Increasing The Chances Of Success In The 11+

Each year thousands of children sit the September 11+ exams across the country. Many have the natural aptitude and ability to achieve very well but it s still a fraction of them who end up being eligible for a place. The places are limited but, is it really the brightest who get into grammar?

There are around 261 primary schools in all Gloucestershire. The number of available places in grammars this year was around 1,020. You would expect that each school will have a least one or two pupils attending grammar. However, it is common that the students who have been outstanding from year one up to year five and who sit the exam do not actually get a place. What is the reason?

I believe all kids with a natural talent in the core subjects have a legitimate chance to get a place. A 2018 study from academics of the University College London s Institute of Education (IoE) concluded that 70 percent of children in England who were tutored secured a place in a grammar school, compared with 14 percent of those who had no additional instruction.

If you want to increase your son s or daughter s chances to get a place in a grammar school, tuition should be at the top of your priorities. The tutoring can be delivered by parents or tutors. Independently of which route you choose there are key aspects to keep in mind.

• Practice daily: Mastering the topics in the 11+ exam involves constant practice. There are a vast number of topics and all should be covered in depth.
• Use the right material: There are plenty of sources of materials for the 11+. The challenge is to put them together in an organized and thorough way. For example, in my 11+ tutoring, my worksheets include over 250 reading comprehension papers, 900 cloze exercises, 2500 words meanings, 100 clozes and much more.
  
• Test regularly: Exam pressure can lead to different things among students. Some students become nervous, anxious and frustrated. This ends up with silly mistakes and poor performance. For other students, exams allow them to concentrate more and perform better. Testing regularly is important to have consistent exam performance.
  
• Motivate your child: Children should embrace tutoring in a positive way. They should not feel forced or obligated to do it and they should have time to do other things like practicing sports or playing in the park. I ve seen how children s motivation grows after 3 or 4 months into their preparation. Their performance at school increases dramatically and its then when they realize that they in the right path for their 11+ exam.
  

Choosing to prepare for the 11+ is a big and important decision. The success of the kids relies heavily on the help and effort of their parents.