Top 11 tips for succeeding in the 11 Plus Exams

I’m still on this topic, perhaps because I’m going through this right now (read my previous post Are you an 11+ mum? ), but for UK based mums, with children getting ready to transition from primary into secondary schools, and living in areas where good options for secondary school are limited, this is a hot topic. Whether you see it spelt out as 11 Plus or 11+, preparation for this is quite a challenge, so if you’re thinking of heading down this lane, let’s sort you out with some 11 plus tips to help you along the way.

Demystifying the myths

Last Saturday we had our 11+: Demystifying the myths and more event, and it was great. Thank you to all who came, and for the very valuable interactions and information shared both from mums who have already successfully gone through the process, and those yet to do so but either considering or preparing for it. We might not have demystified all the myths (because there are a lot of them), but we talked openly, we talked practically and we got great insights. So much so that we all learnt something new from each other, and even ran out of time. One of the mums exclaimed, “This was great but I’ve still got so many questions! You have to do a part 2 of this event.” Well, we’ll see if there is a demand for it.

Tippy tips

Did you see what I did there with the title of this post? Top 11 for 11 Plus? Well, I thought that was funny.

I did come across another good tips list at 11plusguide.com Check it out, it’s a good list. I think my list is awesome too as it comes at this from an angle that’s helpful for both child and parent, because believe me, the involvement in this exam will be as much your child, as you. I don’t think you can have too many really good tips anyway, so please apply both to your specific situation and go get your success story. Without further ado, let’s count down.

1. Keep your goal in sight

It is important that you establish early on what your goal is in undertaking the 11+ exams. For some it will be to give your child a wider range of opportunities for a better future beyond the generally known, more standard provision of state school. See this article in The Sun for a quick explanation of the different options What’s the difference – school options? For others it will be to help your child develop better discipline not just for academics but for preparation into a highly competitive world. I don’t know how many of you were raised in your earlier days back home in Africa, but if you did you will know that there’s a difference in teaching. Right from the start we were taught about competition in class, on the sports field, everywhere. That same culture isn’t necessarily present in the UK which is a bit of a downside to preparing our children to live and survive in the real world.

Once you’ve established your goal for getting involved in this, it will help guide you for other decisions you will make in this venture.

2. Know your child

Not every child is cut out for the 11+. This might be hard to hear but it is true, and the sooner you reconcile with this truth the better for you and your child. There is no point in pushing and pressuring a child to prepare for these exams if they don’t have the academic capability to do so. The 11+ exam is sat at the start of Year 6, and will pretty much cover concepts and topics that children will be taught in Year 7. so essentially this is the equivalent of being tested at 2 levels above where they are in normal state school by the time they sit the exam. It’s hard! If your child genuinely struggles or finds it difficult to keep up with majority of the class, or the way they absorb and assimilate information is different in a way that would cause preparation for this to essentially break your child’s spirit, then maybe you should leave it alone. That said, if your child is academically capable and just needs the right motivation and coach to help draw that out, then understanding this, and developing study techniques and styles, plus study schedules to help get the right balance, will help him/her get a better shot at succeeding.

Another important thing to note here is that you need to know what your children’s strengths and passions lie. If your child is gifted creatively, then working hard to get them into a grammar school that specialises in science subjects just because it is considered the best, might not suit your child or provide him/her the right opportunity for them. Remember, you want your child whatever the school, whatever the process to thrive, blossom and succeed.

3. Know yourself

“To thine own self be true” – William Shakespeare. I love Shakespeare and totally agree with him on this, you have to know yourself. You might find it useful to ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What are your patience limits? This will stress you out in terms of time spent preparing, anger if your child is struggling and not getting it quickly enough, and how challenging it can be to find out useful, relevant and timely information.
• What is your pocket limit? If you go with tutoring it will cost you money, (thousands not just hundreds). This is an investment.
• What is your motivation? You need to do a self-check on if you are doing this primarily to live vicariously through your child, or because everyone else is doing it so you want to keep up with the Joneses, or genuinely for your child’s benefit.
• Are you prepared for the hard graft? If you think that by paying a tutor you are off the hook in terms of the preparation think again. You will have to check in with your child to make sure they are coping with the prep and not drowning. You will also have to mark their practice work at home, which will mean you “going back to school” on some topics. I bet you thought you were done with algebra, and knowing the difference between an adjective and a pronoun. Ha ha, think again.
• This also leads on to the question of do you realistically have and can you create the time to work with your child on this? Tough questions which link back to what’s your goal and what’s your motivation, so check in with yourself early.

