbal and non verbal reasoning is a skill that can be learnt.

The GCSE years can be full and exciting – with many GCSE options to choose from. I have already mentioned the ex GCSE grammar school boy who has just joined us to work with our super bright eleven plus children and who has thirteen A* GCSE subjects!
There is some degree of specialisation in the A Level years – but still a range of subjects to choose from.

Why can’t a fresh look be made at the present system of the eleven plus? Some ten year old children may miss out on a prized university place simply because the examination is much too narrow in scope and design. Naturally it must be argued that once a child has jumped over the hurdle of the eleven plus then he or she can be called fit to be able to cope with the variety that will become available in later life. Yet the eleven plus examination may militate against some super bright children..

The Sands of Eleven Plus Time

Every now and again the question of paying reluctant eleven plus candidates to do papers comes up.

“Oh, Mother Dear, of course I will do the paper – but it will cost you!”

“Well, all right, but you can’t rush this paper. You must take your time with the questions.”

“Oh, no! You are not going to use that egg timer on me again? I hate the pressure.”

“Well, dear, you need to remember a little story.

In an hour glass the sand takes exactly an hour to empty from the top to the bottom. You usually have to take fifty minutes on a paper – but remember we are giving you an extra ten minutes to look through the paper so that you can plan your time.

We will use our other sand timer – the one that only lasts ten minutes. When the sand runs out on those ten minutes you can start. You can not start before the time – and you can not leave your desk before the sand in the hour timer has run out.”

“But mum, it is not fair. An hour is a long time. I am sure I can finish ahead of time.”

“Yes, but the sand timer was invented to allow work men to be paid for each hour that they worked. Any way if you finish early you can always watch the sand running. You will be able to see that the conical shape of the sand in the bottom glass matches the shape of the sand in the top glass.”

“No more. I will do the test for nothing. Please don’t give me more information than I need. Please just leave me to it.”

More Eleven Plus Questions

A few more questions about the eleven plus:

Will the content of the eleven plus have any bearing on the future development of bright children?

Should working towards the eleven plus examination make the child a better citizen?

Will the academic nature of the eleven plus impact on the physical development of any eleven plus children?

Will any bright eleven plus children ever be given an opportunity to show just how good they are at school work?

Does it matter than some eleven plus children have to give up many of their treasured activities in order to be able to slog through a forest of eleven plus papers?

How well equipped will most children be when they walk through the hallowed gates of a grammar school for the first time?

And now for a little aside:

If the eleven plus examination is based entirely on a spirit of competition – where the favoured few are first past the post – then should eleven plus children be expected to turn out to be co-operative when they arrive at the grammar school?

Eleven Plus Questions

Do successful eleven plus children have a certain type of personality?

Do eleven plus children, who are struggling with their work, develop an excessively social attitude?

Are eleven plus children who are under achieving become hostile and display changeable moods?

Is the mental efficiency of the eleven plus child significantly affected by his or her personality?

Are some very able children excessively obsessive?

Do girls who make friends easily achieve higher eleven plus marks than their less sociable peers?

Do mothers have more influence than fathers over eleven plus work?

Does a child centred eleven plus regime obtain higher marks than one of pressure and more pressure?

Do some eleven plus children feel superior to other children?

Do steps to reduce anxiety and emotional disturbance help children to do better on tests?

How can the detrimental elements of eleven plus teaching be reduced?

Can any child survive a truly permissive eleven plus experience?

An Eleven Plus High Flyer

Spare a thought for the Eleven Plus High Flyer.

This is an exceptionally intelligent boy or girl who has been at the top of the class thoughout junior school.

The Eleven Plus examination selects him or her for grammar school where our high flyer is put into the `A' stream and immediately meets other high flyers. Our high flyer is immediately put under pressure.

Eleven Plus Choices

Most parents would like the final choice about the school they would like their child to attend to be theirs. Unfortunately a choice of school after the eleven plus results is not always a parent’s right.

Choosing a school for an eleven plus candidate is one of the most important decisions a parent can make.

Children who pass the eleven plus do not only come from privileged parents – because successful eleven plus candidates can come from every sort of home and background.

An obvious advantage of attending a grammar school is that your child is likely to obtain good GCSE results. We have, for example, a young man joining us to work in one of our centres who has just been awarded 13 A*s. He is obviously a very bright grammar school boy. The children he works with should benefit from his obvious intelligence and ability. He will be a wonderful role model for prospective eleven plus candidates.

Grammar schools have to be able to prove to parents that they are right place for their children. Grammar schools appear to pride themselves on traditional values. Most grammar school children seem to take pride in their work. Most parents would value this very highly.

Schools with a high standard of education, good discipline and a good work ethic would attract many parents.

Good pre eleven plus preparation may help some parents make a sensible choice.

An Eleven Plus Diversion

The eleven plus examination is not all about adults imparting knowledge – sometimes children gain their revenge. A solemn faced little angel asked me today:

“Think of a four letter common noun that names a tiny animal. Now change the second letter of the noun to the next letter in the alphabet. What larger animal, also four letters long, do you come up with?”

What was I to say? I didn’t have a clue. The question was not in one of the `++++’ books or even the `****’ books. I am not sure if it was a question taken from the `&&&&’ website. Perhaps the question originated from Mrs `????’ who is very successful with her eleven plus candidates.

The beaming face before me urged me to get a clue. I was, however, clueless.

Others joined in. How nice to see a teacher humbled. The single smiling face became a sea of smiles. The suggestions started flying in. Words that were longer than four letters were immediately ridiculed. My puny efforts were mocked.

“Do you want a clue?”

“Yes please.”

“Listen to the question – what is the size of the animal?”

“Sorry – you said tiny.”

“So?”

“We are all stuck. Please help?”

“It is a tiny animal that starts with the letter `g’ and ends with a `t’.

The suggestions flooded in. The noise and the laughter grew. I still did not have a clue.

“I will have to tell you. The word is gnat.”

A voice piped up. “It can’t be a gnat because a gnat is an insect.”

Our tormentor ignored this specious advice. “And the second word is goat.”

There were cheers of joy.

Eleven Plus Re-Sits

Why can’t the OFFICIAL ELEVEN PLUS AUTHORITIES allow some children to re-sit the eleven plus?

At the GCSE stage children can re-sit an examination to improve a grade. Surely it would be relatively easy to allow some children the opportunity of a re-sit? Of course in the eleven plus experience parents have the ability to appeal an eleven plus decision. But there is no opportunity for some children to be able to be given a second chance.

The questions could come from the same bank of questions.

Some candidates could improve their marks – and thus avert an educational tragedy.

In some cases the children may have to enter as private candidates but the authorities would no doubt institute a complex set of re-sit regulations.

Changes to the Format of the Eleven Plus

I watched two thumbed texting again today – along with predictive texting. The speed and accuracy were out of this world.

Surely the present format of the eleven plus is all wrong?

Why can’t our bright eleven plus children make use of modern methods of communication?

