Understanding The Eleven Plus (11+)

11+ examinations and testing

'The 11+?” you may query. “I thought we abolished that back in the ’70s!'

This is THE must read article for any parent of a child under eleven years of age who is contemplating a selective or independent school education. We unravel the mystery behind 11+ testing and examinations and explain what you need to do, when and how, to ensure maximum success for your child.

But hurry, you may not have a minute to spare....

Eleven Plus panic

At certain times of year, in various parts of the country, parental faces are drawn and pale, their brows knitted, their fingers knotted and, except at night when they wake, screaming, they speak only in low voices.

All they will say is, at first, “450 for 80 places - it can’t be true!” and later on, meaningfully, “have you heard?”

What is the Eleven Plus?

The eleven plus is found in both the state system and in the independent schools sector, and is the entrance exam procedure for getting your brightish little button into a fee-paying school. Much of the country abolished the 11+ several decades ago but a few local authorities held their ground - Bucks, Kent, Surrey, N Yorks and a few London boroughs. In these areas, the comprehensive system found in most of the country exists in tandem with a few grammar schools.

Grammar schools select their pupils on the strength of their performance in the 11+ examination so they, in effect, cream off the local brightest and best - or, at least, those children whose parents believe in this type of selection - and give them what most believe to be a superior academic education.

What does my child need to know?

There is no uniformity to the exams. Many local education authorities still test applicants’ English and maths just as their parents and grandparents were tested decades ago. Others test Verbal reasoning (VR) and non-Verbal reasoning (NVR) - a fairer system, many believe, as this is a better indicator of raw intelligence than English/maths which can be coached for and which advantage those from prep schools. VR and NVR cannot really be coached - they can be practised to build up speed but that is all. (Galore Park publish a number of books to help your child in these key areas - they can be purchased from our online bookstore). The raison d’etre of preparatory schools is - as their name demonstrates - to prepare their pupils, help them get into good senior schools - state or independent.

The credit-crunch and protracted economic down-turn mean the pressure is on schools, to propel their alumni into the few grammar school places around.

When does it happen?

11+ testing fro entry to independent and grammar schools There is no synchronicity to when the Eleven Plus happens. Local education authorities (LAs) set their own time scale and, depending on where you live,

You may find yourself carting Jacob and Jemima off to be tested any time between September and March of year 6.

Even the independents make little effort to synchronise testing and exams happen from November - February in general (although common entrance, for entry to senior schools, takes place in June). However, some independent schools, especially in London, have formed themselves into consortia so that your child sits one exam which is then used as an application to a whole bunch of schools.

Credit crunch knock-ons

Grammar schools are likely to be increasingly high profile now that our credit has been crunched. Fewer parents can now be confident that they will continue to have the finances to support Sanjay and Shazia though expensive education and they and countless like them now pin their hopes on getting places at the local grammar - if any. This is also having an impact on house prices. Richmond in Surrey needed few incentives to see its house prices rise under normal circumstances but if anyone wants to know why they are holding up better than most in current circumstances, look no further than to the two Tiffin grammar schools in nearby Kingston Upon Thames, both fully reviewed in The Good Schools Guide.

Tutoring?

Tutoring is, therefore, one of our few thriving industries. Witness the number of tutor agencies now advertising themselves on the net. Beware of these! There are no laws in the UK which govern ‘tutoring’. Anyone can call themselves a tutor. (See our extensive section on Tutors & tutoring which tells you all you need to know).

Undoubtedly, one-to-one tutoring with an experienced and friendly tutor brings on any child faster and more enjoyably than anything else. But tutoring can be expensive and, in grammar school areas, it is decidedly a seller’s market. Your child may be brainy, you may never have considered independent education if only because of the cost but you don't want him/her disadvantaged because you haven’t the cash for tutoring.

No cash - what can I do? Who do I ask?

Money and selection, paying the fees Increasingly, small group tuition companies have sprung up here and there and many do a good job at far less cost than individual sessions. They can never be as good as they exist to impart information and technique rather than to address the needs of your own individual child but they can often be good enough - especially for a child who enjoys going. The best known of these is Kumon but there are numerous others, many run by worthy local teachers.

Rely on personal recommendation rather than ads. If a parent whose child is the same age as yours and therefore a competitor for a place, tells you a school is rubbish, don’t trust them! Trust someone who went through the process the year before.

Eleven Plus English

"Parents looking for something more elaborate to help their children prepare for secondary school could not do better than buy a copy of 11+ English: A Parent's Toolkit. With great clarity and rigour, it covers grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, comprehension and essay writing." John Clare in The Daily Telegraph.

The Good Schools Guide recommends : Eleven Plus English: A Parent’s Toolkit by Katherine Hamlyn which covers every aspect of English in an approachable and easy to grasp manner - the ideal way to help you help your child get ahead! Comprehensions and essay writing are demystified and there are countless strategies for working on spelling, punctuation, structure, grammar and so on. I

If you and your child can work happily and collaboratively together then this is your ideal aid. Costing less than the fare to many top-notch tutor companies, order 11+ English: A Parent's Toolkit from us and have your child streaming ahead of the competition in no time!

Eleven Plus maths

We have several articles aimed at helping you with maths at 11+ and 13+ (see below). Although we have yet to come across one ideal resource - Galore Park publish a number of books and papers used by leading prep schools aimed at helping children at a variety of levels get up-to-speed. Mathematics ISEB Revision Guide 3rd Edition, fully revised for the 2010 syllabus, consolidates everything that pupils need to know for 11+ and 13+ Common Entrance into one book and is an indispensable maths revision resource for any pupil and they're all available to purchase from us via our online bookstore.

Eleven Plus papers

Many schools set their own practice papers and will happily send you a copy or two. If your child is sitting Common Entrance you can buy copies of past papers in core subjects, complete with answers from us. These are ideal for building your child's confidence and expertise. If the results aren't as outstanding as you would hope we sell a number of helpful books in the core subjects.

Eleven Plus - don't panic!

Your local comprehensive may not spill out pristine, quietly spoken, well-mannered children destined for Cambridge and bound for a worthy career as a dentist or noble public servant, though it must be said, many state schools do and do so very well. Whatever the picture, before you stride through their doors on a visit, why not take a look at the information The Good Schools Guide carries, even for state schools that we haven't visited. Subscribers will find comprehensive examination results information. If that whets your appetite there's more - why not use 'My Schools', our unique, invaluable system which enables subscribers to compare schools and find out which schools are top of their class!

A decade of investment and some enlightened planning have made for more good, state schools than hitherto - some very good. The more parents who care about education and who have aspirations for their children who send their children to these schools, the better the schools will get. The breadth of opportunity and the dedication and inspiration of many comprehensive school teachers are impressive and, to many, a revelation once they go and see. So - go and see - and do let us know what you find. It is, after all, the business of state schools to put the independents out of business. You could be in on the start of something.....