How Can You Help Your Child Prepare For The All Important Entrance Exam?

As a parent, you will know how bright your child is. This, obviously, is the starting point. You need to be thinking about taking the entrance exams when your child is in Year 4, and be ready to begin the preparation when he/she enters Year 5. There are lots of things you, as a parent, can do.

Buy the Bond Assessment Papers. You can get these online at www.assessmentpapers.co.uk, from Amazon, Waterstones or W.H. Smith. Make sure that you get the right level for your child, and don't start him/her on one that is too hard - you don't want to put them off! The tests are all age-graded, from ages 5 to 13, and children enjoy working their way through them, particularly the Verbal Reasoning ones, as these contain little crosswords and codes. If you read the information on the first page of the Bond books, it explains how the tests practise a wide variety of skills and question types, so that the children are always challenged to think. The answer sheets are in the middle of each book, and are designed to be removed, so that you can keep them separate from the questions. Bond will even send you a replacement copy if you lose yours! Get your child to work through about four papers in a week. They don't take long, and help children develop their skills.

Reading Many children nowadays do not read for pleasure. This is a problem but it must be addressed. Children who do not read struggle with comprehension and understanding texts. They also lack a good vocabulary and this can make an enormous difference. A good vocabulary is vital to writing interesting stories but also in understanding verbal reasoning questions, saving valuable time in the test. Try to encourage your child to read and learn new words. Make a game of learning one new word a day and give them their own little dictionary to look up unfamiliar words.

Grammar and punctuation This is another problem which I frequently encounter. Children do not remember parts of speech and punctuation, especially the use of the apostrophe. These skills are important as written English and presentation are sometimes overlooked in busy schools!

Maths Strong mental arithmetic skills are very important. Quick, reliable arithmetic can make all the difference in maths and reasoning tests. All entrance exams are timed and children need to be able to answer questions quickly and accurately. Mental arithmetic sharpens these skills and helps the brain develop. Make little games out of the weekly shop, encourage them to add up the bill and work out the change, etc.

The other side of the coin Not all children will pass as it is highly competitive to get a grammar school place. This does not mean anyone has "failed" or money has been wasted. If you are also looking at private schools this preparation will be invaluable and if not the extra study will give your child a significant head start at secondary school. Afterall, improving knowledge and skills is the goal improving your child`s education is never a waste. Not all children are suited to the grammar school environment, a child that "scrapes through" the exam, will not benefit from the education if they are constantly at or near the bottom of the class. Children need to be happy to be able to learn and to be always lagging behind the other members of the class is a very dispiriting experience. They will become disillusioned and demotivated and Children can also suffer from over-tutoring. The concern is that children can miss out on having fun, playing sport, socialising with their friends and so on. These things are important as a young child develops. If tutoring time goes above a couple of hours a week, then it is getting too much. I have had children arrive for their lesson who are too tired to put in the effort that is needed to pass these exams or who do not even have the right personality or skills to sit the exam with or without extra help.

The benefits of a tutor Tutors have knowledge of what the schools are looking for. They are able to assess the children and give parents an idea of whether the child will be successful in the exam or not. A lot of children can do maths, but when the problem is presented in a slightly different way, as a problem, for example then tutors can help the child to solve it. Tutors can also show children how to manage their time in the exam. It can take a few months to get the child to the point where they do not spend too much time on one question - tutors can help the child to fine- tune their exam technique. Over the months before the exam tutors build up a strong personal relationship with children and can encourage and support them through the process of working towards the exams. Of paramount importance is that a good tutor will help a child to understand that learning can be fun and that knowing and understanding different subjects is an asset that will benefit them throughout their lives. A good tutor's aim is to enthuse their pupil, to encourage them to want to learn and to make that learning fun. The result is a child that can pass the exams but who has also learned how to learn and how to manage their time effectively.

Finally PLEASE have a fall back plan! I have seen families devastated because their child only sat for one school and did not pass. Children only get one chance at this and it is important to put your eggs in as many baskets as possible! If you have any doubts, queries or concerns, get advice, discuss the options with someone in the know who can recommend the right steps for you. Above all, good luck!