How can a child prepare for entrance exams?
The 11+ can be very daunting as it will be the first 'proper' exam that a child has ever taken. Giving your child a well-rounded education is key to their success as the 11+ tests their all-round ability.
All tests rely on the assumption that candidates will have covered all of the material in school beforehand. So theoretically, children shouldn't require much preparation. The English and Mathematics questions are based on the Key Stage 2 National Curriculums therefore children should have covered these topics well before the exam date.
However, most entrance exams include testing on Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, subjects not generally covered in state primary schools. In principle, these subjects are age indiscriminate as they are based on logic and problem-solving. That said, most children would benefit from some familiarisation with both of these subjects prior to the exam and there are easy ways to develop their VR and NVR skills. Pupils are advised to expand their vocabulary by reading books beyond those that they find 'easy' and, encouraging discussion and debate about their interests and the world around them can be helpful. Ensure your child understands synonyms and antonyms and can give multiple examples of each. During the last year prior to the exam, your child should look at the types of questions that might be asked and try and apply what they know to them. There are plenty of resources available to assist children with VR and NVR preparation, including BOFA11+.
Time management skills are important for a child to learn within their education. Children at this age won't be used to formal exam conditions and won't have experienced the pressure to finish a test in a limited amount of time. To help them get used to this, have them do practice papers in timed conditions.
Some schools will supply children with familiarisation booklets. These contain either questions from previous years with answers and explanations, or practice questions for them to try independently. Generally, Grammar schools suggest children use these booklets about 2 weeks before the exam to ensure they feel prepared.
It is important to ensure children do not become burnt out in their preparation for an entrance exam. If a child does too much work in preparation for an exam, they will become tired and lack motivation. It is therefore essential to get the balance right between preparing and relaxing. This is much the same as a marathon runner; they need to be at their best on the day of their performance.
Some parents choose to send their children to prep schools, who focus mainly on preparing children for entrance exams and Pre-Tests. Other options a parent may consider for their child are private tutors, a tutoring centre or tutoring them at home. We would always recommend parents consult their child's school before making any financial commitments.
How can BOFA help?
BOFA 11+ is the leading online formative learning platform, specialising in guiding children to entrance examination success. Our unique test, teach, retest approach works out a child's weak areas, then through explanations and practice questions, improves them. Our online tests keep preparation concise and effective, with parents often noting how keen children are to engage with our platform. Learn more about how BOFA works here.
To see what we do try a free BOFA demo test by clicking on the subject button below:
