How do I prepare my son for the 11+

[confusedinlondon]

I am preparing my son for the 11+ and I don't know if i am going about it in the right way.

I am buying the 11+ books for maths, VR, NVR and english and we are going through the books, doing 20 - 40 mins of work everyday.

We are also focusing on building vocab by reading and using vocab cards. We aim to do about 15 mins of reading per day as well.

thanks for any advice or suggestions.

According to mumsnet standard, you are working too hard, at risk of adding too much burden to your young kid.

Outside mumsnet there is hope, some stories here:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4723610-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023?reply=123340712&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Looks like you are well informed?
www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4658203-son-wont-attend-tuition-for-11-plus?page=1

Do you know your target school? If its an adaptive test, try out atom learning. It is really useful to get mock scores. Find out the target score for your school and make sure your ds reaches it in time.

get some of the previous papers for him to sit, then mark them together with him. Or this might already be what you are doing? I couldnt tell from your OP

You need to understand exactly what the school or schools you are applying to will test. There is no single 11+, each school or group of schools test different things. Generally speaking, improving vocabulary (particularly by reading a lot) and ensuring a good foundation in maths will help with any school and will be good for your son's general education.

If, by the 11+, you mean a state grammar school, then you can find lots of information and some support on the eleven plus exams website. It includes information about the specific tests in the most popular grammar school areas.

If by 11+ you mean a London private school entrance exam, people have pointed you to the current threads.

If it's neither of these, then if you name the school or area, someone can point you in the right direction.

All info is here

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk

I think once you have for the foundation if he doesn't already have that, he needs strategy on how to attack NVR . .fast comprehensive skills.

Has he covered the maths needed?if so... I would relax after Easter and do far less each week.

He shouldn't need that much work.
Exam technique, word's.... speed and maths.
NVR shouldn't worry him.

imo your kid is not overworked as long as he's bright and motivated, if he isn't then maybe half your practice time. I agree with the others saying to do past papers and see how he scores then seeing what to work on. You got this!

I would say work to the specific tests he will be sitting. If they are all ISEB then the test will be online and you should be practicing in that format - Atom is great for this. Some schools have their own papers and require you to show detailed workings, others you just hand in a multiple choice answer sheet and no workings.

Each style of test requires a different way of working. The schools you are interested in should have the information on their website.

The VR and NVR books are very useful for getting to grips with it. And IME, little and often proved most successful. In particular, the CGP 10 minute tests.

Exam technique is also really important - timing, missing questions out and going back to them If needed, checking answers etc.

Both my DDs passed the grammar 11+ with ease without an external tutor in sight, no stress and a dose of realism as to whether or not they are grammar material. So many children sit these tests for whom a grammar isn’t right academically, not now or ever. Yet they are tutored to high heaven, scrape a place and then need continued tutoring throughout the rest of their time at school.

@likechampagneand @DibbleDooDah this thread is over a year old and the OP's DS will be at secondary school.