Traditionally, the 11+ used to be an exam that required no special revising or practice to select the best and brightest kids. That hasn’t been the case for years now. The exam has become more and more difficult. The methods have become more complex. The skillset has become more particular.
We don’t think that’s fair. So we’re on a mission to provide the tools for children that the schools won’t teach.
We’ve been guiding students through the 11+ for over 10 years, with hundreds of success stories.
Through a straightforward tried-and-tested program, we harness the talents of children of all abilities to help them thrive in the best secondary schools.
Whether your child is top of their class, or struggling more than they want to admit, we’re here to help. Drop us an email or shoot us a text and find out how we can help your child excel.
Year 4 support workshops
11+ workshops
ENGLISH
It is very important, for children wanting to take the Kent test, to develop strong proficiency in reading, and the choice of books they read is very important. Books such as The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or books written by David Walliams are, of course, fun to read but they are not going to provide the level of vocabulary or general knowledge that children will need. I have found in the past, that the children who come to me as very strong readers, who enjoy reading and have read extensively through many genres of books, are those who generally do really well in the test. Not only does wide reading improve a child’s ability to perform well in comprehension tests, but it also leads to good spelling, vocabulary, memory, focus and the ability to interpret maths word problems. We provide every student with a recommended reading list for this purpose.
MATHS
Children must know their times tables from x2 – x12. This means being able to automatically answer 9 x 6 or 6 x 7, for example, without pausing or running up the table to get to the answer, and without having to use their fingers. Children must also be able to add and subtract quickly and comfortably using both whole numbers and decimals in vertical presentation. They must be able to perform short multiplication and short division (bus stop division).
We are happy to provide resources where you can find free worksheets which can be printed off and used for practice.
REASONING
In preparation for this part of the programme, children can develop their reasoning skills through the use of simple holiday puzzle books. The ability to think through a problem, figure out the best approach to use and thus find a solution is a skill which takes practice, and puzzle books are a fun way to do this. Do look at puzzles such as sudoku, crosswords, word searches and mazes. There are also CGP practice reasoning books for ages 8-9, 9-10 which can be a useful start.
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