4. Start early

Many parents make the mistake of getting on board about these exams and only start making preparations for it in Year 5. Truth is, by that time, it might already be too late. This is not to say that your child can’t pass with good and dedicated coaching from Year 5, but the pressure might be too much and negate the whole experience. If you are serious about this, a good time to start is Year 3. This doesn’t have to be intense or even too costly, and you can build up gradually. There are many reasonably priced books you can purchase online (e.g. Bond, CGP) and work through with your child a couple hours a week with or without a tutor. By starting early you’re getting them working on strengthening and practicing their core Maths and English skills which will form the foundation to help them pass. Sure they can cram these things in the latter stages, but the danger there is the intense pressure, and in a worst case scenario your child scraping in a pass by the skin of their teeth, only to flounder in the first year of grammar school because they’re not strong enough on the basics to be able to keep up.

5. Do your research

It is so important to do your research. Research school league tables (and there are a few of these) and check how they compare with each other for metrics and statistics that are relevant and suitable for your child. Research into the school options available in the proximity of where you live and how far you are willing and able to travel to for your child to attend secondary school. Find out things like costs for uniforms for the different schools, and transportation if you live some distance away, as these can both be quite significant. Also find out about the guide pass marks for each school you’re looking at as these vary depending on if you live in the same LGA (local government authority) as the school, and other factors too.

If you are looking at Independent (private) schools find out the costs of tuition, if they have bursary and/or scholarship schemes to help with costs. Check for Open Days for schools you are interested in and would consider your child going to, and attend these Open Days (where possible with your child). The information on a school website will only tell you so much, and you can gather more from physically being in that environment, observing and asking questions whilst there.

Browse the internet, there’s a wealth of useful information out there if you’re willing to take the time to search for it. Sites like http://www.11plusguide.com and https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/ are ones I found useful. If you find others please feel free to share with us.

Also make sure that as part of your research you get and stay up to date on deadlines for school applications and assessments for the different schools. You need to be organised for these things mums.

Research, research, research.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask around

Information is key, so don’t be afraid to ask around. That’s why holding our event last week Africanfinestmums event – 11+: Demystifying the myths and more was so important in getting the ball rolling in my community where we as mums support each other through sharing information. Mums I am putting out a challenge and saying we need to do this more. Some of what you know is because some else shared useful information with you, and even if they didn’t, don’t you want to help other mums so they don’t go through the same difficulty as you did?

Don’t wait or assume that your child’s primary school will share information about 11+ with you because they won’t. That’s not their priority or the scope they are operating under. Find mums who have been through the experience and see if they are willing to share some of their insight, experience and tips with you. A good tip here or there, can make a big difference to how you approach this, how you react to things not quite going your way and how you respond to help get things back on track along the way.

7. Find a good tutor

Even if you’re a stay at home mum who feels you have more time to dedicate to coaching your child, chances are at some point you will need the help of a good tutor. Please note that just because a tutor is expensive does not necessarily mean that they are good. I think some tutors overcharge and don’t deliver. I called this a venture earlier, because it is like an investment, and you want to get a good return on your investment.

When looking for a tutor I would suggest that you should look for a tutor who knows and understands the school and 11+ system well. You need a tutor who is willing to be straightforward with you on how your child is progressing and coping, and is not just telling you what they think you need to know so you’ll keep coming to them. You need a tutor who is firm but fair, and genuinely enjoys working to bring the best out of your child, in a way that helps and builds their confidence not terrorises them. A good tutor should know which subject and even topics your child is stronger with, and which he/she struggles with, and be able to tailor their coaching to help your child focus on and strengthen those weaker areas.

