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11+ Tutoring - A Step by Step Guide

If you are thinking about grammar school or private school for your child and want to make sure that they receive the private tutoring and support they will need for success, read on as we break it down for you in easy to follow steps.

What you need to know about the 11 Plus Exam?

The 11plus is a type of selective entrance exam used by some secondary schools. Many private schools use this type of exam, as do some state funded grammar schools.

Your child will usually sit this exam either near the end of Year 5, or at the beginning of year 6. Their results will determine whether they can attend your secondary school of choice.

Here are the core disciplines tested by the 11+ exam:

English
Maths
Verbal Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning

The exams and disciplines tested vary from school to school, although there are two main exam boards used: CEM (Durham University) and GL Assessment.

Some schools actually have two stage of their exam - if your child passes the first they will be called to do the second.

How can I decide when to start 11+ tutoring for my child?

If your child is currently in Year 5, Year 4, or even Year 3 and below, you can certainly consider whether your child is on the right track for 11+ exam success. While they probably won't need specific 11+ private tutoring before Year 4, there are certainly things you can be doing with your child at this time to boost their chances of success!

There is no exact formula for when a child should begin their exam preparation for the 11plus. It depend on your child's level at the moment, and what will be included in the 11 plus entrance exam of the school you want them to attend. Some questions to consider:

Is my child scoring higher than average in school?
What subjects does my chosen school test? How high are my child's scores in these subject areas?
What score will my child need to attain to pass?
How does my child learn - are they likely to need a long time to improve or learn new information?

This will help you to create an 11 plus preparation timetable for your child. If your child needs to make a lot of improvement, it is likely that they will need at least a year or maybe more in 11 plus tutoring, and perhaps more intensive tutoring in the months leading up to the exam. This means starting in Year 5 or Year 4.

What to consider when choosing your school?

The 11 plus exam varies greatly in different regions and so you should find out as much as possible about the exam used by your chosen school. The best way to do this is to contact the school directly to ask them. This will help you to consider whether the exam is right for your child.

You also need to consider distance and whether your child will be able to commute comfortably every day. Too long and it could have negative impacts on your child's daily routine.

Think about whether the school is a good fit for your child. Are they likely to feel happy and confident here? This will give them the optimal chance to succeed.

How competitive and over-subscribed is the school?

Bearing all these factors in mind, make a list of your top 3 schools. You can then find out as much as possible about their entrance exams, from the schools, your local authority, and perhaps parents of children already attending. Then you can begin to see how much 11 plus preparation and tutoring your child will need to pass.

What private tutoring and support will my child need to pass my chosen 11 + exam?

There are two stages to consider here: core skills, and exam technique.

11+ preparation before Year 4:

The most important thing to focus on from before Year 4 is that your child has a strong foundation of core skills and subject knowledge. If they have this, all that will be needed later on is that they build and practice the right strategies for passing the exams. However, without a solid base of proper skills and knowledge at this stage they will struggle.

A private tutor can help you and your child to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This will show you where they need to put the time in and get the support to improve.

Core skills that will enable your child to pass their 11 plus:

Mental mathematics
A great vocabulary
Speed reading and reading accurately

11 plus preparation in Year 4 and Year 5

Depending on how much practice you have identified that your child needs, this is the time to begin private tutoring or video courses to focus on specific exam techniques, practice papers, and passing that 11 plus.

It is always a good idea to make sure that your child has enough time to practice the exam and get familiar with the techniques, and particularly in any areas where they are less confident. In many cases this will mean a year of private tutoring or more. Remember your child will need confidence to give the 11 plus their best shot and it is easier to build this over time.

Some advice to maximise your child's 11+ exam success!

You can help your child to build the right skills to pass the exam by supporting them with those core skills. This can mean encouraging them to read regularly, reading with them and making sure they understand what they read, and giving them chances to do some mental mathematics, for example by calculating how much change you are owed when out shopping together. Remember, this strong foundation will mean they can focus on exam skills in their tutoring.

Try to focus on building a positive attitude to the exam and supporting your child's confidence. Too much pressure and focus on one exam can put your child off.

Check out PiAcademy 11 plus video courses to see how we can support your child to success: