11 Plus Summer Course
Is an 11+ Summer Course Necessary?
If your child has entered their last year at primary school, you will be thinking about what school they will transition to. This is a crucial stage in the life of your young person and you will want to ensure that they continue their education in the best place possible, somewhere that recognises and develops their full potential further. This is why many parents choose to apply to state operated grammar schools, of which there are 164 in England, or independent schools. Because places are invariably limited, the school sets its own entrance criteria, usually called the 11+ or Transfer Test. These grammar school exams usually take place in the September of the child’s final year at primary school, just after the summer holidays, when their brains have ‘’switched off”. They might not be as sharp as they are during the academic year.
It is Imperative That You Understand What your Chosen Secondary School Expects.
As the parent of an above average performer, it’s easy to think that the 11+ will be something your child will take in their stride. That isn’t necessarily true. It is easier for someone who is above average but unprepared, to fail 11+ exams, than it is for an average child who has undergone preparation specifically related to the exam they are sitting to attain the level required by the school they hope to attend. Those levels differ between schools depending on demand. Each school determines specifically what they want to test, so you need to know in detail which body will set the exam and what it will consist of. There are two main exam boards, GL Assessment and The Centre for Evaluation based at Durham University (CEM) are most commonly used.
What an 11+ Entrance Test Involves.
Eleven + entrance exams usually consist of a number of papers, each taking 45 minutes to 60 minutes to complete. The papers test, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, things that are not part of the usual primary school curriculum. There are also likely to be English and mathematics papers. An eleven+ summer course, undertaken by your child prior to the exam in September or January for many independent schools, is a really great way to prepare them. Furthermore, once they know what they are likely to face, and the best way to tackle it, their confidence and, with it the chance of success, will increase.
What Will Your Child Learn By Attending an 11+ Summer Course?
Choose your 11+ summer course provider carefully. Ask to see testimonials. The price will vary depending on the duration of the course, but as you can imagine, it is a competitive market, so when course length is taken into account, prices tend to be similar. You may decide to select a course that conducts a pre-assessment on your child. This will determine what their weakness are and where the training needs to be focused. Tried and tested methods are applied by experienced staff who have been fully vetted. Whilst much of the tuition is conducted in an informal, interactive classroom situation, the work aims to specifically address your child’s needs and the specific requirements of the school you are hoping to send them to. Sessions are also held on exam technique, including managing time, and students get lots of practice in tackling mock papers. Some providers offer written follow-up which homes in on persistent weak spots and provides advice on how these can be tackled. You have to choose whether some or all of these elements are important in preparing your child for the real test, so weigh up what each provider can offer and take a look at their previous success stories before finally making your decision.
The Extra Push Can Make the Difference.
The benefits of an excellent education cannot be overstated. Choice of school is not something you want to leave to chance. Entrance exams are getting tougher each year and you want to mitigate, so far as is possible, the risk that your child won’t meet the required standard, or, will just scrape though and have to sit on a reserve list with all the uncertainty that creates for everyone. Attending an 11+ Summer course represents that extra push that could make all the difference.