Eleven Plus Objectives

Cognitive Objectives

After carefully reading this blog you will be able to:

Distinguish between different types of eleven plus preparation.

State the main sources of information about the eleven plus.

Give an example of good eleven plus practice.

Deliver your own opinion, based on research, to a waiting audience.

Carry out a skills analysis of what you, the rest of the family and the candidate have to do.

Summarise why you want your child to embark on the eleven plus journey.

Affective Objectives

After reading this blog the writer hopes that you:

Are aware that no one has all the answers to the many stages of the eleven plus journey.

Use your already highly structured and professional approach to the eleven plus – leaving as little to chance as possible.

Feel secure in your mind that preparation for the eleven plus is highly practical – and is not a theoretical exercise that can only be carried by `the super people’.

Eleven Plus Stars

What would happen if the writers of the `Real Eleven Plus Examination’ came out of their lofty towers and started asking questions which allowed parents to respond honestly and faithfully?

“Do you think that we are doing a good job with the Eleven Plus?”

Strongly Agree … Agree … Strongly Disagree

“Do you think that the format of the Eleven Plus in your area should be changed?”

Strongly Agree … Agree … Strongly Disagree


The questions could roll!

What would happen if there was an attempt to engage the present crop of eleven plus candidates in some form of meaningful dialogue?

“Can you think of a different method of being tested for a place in a grammar school?”

“Is it fair that some poor children can not afford a tutor? Can you think of a solution?”


Educators, test boffins, teachers, parents and children could then enjoy some form of meaningful dialogue. It would be wonderful too if there was a full bodied representation from the grammar schools who would be able to explain and articulate their needs and desires.

Some nine year old children may find the whole exercise a heavy burden. But what about the clever little thinkers? They may care to have a say in an examination where they are the stars!

Eleven Plus Writing

We have children writing the Medway Eleven Plus tests in the very near future. Part of their assessment is written English. Last year the children were asked to write a letter. Will they be presented with the same task this year?

Who wrote the first letter? We just don’t know. The Chinese and Japanese have their own set of characters. Back in ancient Egypt, India, China and Central America writing was used for record keeping. In Mesopotamia the need for records and administration reached a point where people could not remember all the transactions and, to avoid disputes, clerks began make formal records.

Some scholars think that an individual in about 3300 BC produced a form of writing that can be recognised today. It is also likely, however, that writing was the product of an evolution of skills over a long time.

This same evolution exists today. The art of texting, for example, has allowed new forms of writing and communication. A message can pass within seconds over long distances. This is a far cry from the letter borne by Pheidippides when he ran the marathon to ask for help.

Was the first actual letter a business transaction? I hope not. It does seem sad if the first letter was a record of the delivery of some pots. It would be far more romantic to have the first letter from the pen of an Eleven Plus mother.

My dear

We all wish you every good fortune in your eleven plus examinations. You will be in all our thoughts and we are all very proud of you.

We will all go out for a big party to celebrate the end of the eleven plus. We know that you have worked very hard and we salute you for the effort.

Good luck!

Love

Mum

Eleven Plus Realism

A number of new eleven plus parents will be approaching the year with a sense of purpose. Other parents may try to visualise the problems that could lie ahead. By and large most parents will have a plan. They will also be able to articulate their objectives:

By October of next year, when the results are out, my child will have secured enough marks to be able to go to the grammar school of our choice.

Some parents will try to find the most efficient way of achieving the objectives. Some may feel that efficiency is to do with achieving value for money. Others, in these difficult times, will try to be as cost effective as possible. Most parents will naturally try to set a budget.

The budget will depend on the readiness of their child to pass the examination. A child who simply needs a little work on a few papers will cost a lot less than a child who needs to work very hard towards the examinations.

Books, papers, possible lessons, downloads and courses will cross the minds of many parents. Some may feel that their child needs a full package. Others will feel secure that their child should pass with a little bit of brushing up.

Whatever the choices that are made most parents will monitor the situation on a daily basis and adopt a highly realistic approach to their children. The examination, after all is a competition. Only the best candidates will pass.

Eleven Plus Pressure

Would you believe that research some years ago showed that dominant teachers produced dominant and aggressive children?

Would you believe that integrative and accepting behaviour among teachers produced co-operative behaviour among children?

Would you believe, although I don’t know if this has ever been formally investigated, that nurturing and caring behaviour from parents would encourage their child to want to work positively towards the eleven plus?

In the traditional do’s and don’ts of eleven plus work on papers, is it possible that some eleven plus children may be able to do extraordinary work if they feel nurtured and recognised?

Where is the punch line? Try not to punch an eleven plus child with too much pressure.

The Eleven Plus and Reasoning

Deciding whether your child is ready for eleven plus work seems to depend on the experience of your child, the nature of the examination, underlying intelligence or reasoning ability and maturity.

Many years ago strong arguments took place about the effectiveness of coaching and practice. One side maintained that extra work on papers and eleven plus exercises was a complete waste of time. Other parents and educators felt that it was essential to give children the best possible chance.

Today few would argue that extra preparation could help towards providing children with the opportunities to acquire readiness for the eleven plus examination. There will always be some parents who maintain that their child was able to pass the eleven plus with remarkably little preparation. These fortunate parents, and their children, are to be envied. It is also likely that some parents may lack the ability to help their children. This could lead to bright and able children losing out to better prepared but less able children.

Eleven plus preparation, for some children, will be a series of small steps – where each processes is analysed and hopefully assimilated. Other children will relish the opportunity of being able to extend and stretch themselves without having to wait for others.

Children can be coached in how to tackle verbal and non verbal reasoning papers. They can be shown different methods of tackling questions and can be drilled with exercises. This could help some children to obtain good marks on reasoning papers. The coaching and preparation can only effective if the eleven plus examiners persist in presenting the same format of papers year after year. If the examiners looked for new ways of testing reasoning ability they may be able to develop examinations where truly bright children were identified.

Years and years ago an effective eleven plus question may have been:

If 123245678 in code is PARAMOUNT

What is 123358?

Very few candidates sitting this year’s examinations will not be able to know how to cope with this type of question. This could help to diminish elements of the eleven plus the ability to be a true examination of reasoning.

Eleven Plus Luck

Your child is working through an eleven plus paper at this very moment. A friend calls and suggests that your child should join a little group that are going out together to a local park. The park is near your house. Your child would be safe walking there – especially as the mother of the caller is going to accompany the children to the park.

“Of course, my dear. Just finish off those last few questions before you go.”

“Thank you mother. This will not take long.”

The paper was completed within a very few minutes.

“Did you guess any answers? That did not take long.”

“Oh no, Mum, I was very careful.”

Subsequent marking showed that all the answers that followed the call were wrong. A little doubt entered the mind of the long suffering mother. Had her much loved child guessed at the last few answers?

