How to ace the 11 plus in Maths
The 11+ is a selective entrance exam taken by Year 6 students seeking a secondary school place at an Independent or Grammar school in the UK. Maths is a vital part of the assessment and here are some helpful tips on how your child can ace the exam.
Master the basics
Your child will need a rock solid foundation in the basics such as the times tables, the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and fractions. It takes time to build the necessary skills and knowledge so start early. There is plenty you can do at home to support your child such as helping them to learn the times tables and learning to read the time. Try to keep it fun and engaging so your child is keen to learn!
Get ahead
The majority of 11+ exams are based on the UK national curriculum for key stage 2 (number, algebra, measurement, geometry and statistics) with the exception of some schools that test beyond this. Find out which topics will be tested and if the school is following an examination board such as GL or CEM. Tests are usually taken at the start of Year 6 so your child will need to be at least one year ahead of the national curriculum. To ensure your child has mastered all topics with time for exam practice, you will need to plan for additional study at home supported by a parent or tutor. Studying Maths can be very rewarding if your child is able to learn at their own pace and develop a deep conceptual understanding so do allow enough time for this.
Speed and accuracy
Practice, practice, practice! Practice will help your child answer questions with speed and accuracy. This will be important when completing the 11+ exam under timed conditions particularly for multiple choice papers. There is a plethora of workbooks that you can buy but choose carefully as quality is as important as quantity. Also, you can mix it up with the use of apps, online learning tools and verbal quizzes.
Problem solving skills
Applying knowledge and skills to solve complex problems is a critical part of the 11+ exam. Your child will need lots of opportunities to develop these skills with interesting and challenging Maths problems that involve multiple steps and topics. Exam paper practice will help to build familiarity with problem solving questions but try to avoid giving your child exam papers until all topics have been learnt.
Strike a balance
Although your child will be working hard towards their exams, try not to overwhelm them with excessive work or unrealistic expectations as this could lead to burn out and exam anxiety. Strike a balance between studies and leisure as they are more likely to perform better if they have time for hobbies and spending time with friends.