A Guide to the 11 Plus
Discover our top tips for the 11 Plus in this article - from when your child should start preparing for their exam to how to find an 11 Plus tutor and more expert advice.
Private Tutors for the 11 Plus in London and Online
Simply Learning Tuition introduce the highest calibre of private tutors to support your child through their 11 Plus. Every tutor we introduce has a thorough knowledge of 11+ English, Maths and verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and many also have experience working in the UK’s leading independent and grammar schools. To ensure your child fully benefits from 11 Plus tuition, we will only introduce private tutors suited to their personality and learning style. We believe this is the key to unlocking your child’s potential and to giving them the confidence to excel in their exams.
Our 11 Plus tuition is available in-person in central London or online. We can also introduce residential tutors and international tutors to live and travel with you anywhere in the world.
Tutors for the 11 Plus
Sophie Taylor Barthorpe, SLT's Director of Tuition explains what is needed for 11 Plus tuition to be effective. A winning combination of experience and empathy is demonstrated by all the 11 Plus tutors we introduce and every year we are proud to celebrate successful acceptances to the UK's leading senior schools, including Harrow, Eton, Marlborough and many others.
11 Plus Private Tutors
SLT introduces expert 11 Plus tutors to help your child prepare for all parts of the 11 Plus exam. Each of the tutors listed below is known personally by us, and we will take care to match a tutor with just the right character and teaching style to help your son or daughter excel at literacy, numeracy and verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Many of the tutors are also familiar with the particular entry requirements of specific day and boarding schools and will be able to pass on invaluable advice about what the school is looking for.
Alex G
Alex specialises in English tuition and is qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language. He can also support with Creative Writing and is a specialist online tutor.
Alex H
Alex is a specialist Maths tutor who works with students from 11+ to Oxbridge level including key entrance exams such as UCAT. Additionally, he works with students on their Oxbridge admissions.
Alex N
Alex has been tutoring since 2014. He specialises in teaching English, History, History of Art, entrance examinations and IELTS.
Alex S
Alex specialises in English and Maths tuition and has taught many of our home schooled students.
Alex T
Alex has vast experience tutoring biology, chemistry and maths, as well as preparing students for entrance exams including 11+ and Oxbridge admissions tests.
Alexa
Alexa tutors students for entrance exams from 7+ to 13+. She also prepares students for interviews and scholarship applications.
Alexander R
Alex is an experienced tutor specialising in preparing students for both Independent Schools admissions tests and public examinations.
Alexander S
Alexander specialises in varying entrance exams and core GCSE subjects. He also prepares students for Oxbridge applications.
Alexandra
Alexandra is a qualified teacher who specialises in English and Maths tuition. She also teaches Psychology, German and French.
Alice
Alice is trilingual and supports with English, French and Spanish. She also specialises in Psychology tuition for A Level students and teaches Maths at 7+, 11+ and 13+.
Amy HM
Amy is a qualified teacher and specialises in English tuition. She also tutors Maths and prepares students for the 7+ and 11+ entrance exams.
Anil
Anil is an Oxford graduate who is highly multidisciplinary, teaching a range of subjects including Maths, English and Science.
Anna C
Anna prepares students for all areas of the competitive 11+ and 13+ exams, helping students gain places at top London schools.
Apollon
Apollon tutors English, Maths and Science GCSE and A level. As well as this, he offers university application preparation to Medical School.
Ben A
Ben's specialism is English. He prepares students for 11+,13+, IGCSE, IB and A Level examinations.
Ben H
Ben is a highly experienced qualified teacher who specialises in English and History. He provides tuition for the 11+ public school entrance exams and has prepared many students for scholarship and Common Entrance examinations and English and History GCSE.
Benjamin L
Ben is a language specialist, teaching German and Spanish GCSE, IB and A Level. As well as this, he prepares students for the rigorous 7+, 11+ and 13+ exams.
Beth
Beth is a highly experienced tutor who has worked around the world, specialising in English tuition.
Blanca
Blanca works with students from 4 years old to adulthood, teaching English, Maths, Spanish and French. She has extensive home schooling, SEN and 11+ experience.
Caitlin F
Caitlin specialises in English for the younger years, as well as preparing students for the 7+, 8+ and 11+ entrance exams.
Callum
Callum specialises in English and Maths tuition from 7+ up to GCSE, including 11+ and 13+ preparation. He is experienced in teaching children with special educational needs, particularly with English and creative writing.
