What standard should my child have reached?

There is no simple “pass standard” that can be expressed as an old National Curriculum level. The former levels system is no longer used, and the new Quest assessments are based on secure Year 5 knowledge rather than Level 4 or Level 6.

A child is likely to benefit from 11+ preparation if, by the end of Year 4, he or she:

• reads confidently and can explain the meaning of an unfamiliar passage;

• has a growing vocabulary and can work out meanings from context;

• can retrieve evidence and make straightforward inferences;

• is secure in the main areas of Year 4 mathematics;

• can explain mathematical reasoning rather than only carry out a method;

• is able to work carefully and independently for a sustained period.

By the time of the examination in Year 6, candidates need secure Year 5 English and mathematics, together with the speed and accuracy required for timed multiple-choice papers.

For boys applying to DHSB, clear and well-organised writing also remains important because the school sets a separate writing task.