We hope you find our 11 plus tips for parents helpful.
Let’s start with when you should start your 11 Plus 2019 entry and 11+ preparation? How much 11 Plus practice does your child need?
* * CONTENT UPDATED APRIL 2021 * *
11 Plus exam practice papers
11+ Verbal Reasoning test practice / 11+ Maths test practice / 11 Plus Non-verbal reasoning test tips / 11+ English test practice
Our 11 Plus Exam Tips
What score do you need for passing the 11+? /Health tips during exams / Getting high exam results / How to apply for grammar school test / Some last minute 11 Plus Strategies! / How to become an 11 Plus Tests tutor / Top Tips for Successful 11-plus Preparation / 11+ Maths tips / 11 Plus Non-verbal reasoning test tips / 11 Plus English Comprehension practice / Bespoke 11+ Verbal reasoning tests designed for tutors
11 plus test prep
2021 Grammar School Entry
One of the big issues is when to start 11 Plus preparation. Beginning tuition in years 2 or 3 is almost certainly too early. However, leaving it until the end of year 5 is probably too late. What’s more, it can create more stress for the child too, the later you leave it.
Generally speaking, we advise no more than 12 months of tuition for the Eleven Plus. So, starting at the beginning of Year 5 is probably a good time. At the very latest January of year 5 for exams taking place in September of year 6.
Read more: “Eleven Plus exam questions: differences in exams in the UK”
Addressing learning gaps
Obviously deciding when to start tutoring depends largely on the abilities of the individual child. He or she may only need a few hours of exam practice. In this case, a few months may be adequate.
However, if there are much greater gaps in their learning, then you may require several months of regular weekly tuition.
In regions where the 11 plus covers curriculum subjects, such as English and Maths, it is sometimes necessary to use a subject-specific tutor from an earlier age. This is to address known weaknesses in these subjects.
For example, many 10-year old boys struggle with English papers where they have to write their own composition ‘from the heart’. So getting a tutor who can help stimulate your child’s creative writing is probably a good idea.
Conversely, some children struggle with core areas of mathematics, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, so a dedicated Maths tutor may be needed.
11 plus test prep
Getting familiar with the papers
The good news is that all 11 Plus Preparation to get into grammar school will also help your child’s schoolwork. In particular, core subjects such as Maths and English. The bad news, of course, is that tuition doesn’t come cheap!
In theory, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning papers are designed to test a child’s innate ability and are more difficult to prepare for. However, the reality is that children do need to familiarise themselves with the types of questions in these papers to do well.
This is particularly true of test papers from GL Assessment which still remains the biggest supplier to local authorities and schools. There are
For example, the Kent Test Familiarisation Booklet, which you can find here, features some sample questions. Similarly, there are free 11 Plus test papers here.
Top 11 Plus Tips for Busy Parents
Increasingly popular with local authorities, Durham’s CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) entrance tests are much newer and more difficult to prepare for.
According to its website “CEM aims to reduce any disadvantage created between children who are tutored for tests and those who are not.” It continues: “Our assessments are designed to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without the need for excessive preparation.”
Nevertheless, the CEM entrance tests cover the same subject areas (Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning) as the GL Assessment tests and the standardized pass-mark is the same (121).
The key difference is that in the CEM exams Verbal Reasoning and English are grouped together. CEM exams are also divided into separately timed sections. Hence, it’s important that children learn how to manage their time correctly as it’s not possible to return to sections once completed.
11 plus test prep
When should you start your 11+ prep?
While the beginning of Year 5 is usually a good time for your child to start tuition, it goes without saying you should begin the groundwork much earlier.
This is necessary for two reasons. Firstly, so you can fully identify the weaknesses your child may have when it comes to taking the 11 Plus. Secondly, you will need a bit of time in order to find the right tutor.
Inevitably, the best tutors can be booked up many years in advance, so the earlier you start to look for one the better your options will be.
When choosing a tutor, you need to ask about their qualifications and their success rate in getting children into Grammar schools. You also need to see how they get on with your child and how much they charge for their time.
Top 11 Plus Tips for Busy Parents
How much tutoring is needed?
Once you’ve decided when to start tuition the next big decision is how much tuition to get. Once again there is no precise answer about how much is the right amount.
During term time, most tutors will hold a weekly session of between 60 to 90 minutes with additional homework set each week. During the holidays the tutor may also recommend extra sessions. This is especially important in the summer period leading up to September’s 11 Plus exams.
The key is that the additional work required for the 11 Plus needs to be manageable for your child. Because if it’s not, then this will simply add to their stress levels before the examinations which are counter-productive.
If your child is receiving homework from school then it is more difficult to complete a tutor’s homework too.
11 plus test prep
Keep calm during your 11 Plus Preparation
Undoubtedly, preparing for the 11 Plus is a stressful time for everyone concerned – parents included. The key is to stay calm and not let children sitting the exams see you are stressed too!
Top 11 Plus Tips for Busy Parents
If the tuition isn’t going well then reassure them they will be fine and just to do their best. One thing to avoid is ‘burn out’ where the child can’t focus on the task at hand because of too much stress.
At every stage, you have to evaluate your child’s tolerance for coaching. You also need to make sure your child takes frequent rest breaks. This takes the child’s mind off things.
Finally, you need to prepare children for their 11 Plus preparation. This means staging at least one mock exam in close to full examination conditions.
Obviously, it’s not possible to replicate the experience of hundreds of children in an exam hall. However, it’s important to carry out the mock in silence, for the exact length of time and with all the necessary materials to hand.
Only then will they start to feel fully prepared for their forthcoming 11 Plus examinations. Good luck!
11 plus test prep
For Busy Parents – Our successful 11-plus Tips
1) Ask yourself, is now the best time to start your 11+ Prep for 2019?
2) If so, then here is Everything you need to know about differences in Grammar School applications.
3) Select the most relevant 11 plus exams from our comprehensive list of 11 Plus Past Exam Papers.
4) Schedule regular practice with these 11 plus practice papers , our free online 11 plus papers and free 11 plus papers with answers
5) Here’s School Entrance Tests’s own tips for passing the 11 plus and further 11 plus tests:
- 11 Plus Maths practice: Firstly, our useful mental Maths practice. You may also find these CAT Practice Tips Intro useful.
- Our 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Practice: In our opinion these are some of the best 11 plus tips for Verbal Reasoning. Next, the School Entrance Tests 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice. Here is our book on Passing Verbal Reasoning Tests
- Our English 11 plus test practice and 11 plus English tips: firstly, to improve your literacy skills. Secondly, practice to improve your spelling and grammar. Thirdly, some general 11 plus English tips.
- 11 Plus non verbal reasoning tips: We are very proud of our 11 Plus non verbal reasoning article with the City Kids magazine.
Top 11 Plus Tips for Busy Parents
