How to prepare for the Eleven Plus Exam?

Practice makes perfect we have all heard this however more accurately it should read Practice, the results of which are known, makes perfect.

Throughout the country there are many different forms of grammar school selection tests and 11plus exams and so it is important that if you are to prepare your child properly for this very important  exam then you must find out exactly what type of test or tests your child will sit. Is it Verbal reasoning, non verbal reasoning, English, maths and is it multiple choice or traditional format elevenplus(11+) papers that they will be asked to take. Indeed the 11+ exam could be a combination of all the above!

Find out all that you can about the 11plus exam in your area and then prepare accordingly. This preparation for the eleven plus tests will improve your child's understanding of what is required but parental support and encouragement is crucial to your child's self-confidence and their attitude to their school work including preparing for this exam.

Many LAs provide familiarisation tests for the school pupils to complete either in school or at home. After these two or three practice papers state schools are often discouraged from providing any additional eleven plus practice papers yet many private or independent schools do provide additional practice papers and this will give these children an advantage when they come to sit the examination for real.

There are many ways in which the interested parent can help their child to prepare for the eleven plus exams.

It is unlikely that this additional work can be done in two or three weeks before the exam is due to be taken but it will require a lot of time and effort from both parent and child.

Commercial Practice Papers

There are many versions of these on the market, available from good bookshops and on the Internet. Look for a publisher that employs experienced teachers at Key Stage Two level, as these books will reflect the knowledge that the author has gained in the classroom. The content should also be relevant to the eleven plus test that your child will sit. Practicing a variety of question types, in both traditional format and multiple choice, will help your child to become more confident in their own ability and will introduce them to a wide range of questions of varying difficulty.

Epapers for Immediate Use

This a developing market and epapers can be found on this Learning Together web site - as a company we also produce skills and techniques books. 

Private Tutors

Many parents send their child to private tutors, either one to one or in a small group. In preparing your child for his or her 11+ exams you must be certain that the person that you entrust your child to is honest. trustworthy and does not present any threat to your child's safety and that you will get value for money. Sitting in a group of 15 or 20 pupils is not much different from being in a school classroom and personal attention to your child may be limited.

However attending a good tutor will usually be very beneficial for your child. Recommendations from friends and family can be a useful way to link to a good tutor.

Home Tuition

Many parents want to tutor their own children. Skills and technique books on verbal reasoning and non verbal reasoning will be very useful for parents that want to coach their own child.

Other Options

Other options include CD roms full of 11plus practice papers or on line tutors. At this stage we have little knowledge of either product. Please contact us with your experiences of these two means of preparation.

You should confirm the exact content of any elevenplus exam in your area with the LEA or grammar school.)