How do you prepare for the 11+ without tutoring?

[QueenAnneofAustriaSpain]

DS1 is just finishing year 3, he is good academically and engages well with learning etc.

We don't want him tutored but want to see what we can do to prepare for the 11+ and possible application to grammar. We have some lovely secondary schools here so in all likelihood he will actually go to one of these, but we want to push him without too much pressure. He likes learning and I think feasibly I can get him to sit down and do 10 mins of something per day. Languages are a passion and sports and English and Maths are going well.

What do you do, if anything?

That is tutoring.

And a lot more pushing than the maj who start paying for tutoring in year 5.

Year 3 is to early imvho to decide whether a grammar school is for him.I'd wait until year 5 then either pay for a tutor or tutor yourself using Bond type books and the 11+ forum site.

Look at the eleven plus exams website. It will give all the advice you need.

Thanks Rivercam. I have just found it.

Honestly, I doubt we would push for the grammar anyway but parents at school have begun to discuss tutoring etc and I felt that perhaps I should be doing more with him than I do. He has asked to focus a bit on languages so perhaps I will just help him out with that. He likes me to set maths problems and enjoys writing stories etc so sounds like more than enough if others are not starting until year 5.

The standard response has a lot of merit: read lots, and read to him to expand his range and vocabulary.

Read as much as possible. Lots of exposure to new words

Reading a lot can't hurt but it won't make him feel familiar with the particular tests your grammars use. Find this out from the 11+ site. Some do verbal reasoning, some do non verbal reasoning. Snow do both. They will all do English and Maths. SMIth has a variety of age appropriate exam prep books.

ds did 11+ this year. We did most at home.

The 11+ is won or lost on vocab (apparently) So good wide reading, lots of talking, using adult vocab (so challenge yourself to speak using a wider range as well)

Get him to read out loud sometimes, maybe a newspaper article, talk about vocab, meaning etc.

Find and point out words with more than one meaning (like contest), and two words with same sound but different spelling/meaning (like bored and board)
The 11+ website has lists of useful vocab
Times tables - including the division, so 3x4=12 and 4x3=12 and 12divided by 3 = 4 and so on.

BUT year 3 is very early. Parents who push from year 3 are there, but they are not the ones you need to follow!

Of course wide reading and vocab is something you can start now and build on, but please please make it part of normal school and fun, if you tutor at this point it will become a hideous chore before year 6.

You need to know what you local exam is. If it is verbal reasoning (VR) then in year 5 you need to go through the different VR type questions and practice them, and practice speed. You will need to invest in some VR teaching and practice books

Thanks all. That all sounds fine. I will step back a bit and perhaps just introduce more wide reading. I definitely do not want it to become a chore.