Cameron
Cameron specialises in Maths for the 11+ and 13+, as well as for GCSE students. He can also provide tuition for French, English and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Candace
Candace is a highly multidisciplinary tutor, with particular specialisms in Geography, History, Maths, English, Biology and Classics. She also supports with competitive entrance exams, including the 13+ and SAT.
Carrie M
Carrie teaches English, History, and French, including maths for the 11+, 13+ and UKiset. She also provides mentoring, interview preparation and Oxford applications advice.
Charlotte
Charlotte specialises in English. She prepares students for entrance exams, as well as teaching French and Maths up to GCSE level.
Claire
Claire is an experienced maths teacher, and also supports students with Oxbridge applications.
Claire P
Claire specialises in English and History tuition, as well as 11+ exam preparation for London's top independent schools.
Daria
Daria specialises in Primary level support, with a particular focus on English and students with SEN.
Dharmesh
Dharmesh specialises in entrance exams, as well as English and Maths for Prep School students. He also teaches Business Studies up to A Level and Maths to GCSEs.
Diana B
Diana is an experienced tutor who tutors students for Entrance Exams including 7+ and 11+.
Diren
Diren is an English specialist, preparing students for 11+, GCSEs and A Levels, as well as Oxbridge Applications.
Dora
Dora specialises in 11+ and 13+ preparation and interview practice. She has extensive experience tutoring students with SEN.
Edward R
Edward is an English specialist, working with students from primary age up to A-Level.
Elizabeth Ca
Elizabeth is an experienced tutor who specialises in English and Entrance Exam Preparation.
Elizabeth E
Elizabeth specialises in English tuition, while also tutoring History, Drama and Maths up to 11+.
Emma Br
Emma not only works with students preparing for the demanding 7+ and 11+ entrance exams, but tutors older students towards their GCSE and A-Level English exams too.
Ewan M
Ewan is a highly experienced qualified teacher and English specialist, working with students preparing for 11+ exams to those studying at University.
Faizel
Faizel is a qualified Primary School Teacher and has worked in one of London's top Independent Prep Schools. He specialises in Entrance Exam Preparation at 7+, 8+, 11+ and 13+.
Fatima
Fatima specialises in GCSE/IGCSE and A-Level Maths, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics tuition, as well as entrance exams preparation such as the UCAT.
Felicity S
Felicity is an experienced trilingual tutor who specialises in teaching English at 11+ to GCSE level, Spanish to A-Level and French to University level.
Flora
Flora specialises in English Language and Literature. Additionally she tutors History, Geography, History of Art and Classical Civilisation.
Freddie
Freddie specialises in English Literature and Language. He also teaches Theology, Ancient Greek and Latin, as well as preparing students for 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry examinations.
George
George tutors History, English and German. He is also a Common Entrance specialist.
Georgina
Georgina specialises in Art, History, English and History of Art tuition, as well as preparing students for all aspects of 11+ exams.
Gillian
Gillian is one of our leading home schooling tutors, and has extensive SEN support experience. She has worked with a broad range of ages in both domestic and international long term placements. Gillian specialises in English and Maths.
Gino
Gino tutors primary aged children English and Maths, from improving their phonics skills, to preparing students for 11+ exams.
Grace
Grace has extensive home schooling and SEN experience, providing mentoring support alongside academic tuition for History, Classics, English and Art at GCSE and A Level.
Gurs
Gurs
Hannah G
Hannah is an experienced English teacher who prepares students for the rigorous 11+ and 13+ exams.
Haris S
Haris specialises in Biology tuition up to A level, and can support with Maths, Physics and Chemistry at GCSE level.
Heather
Heather's specialist subjects are English and Drama. She also tutors Mathematics up to 11+, History and Creative Writing.
Holly P
Holly specialises in English tuition and 11+ Exam Preparation. She teaches from Pre-school age and also teaches Maths and Music.
Holly R
Holly focuses on preparing students for the demanding 7+ and 11+ exams to gain places in top London schools.
Isabella
Issy specialises in English Literature and tutors the subject from 11+ up to A Level. She is also experienced in teaching English as an additional language.
James C
James is a Maths specialist who also has experience tutoring Physics, Economics, 11+ Entrance Exams and Scholarship Exams.
James S
James is a highly experienced English teacher and entrance exam specialist, from 11+ to university applications.
