General Information on the Eleven Plus Exams
The Eleven Plus Exams – A basic guide
The 11+ exams are selective tests. The majority of the schools in the UK are not selective i.e they are comprehensive as they accept children of all abilities, some subjected to a particular catchment area. They are used to determine if a child is suitable for grammar or independent schools and are usually sat within the first few months of the Year 6. More details about the 11 plus exams can be found in our FAQ section.
The Eleven Plus exams vary in their format but it depend upon the school or LA you are applying to. The majority of these exams will be made up of Maths, English, Verbal and or Non Verbal Reasoning questions.
The 11 Plus tests are not all written by the same organisation. For example, GL Assessment used to provide tests for Tiffin School and Tiffin Girls school (they don’t any more, but are still the main test providers for the majority of the Local Authorities). Tiffin and Tiffin Girls’ School now have their own Eleven Plus admission criteria and tests. University of Durham provide the CEM tests for the Slough consortium exams. ISEB write the exams for most Independent schools like Hampton Boys while Notting Hill and Ealing High School use The North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium to set their papers.
Why attend our revision course this summer?
A plan of action in the preparation stages will depend upon how much time you have before the exams. For many children, the 11 plus exams are the first formal tests they take, making this a daunting and stressful experience. If you and your child are serious about preparing for a particular school, then there is still plenty you can do to help them.
i) Assess your child. Eleven Plus Centre offer a FREE non-obligatory benchmark test for pupils in Year 4 and 5 to assess their current levels and how much work is required to prepare them.
ii) Purchase resources such as learning materials, practice books, assessment tests and mock exam papers (which ideally should be used at the end). Cut back on any extra curricular activities; these exams are highly competitive but have the capacity to give your child a good quality education.
iii) Make a plan – and stick to it. Decide what material needs to be covered for the exams, find the materials and practice, practice and practice under test conditions.
The exam
i) Make sure your child gets a good night sleep and is as relaxed as possible the night before. Talk them through the arrangements of the day. It may be worth visiting the local area some days before so you and your child are familiar with the surroundings.
ii ) Find out where the test is and how you are going to get there. Is parking an issue? Are trains running on time? What time will the test start?
iii) Ensure your child has a light breakfast, even if they are not hungry.
iv) Make sure your child is organised and ready, has their stationary with them (if required) and a watch.
v) Ensure they stay calm. Other people will be nervous; don’t let their nerves worry you or your child. If you stay calm and express a degree of confidence, you’ll be setting a better example to your child of how to deal with pressure. This is crucial.
vi) Remind your child to read the instructions on the exam paper carefully. They should also use up all the time – even if they finish early, it is wise to go back and check their answers.
After the Eleven Plus exam
Now it’s time to relax and enjoy. You and your child have worked really hard and you deserve a break . Don’t worry about the results – it can take up to 4 months to hear from your LA and nothing can be done about it now. Reward your child for their hard work and effort so they feel a sense of achievement, even if the results are not what you expected.
It’s worth mentioning that these exams should be kept by you in perspective. Children who don’t pass the 11 + exams still go on to enjoy success in comprehensive schools. Its vital that whatever happens, the confidence of your child should not be affected. Each child is different and should not be compared to other children or siblings who have already gone through the Eleven Plus process.