The assumption that all wrong answers were guessed may be completely wrong. Your child may have answered the questions with great care and still made mistakes. We are presuming that there were four answers from which to choose. The laws of chance would suggest that if there were twelve four point answers your child would score at least three. Sometimes your child would score more than three and on other occasions less than three. If the previous sixty questions had been answered correctly – and only the last twelve questions completed very quickly - then dark thoughts may cross your mind.

It is unlikely that if your child answered the first sixty correctly that he or she would suddenly start making mistakes on the final twelve questions. Yet it happened. One solution could be that the final twelve questions were of a type that had never been seen before.

The indubitable fact is that even if your child has missed the word `not’ at the start of the block of twelve questions the laws of chance would still have offered three correct answers.

Perhaps, and this is a perfectly acceptable conclusion, some eleven plus children are luckier than others. Some will be lucky to pass – and others pass because of luck. If your child passes I am sure you will not mind either way.

Eleven Plus Information

When parents go about gathering information about the eleven plus they are faced with a wide variety of conflicting information. On the one hand there is the bewildering amount of information on the internet and in books and papers. On the other there is the personal advice from close friends and family. The more parents satisfy one demand on their time – the more they may be inclined to be become frustrated.

Some parents may tend to organise their research into a systematic form of information gathering. Others may prefer to benefit from personal recommendation and past experience. Some parents may have been through the eleven plus themselves and others will need as much information and advice as possible.

Some of the information needs to be factual – the date and time of the examination, the number of papers and the type and range of questions. Other information may be far more subjective. Will my child and I ever be able to work together? Do I really need the services of a tutor? Will he or she ever settle down to do some eleven plus work without being reminded?

For some parents the evening of September the 15th 2010 means that it is all over. The last eleven plus examination has been written. Other parents still have a few more days or weeks of worry and concern. Yet others are just starting on the journey. They are still sifting information and opinions.

An Eleven Plus Story

A number of children in Kent will be writing their Eleven Plus English essay tomorrow. The results of the exercise are only used in the event of further evidence about a pass or fail situation.

One hundred years ago children in some English classes were asked to complete a story.

Hare Tortoise race discussion winner hare arrogant humility participants spectators audience timely plodding moral

There was little room for individual thinking. Children could demonstrate a wide vocabulary and careful punctuation. The very essence of a bright eleven year old, however, may have been stifled – the need to argue and discuss.

A ten year eleven plus candidate who can not put up a robust argument must be rare and unusual. Some of the children writing the examination tomorrow may go on to become lawyers, barristers and judges.

We hope too that at least some of the questions tomorrow will try to stimulate a bright and fertile imagination. We can only hope that some of the questions will try to inspire the children and encourage them to write with heightened visual imagery and decoration.

All we can hope is that the urgency of the eleven plus does not force some children into writing insincere and highly predicable stories or accounts.

Helping an Eleven Plus Child

As children settle down to their Eleven Plus examinations some of us parents and grandparents may be scratching our heads. It looks as if we can't do much right at all. What ever we try to do there will be a different opinion on our endevours.

A fascinating article in The Telegraph points to the advantages of early intervention. One finding was that a settled home along with more expensive equipment did help a little.

We then read a comment from the Independent talking about what holds some children back.

My father used to say: "Don't wait for a red London bus; another will come along very soon."

Eleven Plus Places

At the beginning of the twentieth England did not have an organised system of secondary education. There were grammar schools where the rich and selected poor children mingled – but the schools were called `grammar’ because of the curriculum that was taught in the schools.

Two institutions, Oxford and Cambridge, instituted local examinations for schools which had the effect of building a curriculum that could be followed by all the participating schools. There was, however, no connection between the teachers who were preparing children and the universities themselves.

All the universities had their own system of entrance test. This led to a diverse and chaotic system of examination. A central authority was introduced to try to bring order into the chaos. When children passed the `school examination’ and obtained a `school certificate’ they then had a qualification that the universities could rely on. With your school certificate you could apply to most universities.

We are preparing children for different eleven plus examinations – as there is no centralised system that looks after the concerns of children across the country. We have to prepare different courses for children in Manchester down to Kent as well for individual schools. The courses have common elements – but are not the same.

Parents, however, have to rely on their own investigations, word of mouth, the internet and advice from experienced teachers who operate to help children into grammar school. Teachers ploughing a lonely furrow with their children on a one to one basis have no input into the content of the examination.

A few selected publishers have great influence over what the eleven plus children are told to learn. Eleven plus teaching and examining functions, however, are kept separate. The prize of grammar school place is so great that parents will put up with almost anything as long as their child wins a place.

Eleven Plus Questions

We can’t blame the Eleven Plus for everything but big changes took place in England around the 1950s. Schools stopped teaching many subjects that had been part of a child’s education for many years. Teachers today do not seem to as involved in the classic subjects like Latin and Poetry. The whole tenor of the Eleven Plus would change today if elements of these two subjects were to become part of the so called eleven plus syllabus.

We know that some children are going to go on to be great explorers – these children will hear strange songs and dance to new beats. They will hear poems in other languages – sometimes with great epic stories. Other children will prefer to stay close to home and enjoy the familiar sounds and noises of their childhood.

Who is to say if the poem produced by one courageous child is better than one built up in a painstaking manner by a child who will never live more than a mile from the ancestral home? Should the poetry in the eleven plus then be about the analysis of a poem (as in the current GCSE examinations) or the form of a creative adventure?

There is a little song from Zimbabwe that may entertain. The song does not set out to be an epic. It does not try to scan. There is no need for an audit of feelings and emotions – it is simply a little song sung by some Mashona families:

Pasi Pamera Ziso

Pasi pamera ziso tururuzai wona

Wonawona ziso tururuzai wona.

Of course a multiple choice question is easier to mark and grade. Would an A Level English teacher at a grammar school, however, prefer a child who can think and create to one who arrived in the 6th form having been carefully drilled at the age of ten into answering certain types of questions?

Eleven Plus Luck

A number of children are writing their Eleven Plus tomorrow. All of us wish them good luck.

Passing the Eleven Plus

From the beginning of time individuals with superior intellect must have been regarded as being special and different. The criteria for designating people of above average ability must have changed from time to time. Factors like birth, wealth, physical stamina may well have played a part over the centuries.

The Eleven Plus was not designed as a vehicle for identifying bright children – in its infancy there was the worthy aim of identifying bright children from poor backgrounds – and supplying an education that would otherwise have been denied to them.

Today children from all walks of life have means to enter the eleven plus round. Papers, tests, tutors and anxious parents are the norm in parts of the country. The internet has played large part in opening up different approaches to how children learn and prepare for the examination.

There is still, however, a place for the truly bright child to be challenged and involved in the examination. This would be the child with the ability to sail through the eleven plus with scores over 136. A number of these lucky children must relish the opportunity of showing just how good they are.

Some parents can only hope that their children will be able to rise to the challenge of the eleven plus. Yet these children may be gifted in other areas. Being of `superior intellect’ does not necessarily mean gifted academically - but it probably helps a lot!

