If you're a parent of a year 5 child, you're probably starting to think about which secondary school they'd prefer. It may be simple if you are planning to choose your local comprehensive school, but if you're considering a Gloucestershire grammar school you will need to start thinking ahead.
You may want to go and visit a range of possible schools and if you (or more correctly your child) decides on a grammar school you'll need to take the Entrance Test.
Getting some tuition for your child (either yourself or a professional tutor) can be really helpful but this doesn't necessarily prepare them for the event itself. This is where attending a Mock Test can be really helpful.
There are a few companies offering Mock Tests in Gloucestershire but there are a few key things to look for when deciding which one to go for, as they are not all the same.
First, it's important that the event itself is managed like the real one. Thus having it on a Saturday at a venue where others are taking the test at the same time is important. The mock test should be Gloucestershire style, with separate timed sections covering the relevant task types. The tests should be unique so the questions will not have been seen before and there should be a break between the two tests for refreshments.
It's also important that there are DBS checked staff who are familiar with the testing arrangements to make the children feel comfortable.
Finally you need to make sure you are sent a detailed report on your child's score compared to others taking the test. A well established company will have had many children to compare your child's performance with, which is crucial to gauge their performance. Just because they have been scoring well on previous tests, doesn't mean they would be ranked highly in the real test.
You probably won't be surprised to hear that Cotswold Education is able to provide all these things! We've worked hard to produce a mock test environment which is challenging but safe and friendly. We hold our mock tests in a secondary school venue, which offers your child a genuine experience of the type of environment they will find in the actual test. This will help boost your child's confidence and make them less scared of the real thing! It will also help you gauge on your course of action on choosing an appropriate school and support system.
Please contact us if you have any more questions. In the meantime, take a look at what we offer in terms of at home and in person mock tests.
