The Eleven Plus

The article below contains background information on the eleven plus examination, if you are seeking advice on how to study for the eleven plus, how to find a suitable tutor or what to expect in the examination please refer to the final two paragraphs.

The eleven plus examination is taken by academically gifted pupils in their last year of primary school. The majority of students sitting the examination will be ten years old when they take the test. The name eleven plus referes to the students age on entry to the school for which they are sitting the test, not their age at the time of the examination.

The eleven plus was first introduced in 1944 by the Butler Education Act, and was used throughout the UK until 1976. Children who successfully passed the test were allocated a place at Grammar School, whilst those who were unsuccessful would either attend a Secondary Modern School or the less common Technical Schools that were established under the same Act.

In 1976 the Labour government gave Local Education Authorities the option of abolishing the two-tier system and establishing a single-tier system of comprehensive schools, for ideological reasons. Some authorities seized the chance to discontinue Grammar Schools, whilst others chose to retain the two-tier system in its entirity, Kent being the obvious example. In many areas, due to public opinion, several Grammar Schools were retained, and in others some schools retained the right to select part of their intake. Similarly, several authorities retained a grammar component within their now non-selective schools. Interestingly, these last two solutions undermined the principle on which grammar schools were originally formed and in fact created a more elitist system than had previously prevailed, the opposite of Labour`s intentions.

Following an electoral landslide in 1997, Labour introduced The School Standards and Framework Act which prohibited any increase in the number of places awarded by academic selection throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Act also created the right for parents to request a ballot to end academic selection in local schools. To date, the only ballot held, for Ripon Grammar School, resulted in a 2:1 decision to retain selective education. The very fact that only one ballot has ever been held, coupled with the clear result of that ballot, shows that prevailing public opinion favours a selective education system. It is likely that had a referendum been held before the introduction of the The Schools Standards and Framework Act it would have resulted in a defeat for the Labour Government.

There are currently 164 grammar schools remaining in England. The eleven plus examination was officially discontinued in Northern Ireland in 2008, although many of the old grammar schools continue to use entrance examinations to select students based on academic ability - a move that has created considerable political controversy.

The pass rate in areas that retain only a small number of grammar schools varies greatly and fluctuates annually. This fluctuation is due the the varying number of applicants for any given year. Invariably, there are more candidates than places and in some areas grammar schools receive thousands of applicants for less than two hundred places - the four grammar schools in Kingston and Sutton are a key example of such over-subscri ption, with pass rates consistently under 5 percent. In areas where the full grammar system has been retained the pass rate is considerably higher - in Buckinghamshire around thirty five percent of those taking the eleven plus receive a place at grammar school each year.

The content of the eleven plus examination is left to the discretion of the Local Education Authority in question and varies considerably around the UK. Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning and Nonverbal Reasoning are the most favoured subjects. In Kent, students sit a paper in each of the four subjects whilst in Buckinghamshire, students sit only two Verbal Reasoning papers.

For areas that no longer hold the eleven plus examination, and in the private sector, selective schools administer their own examinations and theses can include subjects such as science, religion or languages, depending on the school`s preferences. The vast majority of such schools provide detailed information on what candidates can expect to see on examination day. Both Verbal and Nonverbal Reasoning papers remain the most common, with Nonverbal reasoning becoming increasingly less common. Both reasoning papers test a students innate intelligence, that is to say their potential for further study, rather than their current knowledge. This being said, students can greatly increase their chances of success in reasoning through preparation, as they can in Mathematics and English. An extensive vocabulary is also a significant advantage in eleven plus and entrance examination preparation and can be gained by reading widely and using a thesaurus when completing creative writing tasks.

Studying for the eleven plus can be a stressful time for both students and parents and it is important to remember that it is extremely difficult to perform under pressure, even for the most able students. Consequently, early preparation is key. It is recommended that preparation begins around a year before the date of examination and students spend at least three hours per week studying the syllabus for their particular examination and working through past papers. Many families choose to have a tutor for one hour a week and complete set homework, or work on their vocabulary, for the remaining two. A good eleven plus or entrance examination tutor will provide a detailed learning plan to parents, along with materials, and should possess a wealth of knowledge on entrance procedures and requirements for selective schools in their area. Many tutors will also arrange mock examinations for their students, ideally in an examination style environment with their other students - both nervous and confident candidates can greatly benefit from such a realistic experience. Similarly, many tutors will provide personal tutorials to discuss all aspects of progress with parents and students, offer coaching in examination technique and reevaluate future study plans.

I hope the above insight was informative, please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have - happy studying!