Every parent dreams of providing the best possible education for their child and the 11plus exam is a significant milestone in a child’s academic journey. This exam, taken by students in their last year of primary school, determines their admission into selective secondary schools. As the competition gets tougher each year, understanding the 11plus syllabus is vital for both parents and students. I shall here unravel the mysteries of the 11plus syllabus by providing a comprehensive guide to help you to help your child to succeed.

Understanding the Basics

The 11plus exam primarily focuses on four key subjects: English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. In your planning focus on all four subjects and not just what you believe the school will give.

1. English: This section assesses a child’s comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills. Students are expected to read and understand complex texts, answer questions related to them, and demonstrate their understanding of vocabulary, using synonyms, antonyms, scrambled words, etc.

2. Mathematics: The math section evaluates a child’s understanding of various mathematical concepts, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and problem-solving. Speed and accuracy are crucial in this section.

3. Verbal Reasoning: This tests a child’s ability to understand and reason using words. It includes tasks like finding analogies, completing sentences, and identifying patterns within words.

4. Non-Verbal Reasoning: This section assesses problem-solving using visual puzzles and patterns, testing skills such as spatial awareness, logic, and sequence recognition.

Effective Preparation Strategies

Start Early: Begin preparations well in advance to allow your child enough time to grasp the concepts thoroughly. Ideally, the child should be starting 2 years before their actual 11plus exams and at The Learning Hub, we start our courses in the September of their year 4 but we do allow to join children throughout the year and with extra effort make them successful.

Identify Weaknesses: Assess your child’s strengths and weaknesses in each subject. Focus more on the challenging areas while reinforcing the strong ones. Ideally acquire professional help, its worth the money.

Regular Practice: Consistent practice is key, and this is done by them following a prescribe 11plus syllabus laid down professionally by a centre which has strong in-depth understanding and experience. The child needs to understand the topics and then exposed to various question types and formats. So that there are no shocks.

Time Management: This is essential to ensuring they can complete each section within the given time frame and have time to go back and check their work.

Regular Assessments and Exams: At The Learning Hub being an Examination centre for GCSEs and A levels, we regularly simulate exam conditions by conducting tests. This helps the child to familiarize with the exam environment, reducing anxiety.

Additional Tips for Success

Encourage Reading: Cultivate a daily reading habit in your child. Reading regularly enhances vocabulary, comprehension skills, and creative writing abilities.

Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude. Encourage your child and celebrate their successes.

Healthy Lifestyle: Ensure your child gets adequate sleep, exercises regularly, and maintains a balanced diet. A healthy body and mind enhance concentration and cognitive abilities.

Professional Support: We recommend enrolling your child in a reputable tuition centre which has an established track record and a proper 11plus program that is kept up to date. At The Learning Hub, we put many resources into ensuring all our materials are to-date and relevant and if required, flexible to enough to change them mid-year.

Whilst the 11plus exams may seem daunting, with the right approach and adequate preparation, it can be navigated through successfully. The best way, is finding a good tuition centre. which has a wealth of experience and understands what is required for your child’s success.

The Learning Hub, we have 20 years of experience and have successfully tutored over 2200 children for their 11plus exams. This is important as your child only has one chance!

Remember, each child is unique, so customize your strategies according to their strengths and weaknesses. With determination, perseverance, and the right resources, your child can crack the code to excel in the 11plus exam, opening doors to a brighter future.

The Learning Hub – 020 8908 0123