For students, exams are part and parcel of the school experience. They take class quizzes, end-of-term tests and Key Stage (KS) exams. By the time your child is old enough to sit the 11 plus exam, they've already undergone one Standard Assessment Test (SAT) and are preparing to sit their KS2s.
The KS2 is compulsory; it's scheduled to fall near the end of Year 6. Sitting the 11 plus exam is voluntary. Typically, students sit this exam shortly after starting Year 6.
Two major exams in one year is a lot to manage, even in an environment where exams are commonplace. It's not just a major load on your child's shoulders. You too have a lot to handle at this critical time.
The stage is set for panic and stress but you don't have to let them take the spotlight. Not if you know the steps to take to ensure effective revision and manage your - and your child's stress. This guide lays out your path to:
- preparing for the 11 plus
- finding revision materials and past papers
- finding the kind of help you need.
Getting informed is your first milestone. Investigate your preferred schools and learn what their admissions criteria are. Note that these rules change every year. Even if you already looked into them, you'll need to know the terms for the 11 plus exam 2024.
You also need to know which company will furnish your chosen school's exam materials and which components they will test on. All of them will test your child's English and Maths abilities. Some schools test verbal reasoning and non-verbal skills; others only require one or the other exam.
These are just a few preliminary tips but they should be your top priority when you decide your child will sit this exam. You and your learner have a lot more details to work out. This article shows you how to manage them all.
Preparing for the 11 Plus Exam
As you join other parents and their children for your chosen school's Open Day, make sure you have your list of questions ready. You'll have the chance to ask teachers and administrators questions pertaining to your particular situation and interests. (Photo by Michaela Murphy on Unsplash)
In particular, you'll want to know their admissions process and criteria. Some grammar schools accept students on merit, based on their 11+ scores and how they do in their interviews. Others give preference based on religion or whether applicants live in their 'district'.
Feeder schools and sibling preference policies could also see your child shut out. So you might visit several grammar schools that meet your specifications. You'll then winnow your list down to the one where your child has the greatest chance of acceptance.
Next, you'll want to know where your child will take this test. Typically, they will test in their regular classroom if they currently attend a local authority primary school. However, if they attend a private school or any other type of learning facility, they will test in a central location. They may even sit their exams at your local grammar school.
Note that your child will sit the 11 plus exam nearly a full school year before they sit KS2s. Everything they learn during Year 6 will help them score well on those exams. However, that knowledge comes too late to help them with 11+ English and Maths. Therefore, you must count on practice papers and other revision materials to help your child prepare.
Steven Covey, an American motivational speaker, said "Begin with the end in mind". When you have these questions answered and points addressed, you've done exactly that. Now, you're ready to begin active preparations for the 11 plus exam 2024.
Where to Find Past Papers for the 11+ Exam 2024
Understand that the 11 plus exam is not mandatory. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) does not regulate or oversee its administration. None of the Ofqual-affiliated exam boards has any revision resources to offer. Neither does BBC Bitesize. (Photo by Magnus Andersson on Unsplash)
Indeed, the term 'past papers' is a bit misleading. Exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas publish their exam papers after every testing cycle. The companies that furnish 11 plus exam materials aren't so accommodating. However, they do make practice papers and other revision materials available on their websites.
During your school's welcoming gathering, those administrators should tell you which firm will administer their exams. Coordination Group Publishers (CGP) and Granada Learning - GL Assessment are the two biggest names. A third group, Cambridge's Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM), has less of a reach.
Should you somehow miss that crucial information nugget, you must ask someone. Of the 163 grammar schools that accept pupils through the 11+ system, we've not found a single one whose website lists their exam paper provider.
However, we found many schools that offer practice papers for download from their 11+ information page. To ensure your child has the greatest chance of success, you must avail yourself of these materials. That way, they can know their exam papers' format and know roughly what is expected of them come test day.
These exams are school-specific. Highgate and Latymer are two of the most fabled grammar schools in the London metropolitan area. One quick look at the practice papers for download on their websites proves that this exam is anything but standard.
As you scour the internet looking for revision materials and practice papers, you'll find many commercial sites offering such resources. Some want you to create an account before downloading anything and others insist you subscribe before accessing anything of value.
You might save yourself all the trouble of sorting through them all by going straight to the source. As long as you know which company will provide your chosen school's exam papers, you should direct yourself to their website. There, you can find all the 'past papers' and revision materials you need. Now, you only need someone to help you with exam preparation.
How to Find an 11 Plus Exam Tutor
We'll start by saying you don't need to find an 11 plus exam tutor. Plenty of parents experienced this ordeal when they were students. They know all about the stress and pressure of preparing for this exam and the interview. (Photo by Getty via Unsplash)
However, to keep things on an even keel at home, it might be better to have outside help. You can then be your child's emotional support person and help them manage their stress. Their tutor will help them square themselves for the challenge they face.
This solution does wonders for your stress levels, too. Especially if you find the right tutor for your needs. You have four tutoring situations to consider when thinking over your options.
You might turn to your nearby tutoring agency. There, you will likely find experienced 11 plus exam tutors who've undergone their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Such an agency might offer group lessons in 11+ prep; you may also request private tutoring.
This option can be expensive and inconvenient. The tutoring centre must charge higher fees to cover their operating costs. You'll also have to cover commuting costs; everything from petrol to parking. And the time those visits take will cost you, too.
Many 11+ parents prefer at-home revision. It saves them the cost and aggravation of reporting to a tutoring centre two times per week. This strategy also helps the student. They too feel more comfortable revising in familiar surroundings.
Should you decide on this tutoring solution, you have three options to consider. You might invest in revision resources from the CGP or GL Assessment website and guide the revision yourself. Some parents feel that this 'hybrid' strategy gives them the most control over their child's efforts.
However, it has its drawbacks. You will have to build your own revision schedule and do double duty as both parent and tutor. As we mentioned before, that might cause friction and raise stress levels at home.
If your child has an independent streak, you might consider a guided learning plan. You would source your materials from a learning website, down to the revision schedule. These companies provide phone and email support. Your assigned revision partner goes over your child's work and makes recommendations for improvement.
However, you still do all the heavy lifting. You're the person in the room and you must email your learner's papers. Also, this is the most expensive option for 11 plus exam revision.
Structured courses are the same as guided courses but without the support. You buy a bundle of materials and it's up to you to devise a revision schedule and mentor your child through the assignments. This option isn't as expensive as guided learning or going to a tutoring centre. However, you don't get any help or support.
For most, a private 11 plus exam tutor is the only logical solution. A private tutor will come to your home and/or meet your child online. They will oversee the work and guide the learning.
Best of all, you only pay for the tutoring - and the materials you need. Often, such tutors have reams of worksheets to help your child prepare, which they provide at no extra cost.
Such a specialist typically bundles their pricing and/or offers discounts, making private tutoring one of the most cost-effective solutions for 11+ prep. Even finding an 11+ tutor is easy!
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