Each year the time for revision and exam preparation comes around for a large number of 10 and 11-year-olds in certain parts of England and Northern Ireland as the selective 11 plus exams approach, the test that determines the next stage in your child's life, but the question is when and how should your child start revising to achieve a high exam performance.
It is important to make sure that your child has enough time for practice papers and mock exams, as this will help them to become familiar with the format of the exam and also give them an idea of what to expect on the day.
It is also important to ensure that your child is familiar with the type of questions that will be asked in the 11 plus exam, as this will help them to understand what they need to do in order to answer them correctly.
Overall, you should ensure that your child always has enough time for rest and relaxation in between exam preparation, as this will help them to stay focused and motivated during their preparation for their entrance exams.
There have been some changes and confusion over the years in regards to 11+ exam dates, but here today I will do my best to clear things up for you.
When is the 11+?
The 11 plus exam is a very important milestone in your child's life, and it is essential that they are well prepared for the exams ahead and start revising at the right time.
The best time to start preparing for the 11 plus exam is at least six months or even a year before the actual test date. This will give your child enough time to become familiar with the format of the exam, as well as giving them plenty of time to revise and practise the topics and types of questions that will be covered in the exam papers.
Below are the different stages of the 11+ exam process:
- The first step in your 11+ journey is to register your child, this can be done starting from April or May 2023 but must be done before the deadline in June or July 2023.
- Most schools will have their exams held in the first two weeks of September 2023, although this can vary, so always double check with your local schools.
- Almost all of the 164 grammar schools will have posted the long awaited results by mid October 2023.
- The next step is school allocations, which on 1st March 2024 will be confirmed.
- The fifth and final step in the process is in September 2024 when year 7 intake takes place and your child starts at their new school.
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How Do you Prepare for the 11+?
So there you have it, each date you could possibly need, except one that is, what date should you start preparing? The answer to this is as soon as possible, the earlier you start the better.
It is recommended that your child should start their 11+ preparation at least 6 months before the exam date, so for those taking the 11+ in September 2023, starting revision in March 2023 would be most practical.
This will give your child plenty of time to get used to the format of the exam, the types of questions and the time pressure.
The 11+ exams usually consist of a Maths exam, an English exam, a non-verbal reasoning exam and a verbal reasoning exam, although in some cases schools may have two verbal reasoning exams instead of both non-verbal and verbal reasoning exams.
It is also important to remember that it is not just about revision, but also about building confidence and getting used to taking exams.
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Preparation timeline
Prepping for the 11 plus exam can be an overwhelming task for any student or parent. With so much at stake, it's important to plan ahead and start preparing as early as possible. Here are some helpful 11 plus preparation suggestions to keep in mind when getting your child ready for their exam!
January: Start Brainstorming Strategies
Starting brainstorming strategies in January will help you map out what activities you need to focus on throughout the year. This is also a great time to look into online learning platforms, study material and tutors that can support your child’s studies.
February: Decide Which Exam Board You Want To Take
Most schools ask students to choose an exam board by mid February. Therefore, choosing one early enough has its advantages; this ensures that the material you get can be tailored to the specific requirements of the chosen exams boards your candidate is working towards.
March to April: Begin Practising Mock Tests and Essays
Once your child has decided which board they will be taking, they should begin practising mock tests and essays. This gives you more time to prepare and determine where help may be needed as they progress through their studies.
May: Focus on Time-Management Skills
Timing is essential during the 11+ examination period, so now is a great opportunity for students to sharpen their time-management skills. This will come in handy on Test Day; being aware of how quickly questions need to be answered will help ensure no valuable points are lost due to rushing through questions or missing them altogether due to lack of preparation!
June to July: Increase Practice Frequently
This might seem like common sense, but many parents forget how important it is for their children to practise frequently! For optimal results, increase practice questions from two per week up to five times per week (each). Doing this will assist in helping them become familiar and comfortable with answering various types of questions.
August to September: Make Sure Everything Is Covered
At this stage, students should have covered all topics associated with the 11 plus examination - grammar, vocabulary tests, numerical reasoning tests etc - and made sure that nothing is left out! Before the big day arrives, double check with your tutor or teaching professional whether anything needs revising or not just so you’re prepared for test Day!
Top Tips
When the 11+ comes around, it can be a stressful time for both the parent and the child. But by following some key tips, you can ensure that they have the best chance of success. Here are our top eleven tips to help your child prepare for their eleven plus exam:
- Know When To Start The Preparation – Many parents don’t realise how early they should start preparing their child for the 11 plus exam. Ideally, preparation should begin at least one year before sitting the exam in order to give children time to consolidate any weaker areas of knowledge or get ahead if needed.
- Get The Right Materials – Choose carefully when it comes to selecting study materials for 11 plus prep. There is a wealth of information available, so make sure to pick materials that are specifically designed for 11 plus exams rather than general maths or language worksheets.
- Develop A Study Schedule – It’s important to establish a routine when it comes to prep and stick with it. Create a timetable that incorporates ‘subject’ days in which specific topics are covered, as well as regular breaks.
- Practice Makes Perfect – Don’t forget that practice makes perfect! Encourage your child to do plenty of practice papers and question types prior to taking the test, so they get used to the format and improve their speed at answering questions correctly.
- Involve Your Child In Goal Setting – Setting goals is an important part of any individual preparation process, so involve your child in setting goals around particular topics they would like to focus on as well as overall test objectives such as school/career aspirations etc.. Defining clear goals will help kids stay motivated throughout preparation and work towards something tangible which could boost self-esteem when achieved too!
- Address Time Management Skills – Another essential skill when taking any type of timed assessment is being able to effectively manage time, especially if there are multiple choice questions involved. Consider using strategic aids such as counting down from 30 seconds or utilising traffic light systems (Green Focus/Red Unfocus etc.). Helping your kids with these simple but effective tools could make all the difference between success or failure on test day!
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Our main points to take away from this topic today are that:
- 11 Plus exams are important milestones in students' lives, and they should begin preparing at least 6 months in advance.
- The preparation timeline should include brainstorming strategies, deciding on an exam board to take, and familiarise oneself with the format of the exam.
- It is not just about revising, but also about building confidence and getting used to taking exams.
So there you have it, all the dates you need for 11+ preparation and a little bit of advice too. All in all, the 11+ exam is a big milestone for any student and their parents. With the right preparation, your child will be able to tackle the exam with confidence and come out on top. Good luck!
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