7 Tips that Really Help Your Child Pass the 11 Plus Exam

Discover the 7 easy, effective and proven tips that can help your child confidently pass the 11 Plus exam.

7 Tips that Really Help Your Child Pass the 11 Plus Exam

Many grammar schools and independent schools take the 11 Plus exam to grant admission to students in Year 7. The 11 Plus preparation journey is no less than a challenge for both parents and students. Students face challenges such as difficulty grasping specific topics, time management and lack of support and guidance during 11 Plus preparation. 

This blog explores the 7 easy and effective tips to help your child pass the 11 Plus exam. 

7 Tips that Really Help Your Child Pass the 11 Plus Exam

Passing the 11 Plus exam for grammar school is not child’s play. The following are easy, effective, and proven techniques to help your child pass the 11 Plus exam. 

  1. Start Preparation Early

Can’t emphasise enough how helpful this tip is to pass the 11 Plus exam.

Advantages of Early Preparation:

  • Cover All Key Subjects: Starting 11 Plus preparation early makes it easier for your child to comprehensively cover all key subjects such as Maths, English, verbal and Nonverbal Reasoning. 

  • Less Exam Stress: Exam stress is primarily due to exam pressure and incomplete preparation. Starting early enables your child to prepare thoroughly and reduces exam anxiety. 

  • Improve Weak Areas: Another advantage of starting early is that it gives your child enough time to pinpoint their weak areas and work on them.

  1. Make an Effective Study Schedule 

Before starting the 11 Plus preparation, sit with your child, talk about their school schedule, and help them create an effective study schedule for 11 Plus exam preparation.

Benefits of Creating an Effective Study Schedule 

  • Stay on Track: A study schedule helps your child stay on track.

  • Monitor Progress: It also helps your child monitor and track progress, such as how much time they have given to this week's English preparation. 

  1. Hire Professional Support

The 11 Plus exam is highly competitive, and extra support and guidance are crucial to its success.

Pros of Hiring an 11 Plus Tutor:

  • Personalised Support: The 11 Plus tutor works closely with your child, provides personalised lessons, and tailors their teaching style to your child’s preference.

  • Immediate Feedback: Your child has to wait for days to learn their test results at school. The 11 Plus tutors provide immediate feedback to students, helping them improve their performance early on.

  • Expert Targeted Guidance: Another significant advantage of 11 Plus tutors is that they offer expert guidance and personalised 11 Plus tutoring to pass the 11 Plus exam to all 11 Plus students.

  1. Focus on Weak Areas

Your child cannot pass the 11 Plus exam without focusing and working on weak areas. You should assist your child in identifying weak points and developing strategies to overcome them. 

How to Identify Weak Areas

  • Take practice tests 

  • Talk to a tutor

  • Open communication with your child

  1. Take Practice Tests and Mock Exams

Here’s why practice tests are really helpful for success in the 11 Plus exam:

Advantages of Practice Tests and Mock Exams

  • Familiarise with Exam Format: Mock exams are very similar to the 11 Plus exam, and familiarise your child with the exam format.

  • Improve Time Management: The time for mock exams is the same as the actual exam, which improves your child’s time management skills. 

  1. Teach Exam Techniques

Covering the 11 Plus exam syllabus only won’t achieve your child's top 11 Plus scores. It is important to learn and master exam techniques to pass the 11 Plus exam and achieve high grades.

Top Exam Techniques:

  • Time management 

  • Stress management 

  • Problem solving 

  • Critical thinking

  1. Build Confidence 

Confidence is the first step to success. 

Tips to Build Confidence

  • Celebrate small wins

  • Praise your child’s efforts

  • Practice a lot

Conclusion

Starting preparation early, hiring professional support, taking practice tests, building confidence, focusing on weak areas, and developing exam techniques can help your child pass the 11 Plus exam.