Passing the eleven plus today is probably the preserve of good hardworking children from good honest homes. We wish them well in their examinations!

The Eleven Plus and Food For Thought

It used to be common practice to ask a promising candidate out to dinner – or observe him or her in situations outside of the interview room. This would enable the `host’ or prospective employer to make inferences on the validity of the C.V. The dinner would also offer insight into the ability of the candidate to form relationships.

The prospective employer would also be able to observe the manner in which peas were eaten. (On the knife or off the knife.)

Did the candidate wait for grace?

Did the candidate offer to officiate at the ceremony of the grace?

Was grace deemed to be necessary?

Did the candidate sit before the host or after the host?

Was there small talk or did the conversation immediately revolve around the job and its prospects?

Did the candidate appreciate that the social situation of the dinner may be far removed from the niceties of holding down a responsible job?

Suppose that some of our eleven plus candidates were put into the same position.

Do you advise your child to order pizza – because that is the flavour of the month?

Should you suggest that your child order the fish soup – in the hope of looking genteel?

Does your child order a coke or a glass of sparking water?

Should the conversation revolve around your child’s accomplishments – or those of the interviewer?

Does your child adopt an obsequious manner – or try to dominate the conversation?

And finally:

Does your child leave three or four peas on the plate to demonstrate an appreciation of social niceties?

Last Word

Would you want your child to go to a school that wanted more than high scores on multiple choice tests?

Eleven Plus Methods

We are sometimes faced with yet another method of doing long multiplication.

“My teacher does not do it like that.”

“But Dad says I have to multiply by the number on the right.”

What would happen if yet another method was introduced?

Multiply 27 by 35.

Halve the numbers in the first column again and again. Ignore the remainders.

27
13
6
3
1

Double the numbers of the second number

35
70
140
280
560

Cross out the numbers in the second column that are opposite an even number.

The even number in the first list is 6 so the 140 of the second list is crossed out.

Add the remaining numbers.

Total = 945!

If this method is less confusing than that shown by the school then why not suggest to your child that he or she could contemplate an exploration of numbers and methods?

After all is teaching towards the eleven plus teaching a child to pass an examination or teaching a child about themselves?

Eleven Plus Potential

How can you try to maximise the potential of your eleven plus child? One way could be to treat your child as if you expect him or her to pass the examination. You could contemplate trying to instil the best possible working practices while working through papers and doing any extra eleven plus work.

Your child must view you as a strong eleven plus manager. Start the eleven plus journey as you hope your child will finish. This does not mean strict times for the work or completing a specified number of questions every day but it does mean planning and lots of motivational talks and exercises.

Try not to rely too heavily on one supplier of eleven plus materials. Look around until you find a number of different books, materials and tests. You want you child to think and reason in the examination. There is no royal road to success. Keep trying.

Keep everything neat, tidy and well organised in any work you do with your child. You may, heaven forbid, need to prove all the hard work and effort. Untidy books and scribbled on papers will not help all that much in an appeal situation.

Try to ensure that the eleven plus is part of your lives and does not take over. Allow some time off for your child to be a child and not an eleven plus automation.

A Median Eleven Plus Number

There were lots of us on the Mayor’s London Cycle Sky ride today. I was pulling a Halfords Cycle trailer with the granddaughter proudly ensconced – who was waving regally to the attendant crowds. Grandson was on his yellow machine – along with full suspension and fearsome brakes. At one time we were told that there were over eighty thousand riding the paved streets of London.

Dick Whittington would have loved to have been with us. He became the Lord Mayor of London. I am sorry to say that we did not see the present Mayor of London as we swept past the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. I would have prized an opportunity to say thank you for the privilege of traffic free riding. I can, however, say thank you to the hundred of volunteers lining the route who made the ride such an enjoyable experience.

On the journey back my mind wandered, as it is wont to do on occasions, on how an eager eleven plus child would work out the average age of the cyclists. There was a wide spectrum of ages – with male and female seemingly equally distributed. Our eleven plus mathematician could not have approached all eighty thousand and asked their ages. He or she could, however, have selected a sample drawn over a period of time as the cyclists crossed the starting line. The prospective actuary could have closed his or her eyes and on a signal opened them to select a group of nine cyclists. Answers about the ages of a random sample of nine participants could have sought and recorded.

The ages could then be placed into rank order with the oldest at one end and the youngest at the other. The middle number of the nine would be the median age – because of the ranked order. Suppose that ten ages were obtained – because an enthusiastic member of the cycling fraternity also wanted to be entered into the calculation. The middle number would then be a number between the middle two ages.

(We saw a man on a unicycle but we were not counting wheels but ages.)

So if the question on the eleven plus paper, by chance, does not have an odd number we would need this formula.

The median of a set of N numbers which have been ranked in order is equal to the odd number in the middle. If the range of numbers is not odd, the median is half the sum of the middle two numbers.

Using this method we could have found the age of the cyclist in the very middle of the range of all eighty thousand and one cyclist. If, however, there were exactly eighty thousand some poor soul may have needed to be cut in half.

Who said the eleven plus is easy?

Eleven Plus Breakfasts

Is it possible that there could be some form of relationship between meal times and success in the eleven plus? Is a child nibbling on crisps and sucking chocolate bars more likely to less likely to want to eat meals at set and specified times? This are questions may perturb a minority. Most families will have their own rhythm and their own eating habits.

In some cases it must be a very complicated task trying to synchronise meal times in the family. Imagine having to cook special meals for the eleven plus candidate. The family, for example, may be eating a tasty roll of beef – but the eleven plus candidate is on fish brains and bananas – become some expert has found that mice react best on fish food and bananas. It is perfectly all right if the candidate likes fish – but must be a horrifying experience to watch the rest of the family tucking into a solid English meal while nibbling at desiccated fish.

We all know that breakfast in the most important meal of the day. I met an eleven plus candidate this year who stated that she never ate breakfast. Her mother explained that she too never ate in the morning. Should her mother have looked ahead when her daughter was a baby and started eating breakfasts to ensure that her daughter (when she reached ten) also wanted to break her fast? Should we believe the breakfast food manufactures when that state that we need to eat a hearty first meal of the day?

Suppose that a mother opted to provide her candidate with a `Full English Breakfast’ as a treat on the morning of the eleven plus. (Just to cheer the family up!) The breakfast food could revolve around eggs. (“Would you prefer scrambled, poached or fried?”) There could be bacon. (“How many rashers do you think you would like?) The meal could also have a little back pudding, toast, grape fruit, milk and possibly beans.

Other mothers and fathers may offer a more continental breakfast of croissants and preserves along with a cup of coffee. (It is suggested that the typical little shot of brandy that some continentals seem to prefer with their coffee may not be a good idea on the on the morning of the examination.)

And finally, the breakfast cereal, along with a slice of toast and jam or marmalade, may be a preferred offering.

Discuss the preferred menu ahead of the day – leaving you to shop, if necessary, for any unforeseen delicacies.

“Do you really want a chocolate cream egg this early in the day?”

