Preparing for the 11+ exam
Preparing For The 11-Plus Exam
One of the first significant challenges your child will face in school is the 11 plus exam. Of course, school presents certain challenges from the moment they start school but an exam is a different kind of challenge and is one that requires the correct approach.
As a parent, you are going to want your child to do well but how can you help them to pass the exam?
Take Things Slowly
The aim is to not push your child into preparing and learning for their exam in a short period of time. This can leave them feeling lost, rushed and it can cause them to lose confidence. Therefore, it is important that you understand their ability and then begin to prepare for the exam in advance.
Just a small amount of work each day, such as 10-15 minutes, is enough to get them focused without putting too much of a strain on them. Large blocks of learning might mean that they forget things or are unable to process all of the information efficiently.
Encourage Them
One of the most important things that parents can do is to encourage their children. Parents want their child to do well and children want to do their parents proud, but as adults, it is vital that you find that right balance. You want to encourage them to do their best and so, when they do well, encourage them. It will give them the confidence they need. However, if they are struggling, don’t be too hard on them and try to help them find a solution.
Cover All Aspects of the Exam
It does not matter what exam board administers the exam, they will be tested on the same subjects and that will consist of mainly English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As a result, you should try to make sure that they have a schedule that covers as many topics as possible without it being too full on. As part of the English exam, they will be testing on the following:
- Spelling
- Punctuation
- Comprehension
- Sentence structure
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Literacy
Consider Both Question Formats
The exam will consist of two question formats known as multiple choice and standard. Multiple choice questions will require your child to choose the right answer from a number of options while the standard question will require your child to create a written response. Too often, the focus is put on the standard questions but in reality, both formats should be practised. Despite multiple-choice questions providing the answer, they still require a certain set of skills to identify the right answer. Therefore, it is important that both formats are practised.
Private Tuition Provides Focus
Private tuition is a great option for those parents who feel that their child can benefit from it or for those parents who think that they are unable to prepare their child correctly. However, private tuition will provide children with a structured learning experience that will identify their strengths and weaknesses before providing them with the correct level of learning. It is not forced or pressured but delivered in a way that can help them enter the exam with confidence.