Ask around for recommendations, search the internet, and test the waters – if it’s not quite working with one tutor, then be prepared to change. It is also important that you work with the tutor. If your tutor is giving your child homework and you’re not looking in to make sure it’s done or help your child with it, then you might be paying money for nothing. A good tutor is good to have and if you’ve found one that’s great, but they cannot perform miracles.

8. Be consistent

I cannot underestimate the importance of being consistent with your preparation activities and plans. This exam is hard but not impossible. The more the practice and coaching to correct the mistakes quickly and embed the right knowledge, the better the chances of doing well. Develop good study practices for your child and be consistent in apply these. Test things out and see – it might work better to do half an hour or an hour of study early in the morning before school, or after school. Whichever one works you can then set this up as part of your child’s schedule, and make sure it’s kept to on a consistent basis. Try not to deviate from it except in unique circumstances. I think this is particularly important where your child is a bit lazy or laid back when it comes to studying. I found this with my son where we literally were having arguments each time I would declare it was study time, because he just couldn’t be bothered. We have now instituted it as part of our routine and I’ve stuck to the script despite the pleas and initial grumpy response. He’s finally caught on that it’s in his interest to stick to the script with me, and is generally doing so. His preparations are improving as a result, and I daresay he’s actually enjoying his tutoring lessons more. It’s taken us about 6 months to get to this point, so be prepared to dig your heels in.

9. Be prepared to sacrifice

Make no mistake, this is a sacrifice, and in some cases for all the family. This sacrifice could be in the money you invest in tutoring (money you could have spent on other useful projects or a family holiday), or the extra time and effort you have to put in as a parent to be on top of things, and help your child prepare and motivated through the process. Remember to keep your goal in sight, and if your child is successful think of the additional opportunities you would have opened up and exposed your child to.

10. Positive encouragement rather than “do or die”

At some point through the preparations you will likely get frustrated with yourself and your child as you think of what you’re all sacrificing. It is important especially at that point and throughout that you continue to encourage and motivate your child in a positive way. Your child does not need to be told that they are useless, stupid, or any such demoralising words that will break their spirit. Always encourage him/her to give and be their best, and reassure him/her that as long as they do their best, whatever the outcome you are proud of them. Some parents make the mistake of piling on the pressure unfairly as it could be that the child is just not capable at that point in time (might be a late bloomer), the studying styles or environment is not suited to the child, or maybe the fault is with the parent who is not committing the right reassurance and motivation the child needs. Life is full of competition and not everyone wins at each competition. Bear in mind that you will want your child to come away from this competition positively so that they have learnt valuable lessons that will help them be willing and better prepared to fight better next time, not afraid to even try again.

11. There is life outside and beyond 11+

Yay, we’re at number 11.

Even if it doesn’t go according to plan, but you’ve done your best, and your child has done their best, all is not lost. Really, there is more to life than 11+.

Did you know that there are options like sitting for and applying for a place in a private school? As mentioned briefly in point 5, there are private schools which offer bursary or scholarship schemes which may make this option more accessible to you. As part of your research check what their requirements and deadlines are, and if your child has gone through the 11+ exam, the preparation and knowledge gained will prove useful for private school assessments.

Also, did you know that there is such a thing as 13+ exams, for entry into Year 9. Yes, there is. So even though 11+ is usually a one chance opportunity, there are other opportunities further down the road, at which point your child may be more mature, hungry for, and able to undertake such assessments and succeed.

In conclusion

As a given for me (you could view this as tip 12 if you like long lists), and if you believe in God, pray and seek God’s wisdom. Man proposes, God disposes so apply wisdom with the tips we’ve shared plus those gleaned elsewhere, then commit it to God’s hand. Every child has brilliance and unique gifts in them, and the secondary school they go through whilst important, cannot destroy these.

This has been a long post and well done if you’ve read it right to the end. I hope you’ve found useful and encouraging information to help you with your consideration of undertaking the journey, or in your journey if you’re going through it right now. If you’ve found this useful please like and leave a comment. Also don’t forget to share with other mums you think might benefit from this. Let’s keep spreading the love and the information.