Whats the best way to tutor for the 11 plus?

[BoomerangSam]

Our borough has changed to using materials from the University of Durham CEM Centre.
Previously, it was all verbal and non-verbal reasoning which kids were tutored for.

I'd just like my child to have a fair chance at the exam. If he's suitable, then he'll get in, if not then the local schools are not too bad.

If anyone has experience of CEM, Id love to hear how you went about preparing your child for the exam.

[tryingreallytrying]

Ha ha. Whole point is it's supposed to be 'untutorable for'.

Fat chance of that when everyone and his dog will do their darndest to tutor anyway...

11+ forum explains it all, anyway. :(

[plus3]

We have friends who believed in the CEM exams - they didn't tutor their very bright DD and she failed. They appealed, and it wasn't upheld.

[Rabbitcar]

For English, I would say read a lot and make a note of, and learn and use, new vocabulary. That will be invaluable for comprehension, essays and verbal reasoning type questions. It's also great for life generally. For maths, just do practice papers from various schools/publishers, so your DC is exposed to many different types of question. And don't overdo it. We saw it as supplementing schoolwork and building on their natural ability. We did some extra work on top of schoolwork but still had all the holidays etc off. The key is to read, I think. But that might not work for every child. At my DDs' grammar, some girls were intensively prepped, others not at all, we fell in the middle. You will find what works best for you. x

[BoomerangSam]

That's helpful Rabbitcar as you've just expressed what I was thinking. Do you have any suggestions for books?

I will definitely need to do some tuition for my child to stand a chance. Without lots of practice, it will be difficult to secure a place. Its not the be all for me. I just want him to have a fair chance.

[Rabbitcar]

Not really. My DDs read a mixture of intelligent books, plus wimpy kid type stuff! The 'good' books included Goodnight Mister Tom, My Family and other Animals, Five Children and It, Anne of Green Gables, Anne Franks Diary, Carries War and some Agatha Christie books. We kept a notebook and wrote down new words. It seemed to work though, and they now have quite good vocabularies.

Best to read what they enjoy I think, no point forcing it.

[BoomerangSam]

Sorry Rabbitcar, I meant recommending maths study books. I've got Bond vb and nvb practice paper and I let ds read whatever he wants. I may suggest books but I leave it up to him.
There's no way I'm forcing him to read books he's not interested in!
(He's reading Moby Dick at the moment of his own request. I've never read it. He's expecting an exciting tale about a whale. I hope he's not disappointed! I'm just going to let him carry on choosing as I don't think he's doing too badly :))

[Rabbitcar]

We didn't use any maths books. Just did practice papers, and if they found any areas new or tricky, eg algebra, I just explained it to them. We got the practice papers from the websites of different schools, eg Manchester grammar school, haberdashers boys, north london girls consortium 1 and 2, St. Paul's. etc. Good to do a variety.

[Letticetheslug]

have you looked at www.elevenplusexams.co.uk?

they have a brilliant forum ,with loads of good advice for DIY tutoring, I found it really helpful

[Letticetheslug]

//www.elevenplusexams.co.uk

[BoomerangSam]

Brilliant! Thanks for the tips and links.