Jenny Ha
Jenny is an English specialist, and also specialises in 7+, 11+ and 13+ preparation, teaching both the English and Maths papers.
Jenny S
Jenny is an SEN specialist who has a huge range of home schooling experience and tutors English, Maths, Geography, History and Science.
Jessica F
Jessica tutors English, Maths, Biology and Chemistry from 11+ to A levels. Additionally, she supports students with UCAT and Medicine School applications, including personal statement, extracurricular and interview support.
Jessica G
Jessica specialises in Psychology tuition and is an AQA Examiner. She also has a strong track record of preparing students for competitive Entrance Exams in English and Maths.
Jessica Hd
Jessica prepares students for 11+ and 13+ exams. She has a wealth of experience tutoring GCSE, IB and A Level English too, as well as Oxbridge applications.
Joanne
Joanne specialises in Biology tuition, all Sciences up to GCSE and Mathematics. She also prepares students for entrance exams from 8+ to 16+.
Joe E
Joe prepares students for 11+ and 13+ entrance exams. He also tutors English and Drama at all levels.
Katherine B
Katherine is a Latin specialist, teaching students up to A Level. She is also highly experienced with 11+ English and Maths tuition.
Katherine Be
Katherine is a highly experienced teacher who helps students secure places at academically selective London schools at 7+, 9+ and 11+.
Katie
Katie is an experienced primary school teacher. She specialises in preparing students for 7+, 11+ and 13+, as well as providing interview practice.
Kieron
Kieron is a Cambridge Classics graduate who is highly multidisciplinary. He is experienced at supporting students for entry to schools such as Eton College, in both English, Maths and Latin papers.
Laura C
Laura is a qualified teacher who specialises in English Literature and Language at GCSE and A Level. As well as this, she prepares students for 11+ exams for top London schools.
Leena
Leena specialises in teaching Maths and Science. She also prepares student for BMAT, UCAT and entrance examinations.
Leia
Leia specialises in Maths, Science and Geography from 11+ up to A Level. She also tutors students in essay writing for University entry.
Leon
Leon tutors English and is an Entrance Exam specialist, teaching from 7+ through to 13+. Leon also teaches essay-based subjects such as History, Geography and Social Sciences.
Lizzy
Lizzy tutors English, History and Maths. Additionally, she prepares students for the 11+, 13+, 16+ and Ukiset Entrance Exams.
Lorelei
Lorelei's specialist subjects are English, Latin and Classics, while additionally preparing students for 11+ exams and Oxbridge entry.
Lucy F
Lucy is an English specialist, who is currently completing a PhD at the University of Cambridge. She also tutors French, Spanish and Maths for competitive entrance exams.
Lucy W
Lucy prepares students for the demanding entrance exams and her students have gained places at prestigious London schools. Read more about her experience here.
Luke
Luke specialises in Maths and Physics tuition. He also teaches Economics, Chemistry, Biology and competitive Entrance Exam preparation.
Madeleine T
Madeleine
Matthew S
Matthew is a highly multidisciplinary tutor, with a particular specialism in Science, English, Maths and competitive Exam preparation, including the 13+, TSA, PAT, MAT and STEP exams.
Max
Max specialises in English tuition from Pre-school to A Level and also supports with Entrance exams for students at 8+, 11+ and 13+.
Melissa
Melissa is a qualified Primary School teacher who specialises in SEN support and teaches English, Maths and Science.
Michael
Michael is a highly experienced maths teacher, who also supports with English for 11+ exams.
Michael
With a BSc and MSc in the subject, Michael is an Economics specialist. Alongside this he tutors Maths in preparation for exams at 11+, 13+, GCSE, A Level and IB level.
Mira
Mira tutors English from year 1 up to A Level, as well as preparation for 7+ and 11+ entrance exams.
Nadia
Nadia is a highly multidisciplinary tutor who specialises in a range of subjects including English, Maths, History, Law and Entrance Exam Preparation.
Natasha La F
Natasha is a multidisciplinary tutor who specialises in Exam Preparation, English and Art. Additionally she tutors Maths, Chemistry and Classics.
Nick W
Nick specialises in Maths, English, Geography and History tuition. He also teaches Science at 13+ level and has supported many students with competitive entrance exams.
Nicola
Nicola is a University Lecturer who is highly multidisciplinary, specialising in English, Maths, History and Art History, as well as 11+ and 13+ exams.
Nicole
Nicole specialises in Primary level English and Maths tuition and 7+ Exam Preparation.