Time and the Eleven Plus

I was asked today about time. “How do I help my child with time in the examination?”

This is a remarkably difficult question to answer. Time wears many hats and for many of us the eleven plus develops into a race against time.

It is high time that you wear your watch when you are working through eleven plus papers.

If you are not careful you may ruin out of time. Time waits for no man (or any eleven plus child).

I have told you more times than I have had hot dinners that keeping time in the examination is simply a question of managing time. “If you do not use time wisely, you may lose it!”

You may find that time is running out in the examination. Try the obvious answers.

If you are pressed for time then try to keep calm. It is no good panicking.

You may find the right answer in the nick of time. Keep trying. Do not give up.

It is just a matter of time before your tummy wobbles silence themselves – and you should start enjoying the examination.

You may find that you have to make time during the examination.

And finally – in the fullness of time your hard eleven plus work should pay off.

Eleven Plus Confidence

It is to be hoped that parents are now concentrating on trying to build confidence as the examination grows closer. I had the privilege of chatting informally to a number of children who has attended courses over the school holidays. The universal feeling was the extra work had helped to build confidence.

The film `Braveheart’ showed Mel Gibson and an army of Scots preparing to do battle with blue stripes on their faces. Other than decoration we can only imagine that the blue to there to denote sameness (rather like a school uniform), bravery and an attempt to instil fear into opponents.

The Maoris are another `tribe’ who paint their faces and perform highly ritualised dances or routines to terrify their opponents. The Hakka at the start of a New Zealand Rugby match must be intended to strike fear in the hearts of the opposing team.

I witnessed today another example of pre examination moral building. A ten year old girl had a pair of the brightest pink shoes imaginable. We were all highly impressed. She felt good – and looked good.

It may be very unwise for any eleven plus child to arrive in the examination hall with painted faces and pink shoes. Parents could, however, arrange for a little fake tattoo and a snippet of pink ribbon tied to the shoelaces. After all you have worked hard with your children, supplied tutors, papers, comfort and support. You just want your child to feel good on the day.

After dropping the pre examination children, mothers (and possibly some fathers) could paint their faces and wear a little pink. Some, however, may prefer the solace of a little pink gin or two.

“Yes please, a little sweet gin and a touch of bitters. Make that a double. Chin, chin children. Down the hatch.”

“I do feel better now.”

The Eleven Plus and Thank You

There are two little words that must surely transcend any language – namely `Thank You’.

These are the words every parent must long to hear. There must be some families where the words are rare – and in other families it is possible that the words `thank you’ are sprinkled around in a most liberal and welcome manner. It is never possible, however, to take these words for granted.

Your child has just left an eleven plus lesson. You are offered a squeeze of the hand and the words `thank you’. Sitting in the car playing with the radio and your mobile phone is all worthwhile.

You offer a new eleven plus paper and your child turns to you are says “This is exciting. Thank you. I can’t wait to pit my wits against the paper.”

The ever patient grandparent drops the eleven plus candidate off at home and hears the whispered words: “Thank you. That was great. See you next week.” The heart is full as grand parent drives happily away.

You leave the lesson and, without prompting, your child turns to the teacher and says: “Thank you.” You know that pride is a deadly sin – but you do feel proud as you, and your child, stride comfortably away.

Do you remember the poem by Robert Service?

GRAND PERE

And so when he reached my bed
The General made a stand:
"My brave young fellow," he said,
"I would shake your hand."

So I lifted my arm, the right,
With never a hand at all;
Only a stump, a sight
Fit to appal.

"Well, well. Now that's too bad!
That's sorrowful luck," he said;
"But there! You give me, my lad,
The left instead."

So from under the blanket's rim
I raised and showed him the other,
A snag as ugly and grim
As its ugly brother.

He looked at each jagged wrist;
He looked, but he did not speak;
And then he bent down and kissed
Me on either cheek.

You wonder now I don't mind
I hadn't a hand to offer. . . .
They tell me (you know I'm blind)
'Twas Grand-Père Joffre.

Eleven Plus Scales

“He is a scaly individual!” implies that the person under scrutiny is of a questionable nature. Perhaps the word comes from the wet dripping feeling of cold freshly caught fish. Perhaps the link to scales is through the almost lifeless feeling of holding a lizard as it tries to escape. But scales are also used in music and to weigh quantities.

Scales in eleven plus terms could apply to comparing performances between children. Different papers could be compared and so progress can be monitored. This could be a very valuable tool if similar papers were compared. Imagine an earnest mother and daughter working on eleven plus papers. They work through a set of papers and reach the dizzy heights of 85%. “You are on the right route to pass dear. Well done.”

The two then buy a different set of papers and the marks drop significantly. Are the marks of the first set relevant? Should they believe in the marks of the second set?

A friend advises them to take the scales off their eyes. Nearly all eleven plus work is relevant. Different people will find different questions hard. Many children could go over:

Fractional values and fractions
Percentages
Division
Ratio

A number of children have only a few days before their 2010 eleven plus examination. Now is the time to take the pressure off. Build confidence by revising key areas. Don’t suddenly start trying to cover vast areas of new ground. There may not be enough time to consolidate any thing that was too new.

Do you remember learning to play the recorder or the violin or piano? You had to go over your scales again and again. The constant repetition brought you to examination pitch. Opera singers rehearse their scales to warm their voices up. Try to be sensitive of your child’s needs and do not try to do too much over the next few days.

Crisp Eleven Plus Answers

It is just a year since my last visit to the Notting Hill Carnival. Put another way, it is a year since I last visited the Notting Hill Carnival. The sheer exuberance of the event, along with the unbridled joy and dogged perseverance of the performers, has the makings of good lesson for our eleven plus children.

There has to be planning of costumes, dance routines and the float.

The participants have to be fed and watered.

Back up vehicles have to be organised.

The dancers need to be shielded - yet be on display.

Most of all, all concerned need to put `their best foot forward'.

There was a long queue for the jerk chicken. The rice and mutton, which I had, made a very tasty meal. There was, however, some dissent. A young mother was trying to coax her daughter into sharing a tasty looking goat stew. The child wanted crisps.

No amount of bribery and pleading could change the child's mind. "I want my crisps!"

We all think about crisps being a thin potato based `food' we eat swiftly from a packet.

We also think about crisp as in `Deep and crisp and even.'

So in eleven plus terms does the word crisp mean brittle and crunchy?

After all most of us like roast pork to have crisp crackling.

The whole Notting Hill experience is designed to be a celebration of culture - yet there will always be someone who wants something different - as in the little girl who chose to reject all the tasty offerings and crave a familiar food.

If you want your child's mind to be crisp on the day of the examination take into account your child's personality. If your child is likely to be cheerful and positive - then rejoice. If your child is likely to want to be tearful and worried, then commiserate but just be glad that he or she has made it to the examination. Stick to the familiar and the tried and tested. Curried goat is not for everyone - but it makes wonderful meal.

