Knowing how to pass the 11+ can be really challenging, especially because most schools aren’t allowed to teach it. As a private tutor myself, here is my take on the best tips and tricks to help prepare for the 11+.
You are going to learn about 11+ Verbal Reasoning, 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning, 11+ English and 11+ Maths, as well as all the best ways to revise for the 11+.
This article is all about how to pass the 11+.
How to Pass the 11+
1. Know Your Topics
This one is most important for English and Maths. There’s a lot of info you must know, but a lot of people assume everything is covered in class. First off, that’s not always true, and second, it’s very easy to forget. Knowing that, here are a few key topics that are commonly forgotten. Make sure to focus on these ones in particular.
English
- Colons and semicolons – this is by far the biggest one, and one that most adults will not correctly answer!
- Make sure you know your types of nouns and can identify common, collective, proper and abstract nouns
- Learn how to identify the active and passive, as well as subjects and objects
- Practise your comprehension technique. It’s commonly advised to read the whole passage first and then read the first question, but I’d recommend the opposite. Start with the question, then search for the answer – takes much less time!
Maths
- The most important Maths concept is BODMAS – Brackets, Other (not important at this stage!), Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. Make sure you answer every question in this order!
- Know your times tables! Also, make sure to learn your square and cube numbers
- Algebra is tricky, but luckily there aren’t usually many questions about it in the 11+. The key thing to remember is that if a letter and number are next to each other, you multiply them
- Nth term, which is a very advanced piece of Maths for ten-year-olds (believe me, some of my GCSE students have struggled with it), but it’s one that you’re expected to learn
2. Know Your Question Types
This one is most important for Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, which you might be surprised to hear are not covered in state schools. That means you really have to practise them at home, as together they form 50% of the 11+. The questions can also be quite confusing, so make sure you know what they are asking you! Here are a few places to start.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning, also known as VR, can be split into three main categories: vocab, alphabet and codes. Here’s a little more detail on where exactly to direct your attention.
- Know your alphabet back to front. Remember that there are 26 letters in the alphabet, and the middle letter is M. Practise writing it out perfectly!
- Don’t be afraid to write all over your exam paper, especially for the sections on codes
- Vocab is, however, probably the biggest part of the VR section of the 11+. The key here is practice, and making sure you know synonyms and antonyms as well as simple definitions
Non-Verbal Reasoning
To be honest, I think this one is pretty much impossible to revise! Non-Verbal Reasoning, or NVR, is the art of trying to spot patterns. The only way to improve is lots of practice, but you can begin with this list when you come up against a tricky question.
- Count the number of sides – both straight and curved, which might be included or counted separately
- Count the number of shapes – again, shapes of a different type might be included together or counted separately
- Look at the colours of the different shapes. Is there a pattern?
- Study the order of the shapes. Which shape or colour comes first, or which is layered on top of the others?
3. Test Yourself
The summer before your 11+ should be spent testing yourself for at least seventeen hours a day.
I’m joking, of course, but the testing part is serious! The more tests you do, the more you eliminate the possibility of making silly mistakes and losing lots of marks in vain. There are numerous tests available, from workbooks to online. However, you can also test yourself on vocab pages or mini Maths tests – give yourself five minutes to finish a page, for example.
In the last two weeks before your 11+, start limiting your time even more. Give yourself 10% less than you are supposed to; for example, if you are given 50 minutes for a test, complete it in 45 minutes instead. Make sure you spend any extra time checking your work.
4. Practise, Practise, Practise!
However, timing yourself won’t be enough by itself! My final top tip is to practise distracted, like you will be in the exam. Here are a few ways you could do this:
- Turn on the radio or the TV and force yourself to complete a test whilst listening in
- Complete a test during dinner, whilst eating and with your family chattering around you
- Find two friends to sit down with and do a test at the same time
- Do a test at the park during peak playtime
The more distractions the better!
Well, there we have it! A comprehensive guide to everything you have to know if you want your child to pass the 11 plus. Best of luck!
This article was all about how to pass the 11+.
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