Preparing for the 11+ exams is a significant milestone for many children and parents. With top schools becoming increasingly selective, the exams are tougher and more competitive than ever before. While tutoring can be invaluable, parents can do a lot to complement the work of the tutor. This guide is filled with practical tips and engaging strategies to help your child succeed in the 11+ exams while keeping the experience as stress-free as possible.
1. Ask ‘Why?’
One of the biggest challenges in the 11+ exams is the English comprehension test, which assesses a child’s ability to understand and analyse a passage. Many children can answer straightforward questions from the text, but stumble on more in-depth analysis.
To help your child develop this skill, regularly ask them ‘why’ questions. These can relate to emotions, intentions, or behaviours of characters in books, films, or even during daily interactions. For example, ask, “Why do you think Hermione is upset?” or “Why did they decide to go to the beach?”. This habit of analysing behaviour and situations prepares them for complex comprehension questions, where they will be required to read into ‘why’ things happen.
At Educate Excellence we always question the opinions and arguments of our students as we encourage broader, in-depth and critical thinking.
2. Practice Under Timed Conditions
The 11+ exams are timed, and managing this aspect can be challenging for children without practice. Practice sample papers under timed conditions to help them get used to the time pressure. Follow these steps:
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- Use a visible clock.
- Make sure your child is in a distraction-free setting where they can focus deeply.
- Ask your child to scan through the paper and identify the high-mark questions.
- Allocate time for each question, e.g. allocate more time to high mark questions and less to low mark questions, leaving five minutes at the end for checking.
- Provide time updates (e.g. you have 30 minutes left, you have 10 minutes left) and encourage your child to move on if they are spending too long on a question.
- Gradually let your child manage their own time.
Simulating the urgency of the real exam helps develop their technique and psychological resilience.
3. Practice Papers
When your child is comfortable with exam topics, introduce practice papers to develop exam techniques. Simulate exam conditions by removing distractions, setting a time limit, and reading instructions as an invigilator would in the real 11+ exam. Platforms like Atom Home provide online mock tests and printable paper tests to practise multiple-choice answer sheets.
4. Encourage Checking
Many children lose marks due to silly mistakes like punctuation errors or incorrect units. Encourage your child to check their work by integrating it into their time management routine. For example, leave the last five minutes for checking units in math problems or reading through answers in English.
Use positive incentives to develop this habit. If necessary, implement the rule that if more than a certain number of marks are lost to careless mistakes, the paper gets written out again. This ensures they understand the importance of careful work.
5. Promote Reading
Reading widely enhances comprehension, vocabulary, and general knowledge, all of which are crucial for the 11+ exams. Encourage your child to read both fiction and non-fiction texts. Create a vocabulary log where they can add new words and their meanings. This helps expand their vocabulary and improve their spelling.
Magazine Tip: If your child is interested in topics like video games or natural history, buy related magazines. They are engaging and improve reading skills while introducing a wider range of vocabulary and general knowledge.
At Educate Excellence we aim to instil the love of reading into the hearts of our children by encouraging them to read at least 1 book a month through our ‘reading book club.’ These books are hand-picked and catered to the specific year group’s academic level.
6. Provide a Healthy Breakfast
A good breakfast is essential on exam day. It boosts brain function and helps with mood and concentration. Ensure your child has a balanced breakfast that avoids high-sugar foods which can lead to energy crashes. Food high in protein and good carbohydrates are beneficial for children in order to have energy for longer periods of time.
7. Start Early
Begin 11+ preparation early to reduce pressure. Start with building knowledge in Year 4, especially for subjects like verbal and non-verbal reasoning that are not covered in primary school. Use platforms like Atom Home and BBC Bitesize for practice questions, video tutorials, and interactive resources. These tools are adapted to your child’s level, keeping them motivated and engaged.
8. Get Creative with Learning
Incorporate learning into everyday activities to make it fun and regular. Here are some ideas:
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- Write Math sums on Post-it notes around the house.
- Play word and rhyme games, such as Scrabble or Hangman., in queues or during car rides.
- Use times-tables singalong music in the car.
- Create treasure hunts with clues using non-verbal reasoning, Twinkl has some good resources for this.
10. Give Praise and Encouragement
The 11+ exams can be very stressful, and it’s important to combat anxiety, especially in such young children, where this anxiety may fuel avoidance behaviours or further fear over the 11+ exam. Encourage a growth mindset by celebrating effort and progress. Show your child that mistakes are opportunities to learn and improve. Praise their hard work as this will motivate them and help them look forward more to preparing for this exam
11. Lead by Example
Children mimic what they see. Make learning engaging and exciting, and your child will follow suit. Embrace challenges that come up in this 11+ process, and show them that overcoming hurdles is a part of the learning process. This attitude will help them stay motivated and reduce stress.
How can Educate Excellence help?
Here at Educate Excellence we provide support for both parents and children when going through the 11+ process. If you need help with this, please contact either Fayas, the head of education, or our PLOs who will be happy to provide advice where they can.
Supporting your child through the 11+ exams involves a blend of structured preparation, emotional support, and creativity. By making the process enjoyable and engaging, you can help your child perform well and develop a lifelong love for learning. Remember, the journey is as important as the destination. Happy studying!