In the days before the examination start taking the pressure off. Your child and you have done the hard work. You have done your best. The word `crisp' in eleven plus terms should not mean flaky but it should mean bright and alert!

An Eleven Plus Meander

Parents by now, as the eleven plus grows closer, are looking at commercial tests and papers with considerable interest. Do the tests reveal the strengths and weaknesses of their child? Will the test reveal misconceptions and misunderstandings? If an otherwise extremely bright child is still worried by codes, should the family call in the cavalry?

Some questions that could wonder through the mind:

How has my child done on this paper compared with other children?

What is a reasonable number of questions to answer correctly?

What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses?

What common errors are made again and again?

Where do we need to work together?

Do these tests really reflect my child’s ability?

If my child is always achieving 90% are we testing him or her on the right tests?

Have we made the right choices about papers, tutors and internet based eleven plus tests?

How can I get my child to read even easy questions twice?

When can I relax?

Will I ever relax?

Do I deserve to relax?

Is there anything that I can do to relax?

(By now the mind is meandering, worn down by too much of everything. Oh well ….. )

An Eleven Plus Conundrum

How likely is that some eleven plus children will land up with a work or examination related neuroses? It is not hard to imagine that intense pressure from a very small minority of parents could press their child to build negative feelings about the examination.

Neuroses about the eleven plus could develop from a number of sources:

Hostile teachers or parents

Unsympathetic teachers or parents

Unfair treatment (as perceived by the child)

School phobia

Work phobia

Eleven Plus phobia

I have just been working with a number of fantastic and highly able eleven plus children. Not one of them showed any evidence neuroses or phobia. That is not to say that the state of mind does not exist – but I saw remarkably little evidence. Most children appeared to revel in the quality and quantity of the work they did.

How can parents avoid building an inadvertent neurosis?

Demonstrate empathy and consideration

Prove over and over again that judgement has been suspended during the approach to the eleven plus

Listen to the side of the child. There may be a legitimate reason for only achieving 93%!

Enjoy the moment. You may never again have as close a working relationship. Some rather strangely phrased questions can bring the family together – even if all disagree.

Anyway the old saying is:

There is no such thing as problem children, only problem parents. You would need to look back to your own parents for an answer to this conundrum.

Eleven Plus Success

As the eleven plus approaches, once again, we have to believe that success breeds success.

If the eleven plus child is offered continual negative statements, vibes and dressings down then it is possible that, in some cases, the child may become de-motivated. Of course some parents know their children very well and feel that it is essential to keep nagging.

There may have to be a balance between allowing the eleven plus child to approach the examination with a negative emotional state – and that of a parent offering unrealistic praise. It is likely that most children will keep working if they feel comfortable about the prospect of the examinations and if they feel that the expectations of their parents are realistic.

Praise probably offers a positive incentive to keep learning – while blame may inhibit a child.

Eleven Plus Stages

The Eleven Plus, once again, is growing closer. The tests have to cover a wider sweep – and can not focus sensibly on narrow areas. Back in 1956 Bloom, and some of his associates, worked out a taxonomy of educational objectives. Parents working through papers and exercises with their children will more than likely recognise at least some of these stages.

Knowledge – this is where you child can remember facts, methods of solving problems – and hopefully any advice you have offered.

Comprehension – this is the stage where your child understands what has been taught – and can understand the questions.

Application – your child begins to apply everything that has been taught

Analysis – where questions are broken down and analysed with good understanding and thought. (Wild guesses? What wild guesses?)

Synthesis – the stage where you hope everything jells together. All that work, all the heartache, all the effort and everything `comes right on the day’.

The final stage is evaluation. Your child is able to judge an answer. Your child is demonstrating good reasoning skills. Your child is a true eleven plus prodigy.

The Voice of an Eleven Plus Child

This is always an area of great concern to parents. What happens if the well prepared and highly intelligent child does not do well on the day? With good reason some parents may question the constitution of the eleven plus. Naturally the words: “It is not fair!” could resonate.

We all know that parents can enter the appeal system. This is a genuine attempt by the authorities to give parents every opportunity to present a case. The appeal is attended by parents and even, sometimes, representatives. Children are not welcome.

Could there be a case for a challenge to the system? Could parents argue that their child’s voice should be heard?

“What do you think you could offer to our grammar school?”

“Well I am a good swimmer, I like lots of music and I do lots of reading. I think I would join lots of clubs.”

“Why do you want to come to this school?”

“My mother and father both went to grammar school in this town. I also want to go to grammar sp that I can earn lots of money one day. I want to be a lawyer, you see.”

“Why do you think you found these examinations so hard?”

“To tell the truth I don’t think that I worked hard enough. I always found papers easy – with around 85%. I am top of the school in maths and English. My mum kept on and on at me to do more papers – and I rebelled. I told her `Enough’ – and we argued. Oh dear, I can see where I went wrong, I am only just eleven and think I need another chance.”

An Eleven Plus Award

Some mums and dads need a medal. What about one called: `The Order of the Eleven Plus’? This is given for conspicuous gallantry in the face of overwhelming odds.

Sometimes children opt to do some extra work at home. Their parents naturally want to help. Very often parents may feel hesitant because their much loved offspring will mutter the unwelcome words: “We don’t do it like that at school.”

Does that mean that a new form of teaching a hitherto familiar subject has been designed by yet another subject specialist? Does it mean that the teacher at school has simply shown an alternative method that some children may find easier? Does it mean that a poor and unsuspecting parent has meandered unwittingly into a minefield?

I met a family today where mum and daughter had worked out how to do pie charts. You know the type of question. `Twenty four children wanted to share a huge chocolate cake. Eight liked the cake without a top dressing, five wanted a chocolate filling, three only liked eating the top layer and the rest did not mind what they ate as long as there was some cake. Draw a pie chart showing the different proportions.’

Mum and daughter worked out a most ingenious method of solving the problem – along with a beautifully drawn chart. It was a work of art. Naturally I complimented the two.

Mum said: “But my husband is better at maths.”

The daughter said: “But my dad is better at maths.”

The award of `The Order of the Eleven Plus’ must go this week to the mum who took on the challenge and solved the problem without the help of her husband. The daughter will want to add a bar to the medal when all she had to do was ask her dad.

Could there be a group medal awarded to all eleven plus children and their parents for bravery in the face of adversity? Please write in for your award.

The Value of an Eleven Plus Pass

At about this time of the year parents start giving shorter pep talks. They know that the examinations are growing closer – and deep in their hearts they know too that they can not put too much pressure onto their much loved children.

The pep talks won’t always be the two of you sitting across the table – there could be stolen moments. A father could catch sight of a little scrap of paper and say ever so gently: “You don’t want to go around picking up scraps of paper all your life, do you?”

Any bright and engaging eleven plus child will not hesitate to offer: “But Dad. That is from our lunch. The wind blew it away. We do need to pick it up. You have always told us not to loiter and not to litter.”

