Eleven Plus Preparation Tips

The summer holidays are approaching and they are an ideal time to work towards the eleven plus if your child has been entered for the tests. Hopefully, you will have already started helping your child get ready. Some schools do offer practice tests to give your child an idea of what the test will be like. Even if you haven't made a start preparing, there is still plenty you can do to maximise your child's chances of passing.

Here are some top tips to get your child ready:

Make sure you know the exam provider, the number and types of papers and the exam format for the exam your child will sit. Check the website of each school you are applying for to find this information. Schools use a combination of maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning papers.

Purchase practice papers that most closely resemble the content and format of the papers your child will sit. Most exam boards publish papers that you can buy from online retailers and local bookshops.

Consider purchasing textbooks that will teach your child the techniques they need to learn to approach the different question types and exam papers. For example, the verbal and non-verbal reasoning papers are testing your child on skills that are not taught in the school classroom and there are specific ways of tackling the different question types to get the right answer.

Identify areas of weakness as you go along. Try to work out which question types and techniques your child struggles with. Is it the question type they find difficult or is it a case that they take a long time to work the answer out? By identifying problematic questions types, you can focus your attention on doing extra practice on these areas.

First of all, focus on learning the techniques for each exam paper. Once your child has gained confidence with each technique, you will be able to work on speed later on. Bear in mind that some questions will be easy to answer and not require a lot of time but others will require more time and thinking. Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal.

If your child is taking the multiple choice format verbal reasoning paper, I would recommend that they not use the multiple choice answer sheet initially but actually work out the answers and write them down on the paper. The problem with using a multiple choice answer format is that there is a risk that your child will simply guess the right answer rather than working it out. It is important that your child is confident that they know what the correct answer is and why it is the correct answer. If you think that your child is guessing the answer, then ask them how they worked it out. This should tell you if they are thinking the question through in a logical and systematic fashion.

Consider employing a tutor. Not all parents find it easy to teach their own children and teaching verbal and non-verbal reasoning techniques can be particularly difficult. Sometimes children don't respond well to a parent taking on a new role as teacher. If you find that teaching your own child is too stressful, then it is far better to find a good tutor who is skilled in coaching for the eleven plus who can create a positive learning experience for your child.

Implementing these tips will give your child a valuable head start as they prepare for a challenging test and will help them face the exam papers with confidence. If you would like me to cover more tips to help with the eleven plus, please post in the comments section.