I can barely believe that we are at the juncture that we have begun thinking about how to prepare for 11 + exams, although the truth is that I know that many parents will have started this process long before us, and well before their children were in year 5, as ours currently is.

As you will probably already know the 11+ exam is a test that is taken by children in England and Wales to determine which type of secondary School they will be able to attend. The 11+ exam tests students in English, mathematics and reasoning and taken by children at the age of 10 and 11.

It has been a steep learning curve for us, and as we start to think about what path our daughter, I thought it would be useful to put together a parent’s guide on how to prepare for 11+ exams – so the when, how and what of it all.

I asked Tutor Team Lead at online tutoring company GoStudent, Mya Medina who has spent the better part of a decade preparing students for the 11+ and here’s what they had to say:

Is taking an 11+ exam for your child / how hard are they?

The 11+ entrance exams are tests carried out by regions which still have state-funded grammar schools, and can also be used for entry to selective private schools. They take place at the beginning of Year 6, and are used to identify the most academically-able candidates. For this reason, the content of the exams are aimed at a curriculum level for children of Year 7 standard, challenging the candidate up to a year ahead of their current academic banding. This is the first consideration to take into account when applying for the exams; is my child currently working ahead of the expected level, and do I expect them to reach this attainment level by the time of the exams?

When to start preparing / how much preparation is needed?

Preparations for the exams can start as early as Year 4, depending on the extent to which you would hope your child to succeed and what their academic level may be at that time. Standard 11+ exams encompass the themes of Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, where candidates are expected to have an equal understanding of each.

As Maths and English are subjects which are already covered through the National Curriculum, it is beneficial to assess your child’s knowledge in these areas at first. This can help you to gauge their strengths and weaknesses, focus more time on the areas which need more support, and start to introduce more problem-solving based questions into the subject they may already be proficient in. From the beginning of Year 5 is where we would suggest the most pressure be applied in terms of bi-weekly or even daily practise, attempting mock exam papers and attending Open Days to get a feel for the prospective school.

How best to start preparing

It is best to first understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and the style of learning they prefer. From here you can work on supporting your child with any initial gaps in their knowledge that you may notice. It is important that children taking the 11+ exam are well equipped with the foundations before attempting anything too tricky. Once they feel confident at this level you can then start to introduce new or trickier skills that are included within the 11+ Entrance Exam.

Different schools use different exam boards, be sure to check the school’s website and practice with the correct style of questions that your child will be sitting the exam with. Mock exam papers can be a great way to practice their exam techniques as an environment with timed conditions is most likely going to be new to them and they can feel pressure from this. Complete these mock papers in times conditions to support them as much as possible and then go through correct and incorrect answers together.

Is a tutor always needed?

As there are elements of the 11+ exams which are not included in the National Curriculum, it is suggested that outside tuition be sought in order to give your child the best opportunity to succeed. These elements include the Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning components, covering subjects such as recognising patterns in shapes and letters. The 11+ process can become quite stressful for both the children and the parents involved. By bringing in a third party, a tutor, it can diffuse this tension quickly and bring back the focus to the main goal of supporting your child through the exam. Practising once to twice per week with a skilled 11+ tutor should provide a solid foundation for the additional topics.

Best resources

There are plenty of resources available to support children taking the 11+ Entrance Exams. A really important resource to make the most of are mock papers, as children taking this exam have most likely not sat a formal exam previously. They of course need to be confident with the content, but also be able to manage their time and stress during the exam.

School websites tend to upload previous year’s exam papers and we would recommend checking these out. Children can also find creating a study and revision plan useful, as this way they can decide which topics they will be revising each week and ensure they do not miss any topics. It is useful to include a box on their plans where your child can reflect on whether it was a tricky topic or not. They will then find it easier to know which topics to come back to and revise again.

Children are encouraged to constantly expand their vocabulary when it comes to the 11+ exam too. Reading every day will support them in expanding their vocabulary, but of course you want to find ways to make it fun for them too. Flashcards, ‘Word of the Day’ books, games such as Scrabble and Wordle can help make this more engaging for them.

Advice for parents for supporting children

As this may be the first time they are sitting an exam, your child may not understand the importance of doing well, or why they are taking part when some of their cohort may not. It is important to explain the benefits of doing well in the exam, like attending a school where they may be able to get even more support in the classroom. The sooner you can start introducing them to problem-solving based questions and brain teasers, the better! Doing this should decrease the time pressure of the exam taking place in the beginning of Year 6. It is suggested to go through stress busting techniques with your child, like breathing exercises, in order to help them cope with the time pressures of the exam and any interview they may have to attend with the school.

The role of pressure and stress and how best to navigate

Children can find the 11+ process stressful and it is important to look out for signs that your child may be feeling stressed or anxious. You may see them worrying a lot, feeling tense, irritable, not sleeping well, not enjoying previously loved activities or having a low mood. If you are starting to see some of these signs it would be time to review how you are currently approaching their revision and making some tweaks. Although mock papers are useful for working on exam techniques, children may become fixated on measuring their progress. It is important to reassure them that they learn new skills and knowledge by learning, as opposed to test after test. Children will most likely feel a huge amount of pressure to succeed too. By creating a positive environment, praise and introducing fun ways to learn, your child will feel more at ease when it comes to the day of their exam. Starting their preparation for the exam early but slowly and gently gives them the best chance to feel confident on the day.

Mya Medina is Senior Tutor Team Lead at the online 1:1 tutoring company, GoStudent. Mya has worked in the education industry for the better part of a decade. As a former education consultant and full-time tutor, she spent several years preparing students for their 11+. Currently the Senior Team Lead for the tutor department at the UK/IE branch of GoStudent, she oversees the recruitment and management of the tutor community.

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