Many parents worry they’ve started 11+ preparation too late. The good news is that with the right structure, June, July and August can still be highly productive months ahead of the September exam.
If your child is in Year 6 and taking the 11+ this September, a consistent approach to preparation, as opposed to last-minute cramming, is essential to embed into your summer routine. Every child will respond to the 11+ differently and it’s important to prioritise your child’s confidence alongside skill and knowledge building.
This guide provides essential advice for parents of pupils sitting the 11+ this September and includes:
The 11+ is an entry exam that tests a pupil’s academic abilities. The test is used by grammar schools in England and children take the 11+ in the Autumn Term of Year 6. Grammar schools use the result of this examination to select their next Year 7 cohort.
Many parents ask whether there is a universal 11+ exam. The answer is no. The content and format may vary depending on the grammar school and sometimes the county, however, most 11+ examinations include:
The 11+ is a challenging examination because grammar schools in England are selective and are looking for children working at an exceptionally high level, often at the very top of their year group.
Starting 11+ preparation early in the summer is essential for pupils aiming to sit the exam in September. While we advise you to make the most of the uninterrupted study time the summer holiday offers, revision does not need to derail your summer plans and heavily intrude upon your child’s time off school. Short, regular 30–60-minute sessions several times a week beginning in June is far better than panic revision in August. Although it doesn’t sound much, even 20-30 minutes of focused practice several times a week can make a meaningful difference to your child’s exam outcome.
Preparation in June is all about building solid foundations. Read on for our advice about focus areas, tips and developing a realistic 11+ study pattern.
Focus Areas:
Tip:
Avoid overwhelming your child with too much too quickly.
Example weekly study pattern:
Check out Aquinas Tuition’s Reading Lists by age and stage here
July: Improve Accuracy and Confidence
While June is about developing and consolidating core skills, July’s focus should be on improving weaker areas. These will likely have been identified in June and will differ for each child. It’s probably a good idea to identify strengths and weaknesses in the different components of the 11+ exam so revision sessions are structured and targeted.
Below we have listed some common areas children struggle with and you may wish to make these an additional priority during this month.
Focus Areas:
Tip:
At this point in your child’s 11+ preparation journey they have likely progressed towards mastery of core skills, but supporting your child in building confidence and resilience within a time-pressured examination scenario is often overlooked. Even if your child has been well prepared, they may still struggle and underperform if they have not had enough practice in timed conditions and lack confidence when working against the clock. Introducing short bursts of timed practice within revision sessions is a great way to acclimatise your child to this way of working and will instil confidence ahead of the exam.
August: Exam Preparation Mode
By August the 11+ exam begins to loom, and focus should shift to exam preparation skills.
Focus on:
Tip:
While it can be tempting to ramp up revision in August and early September, our advice is to maintain a steady and consistent routine to avoid burnout in the final weeks. In some cases, if nerves are running high, it’s better to reduce either the number of revision sessions per week or the length of individual sessions. It is far better, at this point in the year, for your child to remain calm and focused during revision sessions than overwhelmed and panicky ahead of the exam.
To aid in your preparation we’ve listed a few common mistakes parents can make while helping their child revise for the 11+.
While it can be easy and, at times, tempting, to fall into the above categories, early preparation, a comprehensive understanding of the various 11+ examination components and a balanced and realistic revision routine will help you to avoid such pitfalls.
any parents feel able to assist their child in 11+ preparation without the need for external help, however, there are times where seeking expertise may be of benefit. If your child is displaying one of the following signs, it may be worth engaging an 11+ tutor:
If tuition is something that you feel might help, Aquinas offers personalised support with 11+ preparation. Many of our tutors remain available over the summer months and can offer pupils help in building confidence and exam skills before September.
You can read more about our tuition process here or book your free consultation call with a member of Aquinas’ office staff to discuss your child’s requirements via our enquiry form
Successful 11+ preparation is rarely about cramming. A calm, structured approach over summer often makes the biggest difference.