Mock exams
Live, invigilated mock exams sat under real timed conditions from home. Marked by me personally, and returned with a written feedback report that tells you exactly where your child stands.
Why it matters
Most children have done plenty of questions. Far fewer have sat a full paper, against the clock, knowing it counts. With CSSE sat in the September of Year 6, there is less runway than most families expect.
The most common reason able children underperform is not knowledge, it is running out of time. That only shows up in a full timed paper.
The first time your child feels exam pressure should not be on the day itself. A mock takes the surprise out of it.
A marked full paper shows what is genuinely secure and what only looks secure when there is no clock running.
How it works
Choose a date. I will confirm the time and send everything you need beforehand.
Your child joins on Google Meet and sits the paper under timed conditions while I invigilate.
Every paper is marked personally by me, not by a computer, so partial credit and method are recognised.
Within a few days you receive a written report with the score, a topic breakdown and clear next steps.
The feedback report
The mock itself is only half of it. The report is where the value is, and it is written in plain English rather than jargon.
I sat the CSSE and CEM exams myself and won a place at Westcliff High School for Boys, so the papers are written to reflect what those exams actually feel like.
Every paper is my own original work, written in the style of the real thing. Official CSSE papers are copyright protected, so I do not reproduce or resell them.
Booking
Single mock
Includes invigilation, marking and report
Mock series
Spread across the year, saving £10
Places are limited so each paper can be marked properly. Message me and I will confirm the next available date.
Questions
The CSSE exam is sat at the very start of Year 6, in September. That catches a lot of families out, because it means the real preparation window is Years 4 and 5, not Year 6.
The best time for mocks is through Year 5 and over the summer holiday before the exam. Early enough that there is still time to act on the feedback, late enough that your child has covered the material.
One mock tells you where they are. Three across Year 5 tell you whether they are improving, which is far more useful.
It depends on the paper. Allow roughly 2 to 2.5 hours for a CSSE or GL style 11+ mock, and 1.5 to 2 hours for a GCSE mock. That includes settling in, the paper itself under proper timing, and a short break.
I will confirm the exact finishing time when you book so you can plan around it.
A laptop or tablet with a working microphone and camera, a quiet room, and paper and a pen or pencil.
Unlike ordinary lessons, a camera does need to be on for a mock so I can invigilate properly and the result actually means something. I will always ask your permission before the session.
I will email the paper the day before for you to print. If printing is not possible, your child can work from the screen onto paper instead, which is fine.
Not yet, and I would rather be straight with you about why. Percentiles only mean something once enough children have sat the same paper. Quoting one before that would be inventing a number.
What you get instead is an honest assessment against the standard the exam expects, and once several students have sat the same paper I will start including a genuine comparison.
Yes, and you are very welcome to book one on its own. Plenty of families are preparing independently and just want an honest checkpoint. There is no obligation to book lessons afterwards, and I will tell you if I think your child does not need them.
Message me to reserve a place and I will confirm the date and send bank transfer details. Payment is by bank transfer and is due before the mock, which is what holds the place. Places are limited so that every paper gets marked properly.
Book a free 20-minute call and I will give you an honest view of where they are and whether a mock would help.
Book a free call