Approximately 100,000 students sit the 11+ exam every year in the UK. Despite the popularity of this exam, it is not a test to walk into without preparation.
WHEN TO START PREPARATION
The 11+ is offered at the start of Year 6; therefore, Year 5 becomes a year of concentrated preparation. However, if you know that your child will be sitting the 11+, you can begin to take steps as early as the start of Year 4 to build resilience and confidence when the exam comes around.
CORE SKILL KNOWLEDGE IN YEAR 4
Ensure that your child has a strong foundation in Literacy by simply encouraging them to read every night for 20-30 minutes. Not only is this fundamental for strong comprehension skills, but it also broadens their vocabulary without them even noticing (or having to sit and memorise words). Inference and critical thinking skills are developed, making them more intuitive readers and comprehension is an area of the test where many children lose points because they cannot read the text quickly enough or do not pick up on context clues. This daily habit of reading creates the perfect platform for a strong English score in the 11+.
Finding fun ways to incorporate the basics in Maths is also essential for building the core skills. Practising the multiplication tables daily/rapid recall (whether in the car, while helping with chores around the house or playing games that involve the times tables) will provide your child with that extra level of speed in Maths. Repetition of multiplication tables is not the only important skill to master in Year 4; look for ways to see Maths in everyday life with your child:
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Reading the clock/calculating how many minutes to or past an event
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Estimating what the cost of a group of items will be at the check-out when shopping
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Rounding the price of petrol when driving past a petrol station
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Weighing items when cooking and discussing what the proportions would be if you doubled/halved a recipe
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Calculating the ‘difference between’ two numbers or what the value is ‘altogether’ (ages, prices of toys, cost of cinema tickets, etc)
FOCUSED REVISION IN YEAR 5
Aside from implementing basic support at home, your child will need a more focused introduction to the elements of the 11+ and the strategies that are needed for success. The 11+ is broken into four categories: Maths, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) and Verbal Reasoning (VR). Many of the concepts of the Maths and English sections your child will be exposed to in school, but not always in time for the 11+. Therefore, finding a support system, such as a tutor, will be very helpful.
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) and Verbal Reasoning (VR) are often not a part of the National Curriculum and require methods that go beyond the standard classroom teaching. It is vital to equip students with proven techniques and effective strategies to use in the often-unfamiliar NVR and VR questions. At Susan Daughtrey Education, we provide a range of tutors starting at Year 4 who guide the students through this learning journey using a variety of supplied resources. Classes are taught at several locations throughout South Buckinghamshire.
SUPPORT AT HOME
Once you have identified the tutor/resources that will best guide your child, it is important that you continue to provide extra support and revision at home.
ONGOING PRACTICES
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Practice mental maths every week: This guarantees that their foundation skills stay strong.
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Work in 30-minute chunks: This creates better ‘focus’ time for your child and is even more effective if this happens at a similar time each day
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Identify strengths and weaknesses: Focus on areas where further support is needed. Set attainable goals for areas of focus and celebrate these achievements.
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Practice ‘pace’: A lot of students struggle with pacing themselves in a test situation and do not complete all the answers. In a multiple-choice test, all answers must be completed. Together with your child, agree on a reasonable time to complete a set of their homework and set a timer reminding them when they are nearing the time. This encourages positive test behaviour such as staying on task, time management and pace.
CLOSER TO THE EXAM
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Include practice tests and mock tests: The first practice test or mock test can be very overwhelming and daunting to a student. If possible, provide them with multiple opportunities to practice these tests. This will build their confidence and security, as well as practice pacing under test conditions.
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Identify questions that result in the most marks and ensure confidence in these concepts: After taking practice tests or even mini mocks, students will see similar concepts (comparing volumes of two 3D objects, reading and interpreting timetables, etc.) to focus on securing accuracy and speed in high-value question types that frequently appear in the 11+ exam.
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Remind them all that they have learned and achieved! Wherever they go for senior school, the 11+ preparation will have strengthened their academic prowess.
Preparing for the 11+ can be a family affair in that your child will need support at home, but with focused encouragement, success is right around the corner.
The content of this article is general in nature and is not a substitute for thorough research by parents. The arrangements for the 11+ exams vary widely between areas, and there are often changes from year to year. You should consult the official sources of information in your area, such as the grammar school admissions policies, local authority website and/or local 11+ exam testing consortium website. Do not rely on information on third-party websites, as it may be incorrect or out of date.