Nils
Nils specialises in English tuition and is a qualified teacher with over 20 years experience. He has also prepares students for 11+ and 13+ Entrance Exams.
Oliver K
Oliver tutor a range of subjects from 11+ up to Undergraduate level. As well as this, he supports students with University choices and applications.
Olivia
Olivia's specialist subject is English. She also tutors 11+, key stage 3 English, Maths and Science and A-Level Biology. Olivia has over 2,000 hours of teaching experience.
Owen
Owen is a highly experienced teacher, specialising in entrance exam preparation into top London independent day schools.
Phineas
Phineas has been tutoring since 2007. He specialises in Humanities and Languages - French and German. He tutors from 7+ age up to A-level.
Rahul
Rahul works with students on their essay writing skills in a wide range of subjects. He works with students from 11+ to university level.
Rajiv
Rajiv is a home schooling tutor with significant entrance examination experience. His key subjects are English, Maths and Science for 11+ and 13+. He also teaches Science and Latin up to GCSE level.
Rasha
Rasha prepares students for 7+, 11+ and 13+ entrance exams, as well as tutoring Maths and Science GCSE and A Level.
Rhea
Rhea specialises in entrance exam preparation, as well as tutoring Spanish and English up to A Level.
Robert
Robert is a multidisciplinary tutor who specialises in English, History, Philosophy and Geography. He also prepares students for the 7+, 11+ and 13+ exams, teaching Maths and Science at these levels.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a multidisciplinary tutor, who specialises in SEN support. She also teaches English, Geography, History, 7+, 11+ and 13+ Entrance Exams.
Rupert P
Rupert is a qualified teacher, who tutors a wide range of subjects including English and Maths. He has considerable SEN experience.
Safie
Safie is a qualified teacher who specialises in English and Maths tuition. She also has a range of experience with students with SEN.
Sally
Sally specialises in exam preparation, with her students receiving offers from top London Day schools. She tutors from 7+ up to GCSE.
Sam S
Sam's specialism is Maths and Science GCSE. He also tutors Maths for 13+ exams.
Samantha
Samantha is an experienced teacher who specialises in 7+, 8+ and 11+ preparation, as well as French tuition for 13+ examinations.
Sara O
Sara specialises in tutoring GCSE and A-Level Science. She also helps students prepare for Maths 11+ exams and sixth form entrance exams.
Sarah B
Sarah specialises in English and Philosophy tuition and is one of our specialist Home schooling tutors.
Sarah E
Sarah is a highly experienced teacher who focuses on tutoring Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning at KS2 and KS3, including the ISEB pretests and other entrance tests at 11+ and 13+, Common Entrance and 13+ Scholarship to leading senior schools.
Sean GR
Sean is an online tutor who specialises in Chemistry and Mathematics, while also tutoring Physics and Biology.
Shona G
Shona's specialist subjects are Maths, English and History from KS2 to A-Level. She also prepares students for their 11+ and 13+ exams.
Shona S
Shona is a qualified teacher. She specialises in teaching English and maths, including preparation for competitive 11+ examinations.
Sophia L
Sophia's specialist subjects are Latin and French and she is experienced in teaching 11+ and 13+.
Syed
Syed is a PhD researcher at Imperial College with ten years of teaching experience. He tutors maths and science, from Common Entrance to A Level.
Tate
Tate supports students with Oxbridge applications, 7+ and 11+ exam preparation, and also tutors Music and English up to A Level.
Thomas H
Thomas is one of our leading home schooling tutors, with extensive experience in residential and home school tutoring roles. His subject specialisms at higher levels include Geography and Maths. Thomas also provides academic assessments while teaching Economics, Business Studies, English, and Science.
Tom
Tom specialises in English, entrance examinations and Government and Politics. He also teaches the SAT for US admissions.
Verity M
Verity specialises in online tuition, with a particular focus on English, 7+, 11+ and UKiset tuition.
Vishal
Vishal specialises in Entrance Exam Admissions at 7+, 8+, 10+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. He also tutors English, Maths and Science up to GCSE level.
Wiebke
Wiebke tutors French, English and German. She has experience home schooling students and also 11+ exam preparation.
Will M
Will specialises in science in Key Stage 2 and 3, as well as Biology GCSE. He also prepares students for 7+ and 11+ examinations.
William B
William is a Cambridge graduate and highly experienced tutor. He teaches English, Maths, German and Science and has worked with SLT for over ten years.
