BBC ReviseWise

The BBC have a site dedicated to 11 year-olds preparing to sit their ‘finals’. Joy Chamberlain takes a look.

The BBC’s ReviseWise is aimed at 11 year olds, who are preparing to sit the Key Stage 2 exams. The tests are considered crucial because they mark the end of junior school. After that it’s secondary school, a big jump for most children.

The test results are less relevant, if you’re aiming to get your child into an independent school. Almost all private schools have entrance exams, which are given greater weight than the Key Stage test.

But if you’re like 93% of parents in the UK and are aiming for a state school, the Key Stage test result will be significant. The results are like a first impression. Secondary schools are more impersonal than primary schools, and teachers need measures and benchmarks, in order to aid the assessment process.

If you’re anxious that your 11 year-old make a good impression, this is the site for you. But be warned: there’s no need to overwork. It’s an easy route from being anxious to being overzealous. Teachers base their final assessment on more than the test results.

ReviseWise is extensive and it covers all bases. Every subject on the syllabus is indexed, together with an exhaustive list of activities and tests children can do in their own time.