Another sort of pep talk could come while the evening meal is being prepared. “Well dear, I see the markets are down again today. Our investments are falling. We may need to re-evaluate. You know that good A Levels may not be enough to get into university. You know too that the job markets are shrinking. You need to take stock.

Passing the Eleven Plus may not be enough. You may need to get an A* pass.”

(Eleven Plus child sotto voce: “Not another pep talk. Leave it off.”)

Eleven Plus Power

We are experimenting with a combination of on line extra tuition and centre based extra tuition. Children are offered extra help on top of their lessons or courses. This allows children the opportunity of going over topics they may have struggled with.

(My English teacher, a rabid Welsh man, used to tell us, when I was eleven years old, never to end a sentence with a preposition. It has taken me many years to build the confidence to be able to cock a snook at him. I do know that the sentence in questions should have read: `This allows children the opportunity with which to cock a snook.”

Mr. Jones, however, only knew one way of teaching and that was by sarcasm and shouting. Enough of that, do you remember Mark Anthony? `The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.’) I am not sure if it is still necessary to avoid the use of a preposition at the end of a sentence – and would be grateful for some advice.

Every on line lesson can be recorded and played back over the internet.

This leaves no room for sarcasm and bullying. Parents have access to the entire lesson and can replay the interaction and course of the lesson. This gives power to Mums and Dads.

Sharing Eleven Plus Ideas

I was listening to a live on line today with our highly experienced Charles working with a willing and eager pupil. They were doing harder averages. Bother were happy – and communicating in a lively and involved manner – even though a distance of some fifteen miles lay between the two.

I thought of Socrates. He had been a stone mason and carver by trade. He conducted his teaching through what we would call a `severe cross examination’. He questioned people, events and contemporary institutions. He questioned school boys, friends, critics and admirers.

He maintained first of all that he was ignorant – but he was so cheerful that he could keep a conversation going even when the other had lost his temper. He questioned and questioned until his opponent feel silent – helpless against a barrage of questions.

An online lesson sets out to provide communication over vast distances. There is give and take – added to the excitement of being able to use technology to provide the right teacher to the pupil. It could be difficult to entertain the idea that a gifted subject specialist would be prepared to travel to a child’s house to cover a special topic. If we, however, put the pupil and the teacher into a situation where they can talk to each other and share work and ideas though whiteboard technology – then we have a learning and teaching situation worthy of consideration.

Plato was the pupil of Socrates. How Plato may have loved to have had the opportunity of sitting at home, with his headphones on, sharing ideas.

Standard Eleven Plus Papers

Many children are in the middle of eleven plus courses. Verbal reasoning plays a large part in many eleven plus examinations. Today children can work through verbal reasoning exercises through books, papers, DVDs, CDs and the internet. There is not one standard form of verbal reasoning paper.

Many years ago printing was introduced to the world by Gutenberg – who heralded a new revolution and did away with people having to rely on hand written manuscripts. Today anyone with aspirations can set themselves up as a verbal reasoning author.

Children with good verbal reasoning scores can pass the eleven plus and so reach the portals of the local grammar school. Once in the grammar school the children hope to be educated. Yet must all children who do not pass be considered at ill educated? This would be a very sorry tale.

We need to look back to the Education Action of 1870. Elementary school teachers were hired who spoke in an `educated’ manner. Some children became ashamed of the speech of their parents. As compulsory education spread through England more and more children began to use key words, speech and language. Educated English, however, is not the same as Standard English. Educated English is adopted universally throughout England. It is thus possible for children to be able to cope with a variety of eleven plus papers – even if they come from varied backgrounds.

Standard English is not the stuff of Eleven Plus papers. The term `Standard English’ seems to imply that all speak in a uniform manner. Standard English has distinctive features – but not unusual ones. In the end children sit educated English papers and not papers that are standard in certain areas or regions.

As children from many parts of the country read their verbal reasoning questions aloud, within the context of many dialects, accents and speech patterns, we know that the eleven plus is looking for children who have the potential to be well educated.

After the Eleven Plus

On the question of 11+ results – would it not be a good idea to receive a little more feedback than a single subject score? After all a computer is marking the work – and the answers are multiple choice – so some form of analysis must be possible.

Suppose there was a question on counting squares in area.

Answer 1: The right answer
Answer 2: Counted half squares
Answer 3: Confused area and perimeter
Answer 4: Followed the red herring and miscounted squares.

You would then receive a computer driven report telling you not only which questions were right and wrong – but also describing the incorrect answer.

After all most parents would like some form of diagnostic error analysis. Some children may enjoy it too:

“But Mum, you said that ….. “

The Eleven Plus and Speech

Speech is an important element of some aspects of the eleven plus. There must be many theories of the origin of speech – but they must all be speculative. One that could fit the eleven plus model is sometimes called the bow-wow.

A different name for the same theory is the `cuckoo’ – and here is it thought that early man made noises similar to animals or birds. We get `quack-quack’, for example, from the sound made by certain types of ducks.

Another type of common early sound could have been when ancient man felt pain or pleasure. `Ah’ and `ssh’ may play a part in many languages.

We could also look at the use of the tongue in speech. I can remember meeting Bushmen in Bechuanaland who use clicks of the tongue to communicate. If we lived in the bush we would not want to develop sounds that were alien to the environment.

But eleven plus language can not revolve around the sounds of animals or primitive language. It must be possible to answer some eleven questions with a restricted vocabulary. A good technique of answering multiple choice questions, however, must help. We all know that eleven plus children need an extensive vocabulary but carefully prepared children may enjoy some form of advantage.

Words that eleven plus children want to hear could include:

“Well done. You did your best.”

“We are very pleased with you.”

“We know you tried hard.”

And finally:

“Wow! That is fantastic!”

The Eleven Plus and Spelling

Is extra help needed?

Should spelling play a larger part in the eleven plus?

The Eleven Plus and the Environment

It has long been held, by some, that changes in environment can bring about the capacity to do well on intelligence tests. The evidence was gathered from studies of children, often twins, who were brought up away from each other.

In some cases the difference was 7.7 points but the range was 0 to 17 points. All this research took place back in 1946 – but these were the very years when the eleven plus was first postulated and promoted.

At one time a lot of work was done on the relationship between intelligence and the occupation of parents. Sociological influences on eleven plus parents may play a part but in the end their child has to sit in an examination room with other children and plough steadily through a slew of questions.

Imagine your child having to fill in a pre eleven plus questionnaire:

What is the occupation of your father?

What is the occupation of your mother?

Does your father do a job or enjoy a profession?

Is your mother a manager or does she have to take orders?

Are you the first born?

Do you have relatives at grammar schools?

Did either or both parents go to grammar school?

Positive answers, carefully weighted, could gain marks and help to secure a place in a grammar school.

We surmise that environmental and sociological influences will affect eleven plus scores. It would, however, be very difficult to apply a uniform weighting to any loaded questions.

Eleven Plus Pressures

Is it possible that very bright children have more pressures on them than less able children?

