How to start preparing for the 11+ exam?

Creating a structured revision timetable for the 11+ exam

Set attainable goals and develop a strategy to help your child make progress. Draw up a timetable they can realistically stick to, breaking down the revision into manageable chunks. A structured approach can help children overcome their nerves.

Months 1 - 3

· Research the 11+ exam board your chosen school uses

· Create a learning plan focusing on your child’s weaknesses

Months 4 - 6

· Work through practice questions and past papers

· Use spelling lists

· Check for any knowledge gaps

Months 7 - 9

· Work through past papers

· Start timing your past papers

· Check for any knowledge gaps

Months 10 - 12

· Daily bite-sized revision practice

· Past papers

· Make time for relaxation

Remember, one type of learning and revision doesn’t suit all. Find how your child likes to learn:

• Doing past papers is a useful resource in revision. Use past papers to help identify strengths and weaknesses; once those are determined, you can adjust the revision timetable, accordingly, focusing on the weaker areas.

• Use ‘grown up’ words in ordinary conversation, explaining their meaning as you go.

• Encourage your child to use more sophisticated words when they describe something. When the word ‘algorithm’ was introduced into the National Computing Curriculum, some teachers panicked; yet, to children, it was just another word to learn. Don’t be scared of using challenging words with your children.

Helping your child with verbal reasoning

• Play word games, such as finding synonyms (a word or phrase that means the same as another) and antonyms (a word or phrase that means the opposite of another) of words.

• Encourage your child to do crosswords and word searches; play word-based board games.

• Take your child to museums and exhibitions to build their knowledge.

• Watch documentaries together.

Helping your child with non-verbal reasoning

• Work out the next diagram in a sequence.

• Identify what a shape looks like when it is turned by 90 degrees.

• Recognise the mirror image of a shape.

Helping your child with maths

Children should be doing plenty of mental maths: this could be incorporated into everyday life:

• Whilst cooking, use proportions and ratios to make correct calculations for each ingredient. For example, if you have a recipe with a list of ingredients for two people, how much would you need for four people?

• When you are out shopping. For example, if there is a sale on in the local sport shop, ask your child to work out the price of some football boots that are reduced by 20%.

• Ask them to work out which is better value, a bag of 500g flour for 40p, or 1.5 kg of flour at £1.10.

• Calculate lengths of journey in your car by asking if you travelled at an average speed of 30mph to get to the next town, 10 miles away, how long would it take to get there.