Our 11+ tuition
11 plus Hertfordshire
With the 11plus exams around the corner, many students will be increasing their preparation for the exam and using the summer weeks to ensure they are up to speed with the areas tested in the 11plus in September. The 11plus is naturally a big deal for parents and children and many will be feeling the pressure, not least because of the weeks of education missed due to the pandemic in the last academic year. However, with the right type of preparation and the right approach, the 11 plus process does not need to be a stressful experience.
What to expect in the 11 plus
The 11 plus content and process will vary depending on your location and the school(s) your child is applying for. In Hertfordshire, there are no fully selective grammar schools remaining, but there are several partially selective schools that base a certain percentage of their annual intake on the 11 plus. The main school students in the Hertfordshire area are targeting through the 11 plus process are the seven schools that form part of the South West Herts Consortium (Parmiter's, Queens, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes, Watford Grammar School for Girls, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Croxley Danes School), Dame Alice Owens, Chancellors School as well as the fully selective and highly rated grammar schools in Barnet; Henrietta Barnet and Queen Elizabeth School. There can be up to four different areas tested in the 11 plus; Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. And different schools will use different providers to administer these exams, such as CEM Durham or GL. It is vital that you know what your child will be tested on and the format of the exam so that your child is practicing the right type of papers. The content of these exams can vary considerably. Check carefully with the schools you are applying to for their entrance requirements and test details. As an example, The South West Herts Consortium will administer one 11 plus test for all of the schools in the consortium and the test will consist of two areas; Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. The consortium uses the GL Assessment provider. Brief familiarisation papers can be found online on the consortium website, as is the case with most 11 plus schools, and can also be bought online or in many book shops.
11 plus practice papers
Practicing papers is a key part of the 11 plus preparation process and practice papers can be used as a study resource where you and your child work through the papers together. The papers can also be used as mock papers. We would recommend that students work on their aptitude and knowledge in the key areas tested initially, ensuring they have a good foundation in these areas and that any gaps in their knowledge are addressed first. Once your child is confident with the content it is a good idea to start using practice papers as mock papers to help children familiarise themselves with the type of assessment as well as building speed in answering the questions. In this case, you can ask your children to complete these papers in test conditions, paying attention to how they attempt the paper in the time allocated.
Pacing the revision
In our experience, it is best to avoid revision fatigue and 'hothousing' students. We think that 'little and often’ tends to work best for students preparing for the 11 plus. That way your child can build up the skills and confidence needed to do well in the 11 plus slowly and steadily rather than feeling stressed and overloaded. Many of the families we work with have their own revision schedule and ways of working that work well for them and their family setup. Most parents find that their child's brain works best in the morning, so an hour or so after breakfast can be a good way of working. Others find that doing some practice in the afternoon or early evenings works best. Whatever way, we are big advocates of the little and often rule.
A fun and positive attitude
The main thing to keep in mind when preparing your child for the 11 plus is to make the process as fun and enjoyable as possible and removing any unnecessary pressures which can serve to halt your child's progress and dent their confidence. At The St Albans Tuition Centre, we incorporate lots of fun and creative ways of learning in our 11 plus course, whether that is building literacy skills through story cubes, a fun 11 plus quiz or brain teaser, or a friendly competition with peers using 11 plus flashcards. Find a way to help make the learning and revision process fun for your child. If your child enjoys games or the competitive element of exams, perhaps setting a goal of completing a practice paper in a set time frame or beating a previous score can work well. Offering a small reward for good effort (we would always recommend focusing on the efforts rather than the result when doing so) is something else that can work well.
Manage your child's levels of stress
The last thing you want is for your child to feel stressed and overwhelmed about revising and sitting the 11plus exams. Helping them revise key topics and coming up with practical ideas to help them revise can motivate them and keep them calm. Alongside, this, it is imperative that your child is eating a balanced diet, sleeping well, and remaining hydrated, as it allows them to remain focused and sharp during revision times and exams. Feeling nervous is normal, it’s a natural reaction to exams. The key is to put these nerves and anxieties to positive use. If your child is worried about running out of time for an exam or doesn’t enjoy a topic, encourage to sit practice exams under timed conditions, or find fun ways to revise the scary topics.
At the St Albans Tuition Centre, we can help with all your 11plus needs, so feel free to contact us on 01727260239, or info@stalbanstuitioncentre.co.uk
