Thriving or Surviving the 4+ Assessments. Real life stories.
/Surviving the 4+ Assessments or thriving in the 4+ Assessments?
I hear so many different stories everyday.
And they all come down to these two concepts.
1. Parents who experienced great success in the 4+ Assessments and truly thrived.
2. Parents who struggled in the 4+ Assessments and experienced great difficultly.
Let me give you some examples for both of these concepts.
1. Parents who experienced great success in the 4+ Assessments and truly thrived. I have changed students/clients names for privacy and confidentiality.
Sam
Sam began tuition with me when he was 2 years and 6 months. July born, his parents were concerned that he was too ‘young’ and that he would never ‘catch up’ to his peers who were ‘much further along than him’. These were the stories that his parents told me and I would always tell them the same this – none of this was true.
Yes, Sam might be nearly a whole year younger than some of his peers in the 4+ Assessment but this definitely didn’t mean that he would be ‘behind’.
His parents sat him for the following schools (in order or preference)
Habs
Merchant Taylors
The Hall
UCS
Highgate
Manor Lodge
Lockinver
Sam received nearly a full year of tuition and for the most part was consistent at joining me each week for his 30 minute lesson. Each week, he received bespoke home learning targeting specifically what he would encounter in the Assessments at the schools his parents had applied to.
Sam struggled with writing up until 2 months before the Assessments. Keep in mind that from the list above, some assessments happened a lot earlier than others (October v January)
We persevered and before his Assessments he became obsessed with writing (to our delight!)
Sam was successful at being offered a place at Habs, The Hall, UCS, Manor Lodge and Lockinver. His parents have decided to send him to Habs. We had the best call ever a few weeks ago. The ‘I don’t know which school to choose call!’
2. Parents who struggled in the 4+ Assessments and experienced great difficultly.
Tobias
Tobias started tuition with one of our Senior Tutors in July of the year he was sitting his Assessments. His mother wanted him to get into either Highgate or UCS and decided to start preparing him for the 4+ Assessments. She told me that she started late because she had been ‘preparing him herself.’ Tobias was one of our youngest students (August born).
He lacked focus and concentration and wouldn’t engage for more than 2 minutes at a time. Had he started earlier, this wouldn’t have been an issue. It was an issue because we had too much to cover and we didn’t have enough time to cover it.
I also advised his mother that two schools is not enough and that she really should choose at least another four schools. With a lot of persuasion, his mother chose a back up school (a non selective school)
Tobias also was unable to hold his pencil and he was very reluctant to write. Both UCS and Highgate require students to write in one way or another in their 4+ Assessments.
He improved a lot on his cutting and he was strong with his mathematical skills. Unfortunately, without the writing ability, I told his mother that it was unlikely that he would pass. Without the focus, it was unlikely that he would pass. Without being able to colour in with accuracy and precision, it was unlikely that he would pass. He did not pass Highgate or UCS at 4+.
I know the calibre of students that both UCS and Highgate are looking for and I will always be very honest with all of my clients. After all, this is a huge investment for my clients. It is an investment in terms of money and in terms of time.
Tobias did gain entry to the non-selective school that his mother was advised to apply to and will be trying again at 7+.
So, do you want to thrive in the 4+ Assessments or do you want to thrive?
I know the one I would choose.
