If your child is to be successful in selective school tests then preparation is everything. Here are some tips to prepare your child for 11 plus exams:
Research
Research the format and content of the exams so you know what your child will be tested on. Know the schools you want to apply to and the requirements for that school. It could be that they have Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal Reasoning in their selection tests. You need to know which subjects your child needs to practise. You may have to move into a catchment area for the school to take the test or move into the catchment area to accept the school place if you are successful.
Create a study schedule
Create a study schedule and stick to it, ensuring your child has enough time to study and practice. Know the milestone dates for the schools to ensure you have set realistic deadlines to meet the test requirements, for example some schools test Verbal Reasoning first and then call back for English and maths.
Your child should practise tests that they will be sitting for the entrance exam. At the beginning of Year 5 start with 2 or 3 times a week, by the end of Year 5 your child should be taking practise tests daily.
Provide study materials
11 Plus Academia provide online practise tests which are the questions that children will get in the entrance exam. Your child should take as many tests as possible and expect that at the beginning of the journey your child may not perform well but with repetition, and learning from mistakes they will soon become proficient. Make taking tests a part of normal home life to set your child up for taking the entrance test without being phased by the process. This will get your child used to the time pressure of completing a test in a fixed time and give them experience of the questions they will get get when doing the real thing, as well as the answers they should be giving. Use the feedback from online tests to find out where your child is lacking in knowledge and mitigate that risk through home teaching, revision guides and / or tutors. A mixture of learning sources will get the best results. Do not rely on a tutor to get your child into a selective school.
Purchase books from the 11 Plus Academia Reading list and read with your child. Reading out loud can be time consuming and slower than letting your child read by themselves however reading together means that you can answer any questions on vocabulary, check your child's understanding, spend quality time together and keep track of progress.
Get Help
Your child needs help and that can be a parent who has the time to devote to tutoring their child, or a teacher or tutor who can teach those areas that your child lacks knowledge in. The beauty of 11PlusAcademia’s online offering is that the feedback provided shows what your child does not know so that you can target and focus on that area of learning. Do not rely on just one area of learning for success in entrance tests, use online practise tests, hire a tutor and / or enrol your child in a study program. Use all of the resources in partnership so that your child is learning.
Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
Create a love of reading in your child so they read for pleasure as well as learning. The majority of books on the 11 Plus Academia Reading List have appeared in entrance exams for selective schools so read these books first. This will set an expectation of the type of books that your child will have to answer questions on in selective school exam testing.
Give your child a vocabulary notebook to write down any words they don't understand, give them the definition of the words as and when they come up to be recorded in the ir notebook so it can be used as a reference guide throughout their learning.
Exam Technique
Encourage your child to practice their exam technique, including time management and exam strategy. 11 Plus Academia provide timed online tests which will inform whether your child is answering questions in a time efficient manner or whether they will run out of time. Remember your child will speed up with practise and repetition. Set a strategy that works for your child, for example spend a maximum of two minutes per question and if you don't have the answer then move on, or answer all the easy questions first and then go back to answer the harder questions. Never leave a answer blank particularly if it is multiple choice as the correct answer is one of the options.
Encouragement
Promote a growth mindset and encourage your child to keep trying even if they encounter difficulties. At the beginning of your child's journey they will be challenged so give them the encouragement and incentive to help them achieve. Practise, practise and practise again to make perfect.
Opportunities
Provide opportunities for your child to develop their math and problem-solving skills.
