Introduction: What is the ISEB 11+ Exam?
If you are thinking of sending your son or daughter to an independent school, you might already be aware of the existence of the ISEB (Independent School Exam Board) 11+ test papers which your child might be required to pass. Yet even if you’ve heard of the ISEB 11+ before, you might still be hazy on the details.
Put simply, the ISEB 11+ test (sometimes referred to as the Common Pre-Test or ISEB pretest) is an assessment designed to gauge the academic ability of pupils in Year 6 or Year 7. The test is used by many independent schools in the UK as a stage in their admissions process. It consists of four key areas and takes approximately 2 and half hours to complete.
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What is the format of the ISEB 11+ Exam?
The ISEB 11+ pretest consists of four papers, each covering a distinct area of skills and knowledge:
- Verbal Reasoning (approx. 35 minutes)
- Mathematics (approx. 50 minutes)
- Non-Verbal Reasoning (approx. 30 minutes)
- English (approx. 25 minutes)
The test typically follows a multiple choice format, and is often administered on a computer in an online format. Where your child sits the exam could vary depending on the school they are attending, the school they are applying for, and other potential factors.
The ISEB 11Plus pretest is sometimes completed in one go, but equally in the case of some schools it is possible your child will sit the various papers at different times.
How can my child prepare for the 11Plus ISEB Pretest?
Schools administering the ISEB 11Plus often advise parents that no special preparation is required. This is due in part to the fact that the test is intended as a means of assessing students on their existing academic potential and abilities.
While this advice is understandable, it is important to recognise that most Year 6 and Year 7 children will gain tangible benefits from some form of preparation and practice before their ISEB test date.
For instance, becoming familiar and comfortable with daily examples of ISEB 11+-style questions can help children approach the actual exam itself with greater confidence and understanding of what will be required to succeed; this could be a considerable advantage over children who are unfamiliar with the 11 plus test question formats or expectations.
Similarly, we recommend using past papers and 11+ ISEB-style practice papers to help your child prepare. These can be excellent tools when it comes to finding out which areas your child finds most challenging, and shaping their studies accordingly.
For instance, if your child is highly capable in maths but finds creative writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation difficult, you might choose to spend less time on maths revision and more time using tailored materials provided below to help them develop their English skills, or vice versa.
- 11+ Comprehension Test Papers
- 11 plus Vocabulary Test Papers
- 11plus SPaG Test Papers
- Creative Writings
- English 11+ Past Papers
Tips to solve the 11+ ISEB Assessment Maths Paper
When it comes to preparing your son or daughter for the ISEB 11Plus Maths component, we recommend the following helpful tips:
- Revise the National Key Stage 2 Curriculum: Ensure your child is confident and capable across the full range of skills and knowledge that fall within this area- including numbers, fractions, problems, decimals, operations, measurement and other core skills.
- Practice multiple choice: Many parents make the mistake of assuming that multiple choice questions are easier than standard format questions. However, unless your child is experienced in choosing an answer from a range of possible ones, the reverse can often be true. Help your child become familiar with this format by ensuring they read questions and options carefully and thoroughly.
- Practice smart exam techniques: Help your child understand the importance of writing down calculations where necessary, and using time wisely (for example, prioritising manageable questions, and budgeting time to return to more difficult ones).
Tips to Solve 11+ ISEB Assessment English Paper
As your child prepares for the ISEB 11+ English paper, we recommend the following advice:
- Build vocabulary and comprehension: One of the best ways to help your child become dynamic and confident ahead of sitting their ISEB 11+ English paper is to build a daily reading habit. Choose texts which are varied and which contain a reasonable amount of challenging vocabulary, and check your child’s understanding by talking to them and asking them questions about the text afterward. And for comprehension, practising comprehension test papers tailored for 11+ exams is really beneficial.
- Develop Spelling, punctuation and grammar: While multiple choice papers don’t require the same written expression as other paper types, it is still important to ensure your child has a sound understanding of SPaG topics, as they will be assessed in varying forms.
- Read questions carefully and check: Just like maths ones, English questions require careful reading and attention to detail. Encourage your child to get in the habit of reading questions twice or even three times to avoid misinterpretations or other errors.
11+ ISEB Test Practice Papers
As mentioned earlier, the ultimate resources for preparing for the ISEB 11Plus pretest are tailored practice papers and ISEB Mocks. These provide an excellent source of specific, clear and plentiful examples of the types of questions your child will encounter, allowing you to prepare them accordingly. Practice papers also come with full solutions available, allowing for an efficient and comprehensive method for checking your child’s answers.
- ISEB 11 Plus English Practice Papers
- ISEB 11Plus-Style Maths Practice Papers
- Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- ISEB 11 plus Online Mocks
ISEB Eleven Plus Tutoring
If you’ve made it this far in our guide but are still feeling under-confident when it comes to preparing your child for the 11Plus ISEB pretest, we recommend you consider the option of hiring the services of a specialist 11Plus ISEB tutor.
This is an affordable and highly effective strategy when it comes to targeting key areas in your child’s learning which you might feel less-than-confident in addressing.
A specialist tutor understands the requirements of the ISEB pretest and is equipped with the knowledge and skills to assess a child’s progress and understand the areas they need support in, making their learning engaging, effective and tailored towards reaching their goals.