William H
William not only tutors Maths and Science at GCSE and A Level, but is an entrance exam specialist, preparing students from 11+ to UCAT and University entrance.
Xanthi
Xanthi has extensive home schooling experience, specialising in GCSE Maths and English. As a screenwriter, she is particularly well-equipped to teach creative writing and essay technique.
Yunus
Yunus is a qualified Maths teacher with years of experience tutoring GCSE and A Level Maths. Read more here.
Zoe F
Zoe specialises in the Humanities, English, History and Geography up to year 7, while also teaching Maths up to 11+.
Zoe N
Zoe is an English and History specialist, working with students preparing for 11+ exams to those applying to Oxbridge.
Zora
Zora is a qualified teacher who specialises in Science and Maths up to A Level. She also teaches English for Key Stage 2 and 3.
What is the 11 Plus?
The 11 Plus exam, which governs admission to many independent and grammar schools, has been one of the key points in a young person’s life for some 40 years. The 11 Plus is usually taken in the autumn or spring term of Year 6 for students applying to join senior school in Year 7. It typically comprises literacy, numeracy, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, although the assessment often varies by school. Working with a tutor who is well versed in the 11 Plus entry examinations for the schools that you are applying to is paramount.
What does the 11 Plus exam involve?
Although the exact requirements of the 11 Plus vary from school to school, the fundamentals are generally the same. Students are assessed in English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
The English typically comprises reading comprehension and creative writing. Maths covers the core skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division – although many assessments will also include more complex problem-solving questions. The reasoning papers require children to spot patterns in shapes, numbers and language, and to make inferences and draw conclusions based on these.
Many schools still use hand-written 11 Plus papers, though some (such as the London 11 Plus Consortium) have moved to online assessments. But although the format is different, the core knowledge being tested is usually the same.
Why is the 11 Plus exam important?
The 11 Plus is used to select students for entry to schools in Year 7. It is used by selective independent schools, including both senior schools which start in Year 7 and prep schools which have a Year 7 intake. Some boys’ senior schools which start in Year 9 (such as Eton College) also have an 11 Plus assessment as part of their selection process. Finally, the 11 Plus is also used by grammar schools (academically selective state schools).
The vast majority of the most popular independent senior schools are academically selective, so if your child is aiming for one of these, they are very likely to have to pass the 11 Plus to gain entry. Unsurprisingly, the most prestigious and sought-after schools tend to have the most demanding and competitive 11 Plus exams.
How 11 Plus tutoring works
Every 11 Plus tutor will have a slightly different approach, but there are several common principles to sound 11 Plus preparation. The key is to target the specific skills that are tested in the exam.
First, the tutor builds up your child’s core skills in literacy, numeracy, and reasoning. This can be done through a mixture of practice questions and more engaging games and quizzes, which keep children focused and learning effectively. Then, the tutor will integrate past exam practice to familiarise the child with how the exams look, and to enable them to learn exam technique and time management. Finally, they will focus on any remaining areas of weakness so there are no gaps in the child’s knowledge before the real exams. At SLT, all of our 11 Plus tuition is delivered one-to-one so it is completely bespoke to your child’s needs.
A good 11 Plus tutor will be familiar with the requirements of the specific schools your child is applying for, and will be able to tailor their preparation accordingly.
What is the difference between 11 Plus tuition and normal tutoring for specific subjects?
11 Plus tutoring is tailored towards the specific subjects and skills which are assessed for the 11 Plus examinations: English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The particular skills assessed in the English and Maths components are slightly different (and usually more challenging) than the English and Maths your child will be studying at school, so dedicated preparation is strongly recommended. 11 Plus tuition also teaches children vital exam technique and time management which is not usually covered in standard subject tuition.
Does my child need 11 Plus tutoring or tuition for specific subjects?
The vast majority of schools only assess English, Maths and reasoning at 11 Plus. If your child is in Year 4, 5 or 6 and struggling in another subject (like Science, History or a modern language) they would likely benefit from working with a tutor for that subject. However, they would not need 11 Plus tuition.
On the other hand, if your child has 11 Plus examinations coming up for entry to senior school, working with an experienced 11 Plus tutor can make all the difference to their preparation. A generalist English or Maths tutor may be able to help a little with the core skills, but the 11 Plus also tests knowledge which is not part of the core school curriculum – this is particularly the case for the more competitive schools. Furthermore, the reasoning papers require specialist preparation as these are not subjects covered in school. Here, there is no substitute for working one-to-one with a tutor with lots of entrance exam experience.
How to prepare for Maths and English papers and reasoning tests
The 11+ English paper can be challenging for most adults, let alone 10-year-olds. It involves composition and comprehension that requires them to be confident about ‘writing from the heart’. In our experience this is where many children – particularly boys – lose marks. An excellent way to improve verbal dexterity is to tell, or read, your child a story and then talk about it afterwards. Get them to describe to you what happened and explain how it made them feel.
For Maths, your child will need to understand the core concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Practising mental maths and times tables, as well as more fun techniques like playing online maths games, can make a big difference.
Some schools claim that the reasoning papers test innate ability and therefore cannot be coached. However, there is no skill which cannot be mastered with practice. Familiarising the child with past questions by purchasing verbal and non-verbal reasoning practice books is vital. If they have not seen this type of question before the exam they will likely be completely thrown. A tutor can approach a wide range of reasoning problems with a child. Even if these exact problems are not on the exam, the student will know how to deal with the unexpected, having practiced methods of thinking and rationalising larger concepts.
Our full guide to the 11 Plus contains more advice and information.
11 Plus past papers and mock exams
Click here to download some general 11 Plus mock exams for English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. These will give an indication of the kinds of questions that are typically asked. Please note, however, that it is important to prepare for the specific schools your child is applying for. Working with an 11 Plus tutor who has previous experience with these schools can often be vital.
Our approach to 11 Plus Tuition
We take a strategic approach to the 11 Plus entrance exam and believe that effective preparation should start at least 12 months before the examination. With many schools insisting on one or more pre-tests, it is important to know exactly what your child will be expected to do and when. We recommend an initial assessment to work out where to focus tuition - or if indeed tuition is required in the first place. An assessment will allow you to know how realistic your choice of school is - and how far your child is from the pass mark.
Why choose a Simply Learning Tuition 11 Plus tutor?
Tutors introduced by Simply Learning Tuition have been helping students excel at the 11 Plus for over a decade. Because we know every tutor that we introduce personally, we are able to guarantee that the match with your child will be perfect. Tutors recommended by Simply Learning are highly vetted, inspiring and dependable. When you review the tutor’s profile you will be able to see a full list of the schools they have had success with, as well as testimonials from their students.
What is the 11 Plus?
The 11+ exam, which governs admission to many independent and grammar schools, has been one of the key points in a young person’s life for some 40 years. It typically comprises literacy, numeracy, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, although the assessment often varies by school. Working with a tutor who is well versed in the 11 Plus entry examinations for the schools that you are applying to is paramount.
When should my child start preparing for the 11 Plus?
We usually recommend 12 to 18 months of gentle preparation for the 11 plus exam, starting in the Autumn or Spring term of Year 5. However, this really depends on your child and their current attainment levels. Your son or daughter may only need a few hours of exam practice, and a confidence boost, or if there are any deeper learning gaps, or significant obstacles, they might need several months of regular weekly tuition. The good news is that any support focused on the 11+ will pay dividends for your child’s schoolwork.
How to prepare for the 11 Plus English paper
The 11+ English paper can be challenging for most adults, let alone 10-year-olds. It involves composition and comprehension that requires them to be confident about ‘writing from the heart’. In our experience this is where many children – particularly boys – lose marks. The effective and constructive communication of emotions are not usually a strong point at that stage, which is why many boys’ schools work on a 13+ entry system, which boys sit when they are more developed. An excellent way to improve verbal dexterity is to tell, or read, your child a story and then talk about it afterwards. Get them to describe to you what happened and explain how it made them feel. As well as helping them to unlock their emotions, effective story-telling brings a satisfying increase in marks. From our experience, girls tend to have better accuracy, creativity and consistency with punctuation that allows them to achieve better grades on composition papers.
How to prepare for the 11 Plus Maths paper
You need to make sure that your child understands the core concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division – and can apply this knowledge under pressure, particularly in problem solving type questions. Their knowledge should be strong and extensive, but flexible. To help your child solidify their knowledge of maths, go over times tables regularly using games, cards and posters. Encouraging them to be alert and thinking outside of the classroom gives you the opportunity to make learning fun!
How to prepare for 11 Plus Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Some people believe these test innate ability and therefore cannot be coached. However, we believe it is vital to provide opportunities for practice, which is easily done as there are plenty of books on sale. There is no magic to it, but if the child has not seen this type of question before the exam they will likely be completely thrown. A tutor can approach a wide range of reasoning problems with a child. Even if these exact problems are not on the exam, the student will know how to deal with the unexpected, having practiced methods of thinking and rationalising larger concepts.
11 Plus mock exams
Anything you can do to help your child reduce the natural anxiety they may feel around the 11+ will be a good thing. One of the best things to do is a mock exam. Tutors can organise these for you and they can be fun! Alternatively, you could organise your own by hiring a hall, or going to a house that is unfamiliar to your child, with a group of other children (even better if those children are unknown to each other) and taking a mock test. Keep things formal, give timings and ensure everyone works in silence. Put the pressure on to work fast, and throw in a couple of unexpected questions. The aim is to help children prepare for what happens when things look unusual, and when problems arise. Then go through the papers afterwards to identify strengths and weaknesses. Bear in mind that mark schemes can be hard to understand and may need expert interpretation. Sometimes a composition piece might look good and be spelled and punctuated correctly, but has nevertheless failed to answer the question properly.
11 Plus revision advice
If there is an iPad in the room while your child is trying to work it can prove an easy distraction between lessons. It is not good to switch from making ‘brain and pen’ connections to computer games because both activities stimulate different parts of the brain.Your child will need to perfect the management of calm retrieval of data. They also need time to absorb information – some downtime to process the work they have completed and to let the information sink in. This is best done if breaks involve a walk or some other exercise.
What can parents do to help prepare for the 11 Plus?
If you find yourself getting nervous, remember the ultimate goal - your child's happiness. With so much riding on the outcome, most parents are quite nervous (as are school heads!). But it’s vital that you don’t convey this to your child. Aim to be relaxed and detached. Don’t push, just give gentle encouragement and explain that exams are not the be all and end all. Help your child to de-stress by making sure they take regular breaks. Tired children are also easily frustrated, and are unlikely to be able to concentrate. Remember that factors such as parents’ relationship difficulties, financial stress, bullying and illness can all affect a child’s performance in their exam. Try to protect them from the real world as much as you can.
11 Plus exam results
If your child doesn’t do as well as you expected, don’t take it lying down – appeal! Grammar schools have an established process for this. For independent schools, the decision is entirely discretionary. Generally speaking you are more likely to succeed if you have the support of your child’s head teacher to confirm that the poor performance on the exam day was unexpected. But stay calm; our advice is to accept the result and praise your child for all their hard work. There are plenty of other schools that will be a good fit for your child and with a bit of help you can make a plan to get them back on the road to academic success and emotional well being.
"We continue to have a fantastic experience with Simply Learning. Alex has been a star and faultless in his approach, energy and general teaching style. Thomas has now managed to get places at all the schools we put down (Eton, Wellington, Radley and Marlborough). Kudos to Alex since his success is definitely not down to any academic prowess on his father's side!"
Mr. B, ISEB pre-test and 11+ preparation - April 2024
"I found Erin to be an excellent tutor. She engages with her student and has a clear understanding as to how best to teach the child using methods they will relate to. Within a very short space if time, Erin understood how my son approached English and Maths and taught him accordingly with various plans and pointers to collect maximum marks. Erin made the whole process of the 11+ simpler and instilled great confidence in my son and the belief in himself. Always well presented, punctual and reliable. We would have no hesitation to recommend Erin to anyone".
Mrs. G, 11+ Tuition
"Doug's marks in his Common Entrance improved so much! Russell remained calm and was just brilliant. I can't thank him enough".
Mrs. R, 11+ Common Entrance Preparation
"James was offered at all 3 schools he sat exams for, including Bancroft's, Forest and Chigwell Schools. He was the only child to do this in his school. We took some time to take this in but have now accepted a place at Bancroft's school for September. Nicolas was great. He bonded with James from the start over a shared love of all things Japanese and got him laughing at the very first lesson. He was experienced with children so was able to be firm and focussed without needing to be heavy handed. James looked forward to his sessions with Nicolas as a fun time with a friend. Nicolas gave honest feedback to both James and I on his progress and this allowed me to support his efforts outside of the lessons. I would recommend him to other parents.I would like to thank Simply Learning for all the support we have received on this journey".
Mrs. A, 11+ Tuition and Preparation for Bancroft's, Forest and Chigwell
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