The bright child may have a wider range of opportunities.

The bright child may be able to analyse a wide variety of data efficiently.

The bright child may be able arrive at a thought out and rational decision.

The bright child may be prepared to discuss and listen – rather than argue.

Some bright children may respond to stimulation and go on to act in a responsible manner.

Most children, who `get through’ the eleven plus, are regarded as bright. Other children, however, who may not be as able, may be more proficient at passing examinations.

The Eleven Plus and Premature Remorse

Do you remember those few words of W.B. Yeats when he was writing about `Remorse for Intemperate Speech’?

I ranted to the knave and fool,
But outgrew that school,
Would transform the part,
Fit audience found, but cannot rule
My fanatic heart.

I sought my betters: though in each
Fine manners, liberal speech,
Turn hatred into sport,
Nothing said or done can reach
My fanatic heart.

Would a measured discussion of the poem avert further bursts of intemperate speech? The eleven plus exams, for same families, are now weeks rather than months away. For most children the hard work has already been done. The final polishing is taking place. Parents are thinking now about technique rather than knowledge.

Little by little some parents will have to distance themselves from anguish and angst about what might have been. Realism will, by now, will have crept in. It is a little early in the eleven plus cycle for true remorse – because this is a sense of deep regret and guilt.

Should you have started earlier?

Should you have brushed arguments aside?

Should you have insisted more forcefully?

All eleven plus parents can do is the best they can. A fanatical approach to that elusive final five percent will probably be counter productive.

The Eleven Plus and Probability

What would happen to eleven plus teaching if the tests were scored with a formula score where wrong answers incurred a negative mark and the right answers helped to build a positive score? We see this on `A Question of Sport’, in the final battery of questions, where a team can lose the lead through one or two wrong answers.

Multiple choice eleven plus tests give children a choice of answers. We offer the advice – eliminate the answers that can not be correct – and then take a guess. (But only when you are pushed for time.)

If the tests became true-false tests then the assumption would be that the eleven plus child would guess at the answer and had a chance of getting the answer right. The odds are 0.5 that the right answer will be selected.

If the multiple choice test has four choices then there is a 0.25 chance of success, with three answers we get a probability of 0.33 – and back to two answers where the probability is 0.5.

The whole formula becomes more of a problem if items are left out from the test. If a child lost marks for a wrong answer it may be better to leave out answers if the child was not absolutely certain of the answer.

The more difficult the test the more there is a need to have a policy that favours the eleven plus children. There could, for example, be a penalty for leaving an answer out. (“If you omit an answer, you lose half a mark!”)

W could then come up with a formula:

+ 1 mark for a correct answer.
- 0.5 marks for leaving out an answer.
- 0.25 marks for a wrong answer.

Would this focus the mind of some eleven plus children?

Can Eleven Plus Parents Ever Be Right?

Do eleven plus children ever play games with their parents? Some games may build out of an apparently innocent remark.

“You have done so well on this paper. I am very pleased with you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Any resultant explosion is unwarranted and unwelcome. It could even be surprising.

Other children may harbour grudges.

“You have done so well on this paper. I am very pleased with you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You always say that. You are never satisfied with what I have done. Even if I get better marks on a paper, you always want more. It is not fair.”

“I am so sorry. I only want to help.”

“No you don’t. I go to a tutor on a Tuesday. Then you make me go to a different tutor on a Saturday. You know I don’t like lessons on Saturdays. I get too much homework.”

“We only want the best for you.”

“I am simply not doing any more.”

“Please don’t speak to me like that.”

In the long run nature will take its course. Work on papers can be tiresome and ill timed.

But are the explosions and arguments simply games the child is playing? Is the child, however, showing genuine concern? There is a word in the English Language `antithetical’ (an adjective) where words are placed together to produce an effect of balance.

The Collins Paperback English Dictionary 1995 Edition gives the example:

`Where the gods command, mere mortals must obey.’

Could this be true of a relationship between a child feeling put upon and a parent trying to do his or best?

The Stigma of the Eleven Plus

The men and women who decry the implications of the eleven plus examinations may care to look at how eleven plus parents and teachers have been able to embrace technology. The eleven plus is a competitive examination – which children pass or fail. Parents have to be competitive – and many try to give their children the best possible advantages.

The eleven plus examination stimulates an attitude and approach towards education and learning where the `best man wins’. There are, however, rules and regulations that parents, children and teachers have to adhere to. Some parents will naturally continue to strive to give their child the best possible advantage. To this end eleven plus teachers, tutors, books, papers, courses, lessons, CDs, DVDs, the internet and online lessons are all used.

We have heard, with great pleasure, of some school teachers sending eleven plus papers to their pupils, on a weekly basis, over these holidays. This sympathetic attitude towards the examination, and close working with parents and children, must help to reduce some of the stigma that is sometimes associated with the eleven plus.

Online Eleven Plus Lessons

The world of the eleven plus has been embracing the idea of testing children over the internet for some time. The Extra Tuition Centre put an early eleven plus test, with sound and movement, onto web site some seven years ago. The internet, however, has allowed us to develop new tools.

Universal tests and eleven plus papers, produced especially for the internet, may not, however, be all that valuable to some children. What is the point of working through an eleven plus paper on the internet if there is no interaction? Many years ago children worked off CDs with instructions, help and a multitude of questions. Large organisations moved into the market of web based instruction. Some primary child, for example, may be using packages like `My Maths’. Other children will be watching videos. All this is a far cry from the patient and kind one to one tutor who arrives at the house with a basket of papers and sits with the eleven plus child for an hour.

Bill Gates feels that web based learning for adults will become more accepted in the future. An interesting article in Tech Crunch gives a pointer to the education of the future.

We, at the Extra Tuition Centre, have developed our own VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) where children are tested online; these results are used to build an Action Plan. The children then can take part in interactive lessons through the internet. This is innovative and exciting stuff. Some children do not want to sit at home working through papers. Online lessons may help some children achieve their potential because they are using the internet in a meaningful and active manner.

On Line Eleven Plus Lessons

Welcome to the world of online live Eleven Plus lessons.

Demonstration of a Live Lesson

Eleven Plus Skills

Children working on verbal reasoning papers should be learning to reason. Many verbal reasoning exercises, however, seem to revolve around developing and consolidating verbal skills. The reasoning side of verbal reasoning seems, in some questions, to have been forgotten. Trying to answer questions that do not develop and stretch reasoning must be frustrating for some children.

In mathematics it is generally accepted that a core aim should be to try to inculcate an understanding of mathematics. Eleven plus children have to learn skills well enough to be able to `pass’ an eleven plus paper. Along the way a good eleven plus student needs to know his or her tables – and how to do fractions and decimals. Skills of this nature are the staff of mathematical life. Solving problems without basics must be hard work for some able children.

Somehow some discerning parents and teachers will want to work out how to distinguish between the demands of the so called `eleven plus curricula’ and the techniques that have to be acquired in order to be able to cope with eleven plus level questions.