How to prepare 11+ exams?
Is your child preparing 11+ School Entrance exam soon? Whether you’ve got a particular school in mind or you're starting to research options, we're here to help you confidently navigate the 11 plus.
The ‘11+’ is a term used to describe a variety of tests used to determine whether a child is eligible for entry to the secondary school. The exact contents and format of the exam can vary a lot from school to school, as can pass marks. Therefore, it is important to look into the details for specific test types and be prepared for what will happen on the day of the test.
Not sure where or how to begin? Don’t panic! Learn how to study for a test, step-by-step.
Start preparing for the exam early.
In most cases, some students start to prepare as early as Year 4 children, and they need a regular study schedule months in advance. Having a study plan in place well before the day of the exam will give your child plenty of time to practise and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
However, it’s important not to overload your child with too much study. It’s always best to space out learning into small chunks, over a long period of time, so that your child doesn’t become overwhelmed. At 10 or 11 years old, a child can concentrate for around half an hour before becoming weary. If you have a structured study plan in place, half an hour every other night should be all your child needs to do well in the exam. Struggling with study motivation? Check out blog about on how to motivate yourself to study!
Cover each element of the exam.
Regardless of which exam board administers your child’s test, they will still be tested on the same subjects, namely English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. It’s important that your child’s study schedule covers all possible topics.
For the English part of the exam, your child will be tested on all, or a combination of the following topics:
Spelling
Punctuation
Comprehension
Sentence structure
Grammar
Vocabulary
Literacy
You should therefore aim to work on these topics with your child through writing exercises and reading.
In the Non-verbal reasoning section, your child will be tested on shapes and spatial awareness. Studying mirror images, working on addition and subtraction using objects and Maths games are all good ways to help your child prepare for non-verbal reasoning questions.
For the Verbal reasoning part of the exam, there are many different types of question that your child could be asked. Generally speaking, focusing on building vocabulary and using practice papers can help your child improve their verbal reasoning skills.
For the Maths section of the exam, your child should have a good basic understanding of numeracy and Maths concepts, as well as any material covered in the Key Stage 2 Maths curriculum.
Practise both question formats.
In the 11 plus exam, there are two question formats – multiple choice and standard. Multiple choice involves selecting the correct answer from several options, and the standard format requires a written response.
Make sure you practise both question formats if they are both tested by the schools you are applying to. Parents often believe that the best way to prepare for the exam is to focus only on the standard format questions, with the assumption that the multiple choice is easy. However, both formats require a different set of skills and so should be practised equally.
Use 11+ Practice Papers.
Practice papers give a good overview of where your child’s strengths and weaknesses lie. If there are areas that your child needs to improve in, you can adjust their study schedule to focus on their weaker areas in the lead up to the exam. Not only do they help your child familiarise themselves with the layout of the exam, but they encourage good time management too. About halfway through your study schedule, you should introduce 11 plus practice papers into your child’s routine so they have time to get used to answering questions under timed conditions.
Celebrate progress.
Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep your motivation high.
Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they have the ability to improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.
How can Love Learning Tutors help?
Is your child taking the 11+ this year? Love Learning Tutors are here to help your child succeed! If you find that your child is struggling with their 11 plus preparation, you might want to try a private tutor. We can offer a huge range of 11+ practice papers, skill-building activities and materials for you!
Follow the link below to find out more:
