11 Plus General Tips

11 Plus Exam Tips for Parents to Help your Child with Math Exam Preparation | top tips for 11 plus preparation for Parents | Help your Child Pass the 11 Plus Using this Exam Technique | 11 Plus Tips for most Independent Schools | 11 Plus Maths to Help your Child Pass the 11 Plus

The axiom for 11 plus preparation is “Practice, Practice and Practice”, but that is not particularly helpful.

11 plus exam revision tips for parents and students from those who have been through the ‘process’ | 11 plus preparation top tips | 11 plus tips and tricks to prepare for the 11 maths exam questions

Some students in England and Northern Ireland take the 11+ exam paper in the final year of primary school. Your child will be admitted to grammar schools and other secondary schools that utilise academic selection based on the results of this exam.

With papers in Math and English, the exam gauges the student’s capacity for problem-solving through verbal and nonverbal reasoning exams. The test was initially designed to measure both taught curricular skills and general intellect, similar to an IQ test. It now assesses academic aptitude.

Both kids and parents may find the 11+ daunting. There is a lot of studying required, and competition is possible. If you’re concerned, utilise these suggestions to properly plan and assist your child in getting the best possible results.‍

1. Make the right school choice | choose the right independent school

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Consider carefully which school you want your child to apply to. Consider the travel time and how the school will fit into your child’s and family’s schedules. For kids to achieve to the best of their abilities, there should be a proper balance between work and other interests. Try to visit the schools on the shortlist to get a feel for what life would be like there for you and your child. Knowing where they’re going can be a terrific motivator when the studies and preparation feel too much.

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2. Choose the right preparation plan and time tables

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Consider carefully which school your child wants to apply to. Think about how far the school is and how it will fit into your family life. Children should have a good balance of work and other things to do so that they can do their best. Try to visit the schools on your shortlist so you and your child can get a feel for what life might be like there; when studying and getting ready feels like too much, knowing where they’re going can be a great way to keep them going.

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3. Concentrate on Maths and English skills if you start early

You can start preparing your child for the 11+, but if you do, you should start with math and English skills. Encourage your child to read every day, help them practise their times tables, and set aside time each week for spelling and mental math to help them prepare for the 11+ and improve their skills in general.

4. Develop a wide vocabulary

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The best way to build a big vocabulary is to read every day, talk to adults, or even listen to the radio. There are other ways to learn it, but they don’t work as well most of the time. It’s never too early to start helping your child learn this skill, which will help them through the 11+.

5. Practice times-tables to improve their core maths skills

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For the 11+, your child will need to know their times tables like the back of their hand. This skill will help them work quickly and correctly on the math part of the test, which will help them get a better grade. Due to pressures from the curriculum, Math classes at school tend to move on from learning times tables before kids have mastered them. Make sure you keep practising them at home or with a tutor to keep their skills sharp.

6. Don’t move too fast with Maths | core 11 plus Maths skills

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It’s easy to want to keep going with math so you can move on to more difficult subjects. Some kids who are very good at math may do well with this, but most won’t be able to build their skills without a strong foundation in the basics. Except for one or two questions from some independent schools, the 11+ doesn’t go beyond what is taught in primary school, so there’s no point in pushing your child too fast. They’ll do better if they know the basics well.‍ Give children a good balance between work and other activities.

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7. Make a plan and stick to it

‍Ignore what other parents are doing once you’ve formed your strategy and see that it benefits your child. At the school gate, you’ll probably here other parents boasting about the number of hours their children spend studying or the difficult problems they’re taking on. If your system is functioning properly, you should keep using it. Keep in mind that not everything has to be about studying, and that kids occasionally need to take a break as well.

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8. Remember that children need to learn the material before they are tested | a very important exam technique from our tutors is to use past papers | use practice papers to understand the exam format

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Being tested on a topic they don’t yet understand can be demotivating for children, and it makes it hard to get an accurate idea of where they’re at with their knowledge. Mistakes will be made on the topics they don’t know, but by spending time on those areas, they’ll also make mistakes on the topics they know. Instead, help them learn first and then give them a timed test after they’ve spent time studying.

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9. Ease off the pressure during 11 plus revision

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Stress can build up among parents unintentionally. Don’t talk only about how their studies are going or their new school during this time. Children often perform poorly because they worry about disappointing their parents. Try not to put too much pressure or set unrealistically high standards, even if you intend well. Even the smartest child can perform horribly under pressure. Instead, make every effort to make the planning as easy and enjoyable as you can. Make sure your child knows that failing won’t mean the end of the world.

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10. Stamina is important to take the 11 plus exam

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Your child and you will require a lot of stamina to get through this. You need to have the stamina to devote the necessary amount of time to help them study, and they will need the stamina to make it through the preparations and the test itself. The day of the exam is incredibly demanding, and it’s possible that some of the youngsters have never been required to work this hard for such a prolonged period of time before. Your child may obtain a sense of what the day will be like and practise having to concentrate for such an extended period of time by participating in some mock days, either with your assistance or with the assistance of a tutor.

Employing a Tutor for 11 Plus Preparation

As was discussed, it is in your best interest to be aware of the areas in which your child should concentrate their efforts. Employing a tutor is one way to make the most of this time and ensure that all of your bases are covered.

Keep in mind that despite the fact that your teaching abilities may be varied and effective, a tutor has the experience of having worked with previous students and has access to old papers. In this regard, they typically understand better how to cut through the clutter and get to the meat of the problem more rapidly.

When looking for tuition for the 11 plus, it is important to verify the potential instructor’s professional history to ensure that they have appropriate teaching expertise. Try to get in touch with former pupils to obtain feedback on the quality of the education they received; the internet is usually an excellent place to begin your search for testimonials.

Request a trial lesson for your child to ensure they are comfortable with the instructor. Your child’s level of motivation is directly related to how they are instructed, so how they are instructed can have a significant impact on the final performance of your child.

You should be aware that the format changes annually; therefore, you should make sure that the person you choose is up to date with the most recent format.

In conclusion

Preparing for the 11+ doesn’t have to be as terrifying as it first seems. There is a tonne of practise papers available, so you won’t have any trouble finding tools to help your youngster succeed. Additionally, by consulting the list of tutors in your neighbourhood that come highly recommended, you can relieve some of the pressure by employing a specialist to fill in the gaps.

But always remember that, as parents, our kids’ pleasure comes first. It’s cruel and difficult to have your child study for hours on end, and it also makes no sense. Short, dynamic sessions that offer engaging and memorable learning strategies that your child can employ in the exam are significantly more likely to result in improvement.

By the end of the 11+ preparation time, your child should ideally be equipped with a toolbox of strategies to respond to the various question styles. With enough repetition, your child will develop the ability to identify question types and use each strategy they’ve developed with you and your instructor. They can then apply themselves as best while feeling secure and stress-free.

Finally, always act as an example. Children replicate what they observe to learn. You may make learning fun and interesting for them by doing so. They’ll look forward to spending time with you. If you’re driven to support them in overcoming obstacles, they’ll be motivated to do the same. Take on the challenge of learning something new, and your child will do the same, resulting in stress-free living for you. The best way to support your child with 11 plus preparation is to find an eleven plus tutor online