In the last year of Elementary School (Year 6), students take an examination known as the 11 Plus to assess whether they are eligible for admission to UK Grammar Schools. It is a standardised test that assesses a student’s academic ability. The test results determine which students are eligible for admission into grammar schools and which students should continue their education in a secondary school.
The Butler Education Act introduced the exam in 1944 as a means of testing for grammar school entrance. Aspiring students who excelled in the examination were placed in Grammar Schools, and those who failed attended Modern Secondary or Vocational Schools.
Eleven Plus continues to be used today in several counties in the UK, and 164 Grammar Schools remain in England and Northern Ireland. These schools consistently score well in secondary school rankings and are extremely popular with parents.
11 Plus FAQs
This blog will cover some of the 11 Plus FAQs which parents commonly ask.
Which Subjects Will Be Tested?Â
The Eleven Plus Exam varies from region to region and sometimes even from institution to institution; however, it usually includes one or more of the following areas:
- English (Grammar, Comprehension, Writing)
- Verbal Reasoning (VR)
- Numerical Reasoning (Mathematics)
The question types/topics tested in each subject can also vary depending on the exam board syllabus and the school your child is preparing for 11 Plus exams. For instance, CEM exams focus more on the student’s cognitive development, assessing their ability to think critically, form opinions, and use language to convey a message. GL assessment exams focus more on the procedural knowledge of the student, testing their ability to recall facts, solve problems, and understand concepts.
What Details About Each School’s Exam Do I Need?
A list of 11 Plus frequently asked questions can help prepare parents for the test since different schools may use different transfer test patterns. We’ve assembled Grammar School’s commonly asked questions to answer your most common test questions.
- What subjects will the 11 Plus assessment cover?
- When will the 11 Plus exams take place?
- What would the structure of the 11-plus examination be?
If your child or ward plans to apply to a specific school, you can find these details.
Do I Need A Private Tutor To Prepare For Entrance Exams Preparation?
Due to the small number of vacancies in Grammar and Independent schools, and the large number of applicants, the 11 Plus exam presents many challenges. Hence, 11 Plus exams require good preparation.
This includes having a good knowledge of the exam format and content and familiarising yourself with the question types that may be asked. You should also practise timed tests and use past papers to help you get familiar with the exam.
Private tutors and tuition can also be useful resources to help with preparation. Ultimately, the more prepared you are, the better your chances of success; private 11 Plus tuition can help your child prepare for the 11-plus exam by providing a structured learning environment and experienced guidance from knowledgeable tutors.
A devoted tutor can help your child improve their knowledge of English, Maths, Verbal and Numerical Reasoning and gain an understanding of the type of questions they might come across. Private tuition can prepare your child for the entrance exam by giving them confidence.
How Passing 11 Plus Exams Can Impact Your Child’s Education?
Many pupils find that getting through the Eleven Plus exam offers them new possibilities in their academic careers. According to studies from the Grammar Schools Association, on average, students from such schools perform higher than students from other Secondary Schools.
Studies also show that Grammar School learners make remarkable progress from KS3 to GCSE compared to other students. A Grammar School education means attending a school with a broad curriculum and being exposed to subjects not taught in public institutions.
There are also compelling statistics indicating that learners who attend Grammar Schools after passing the 11 Plus will be more likely to succeed in their career goals.
What Are The Pass Marks for the Grammar School Entrance Exams?
Different Local Education Departments set varying pass marks each year. The student will be given a Standardised Score instead of a Raw Score. The raw score of an individual is calculated by how many questions they answered correctly on a test. Standardised Scores are derived by considering various factors to ensure consistency. Standardised Scores are used to compare students from different schools, as they are not directly affected by the difficulty of the test. Generally, a higher Standardised Score means a higher pass mark and a higher chance of achieving a good result.
Grammar Schools sometimes rank candidates. Test scores determine which children are placed. In other schools, candidates are chosen based on their distance, faith, siblings, and minimum pass mark. Therefore, giving an exact number for passing the transfer test is impossible. An approximate 80-85% score is required for a child to pass.
What is Standardisation in 11 Plus Exams?
Standardisation adjusts scores to show how each candidate performed compared to others who took the same examination. Adjustments are made based on the applicant’s age and the paper’s difficulty level.
Thus, if an applicant finds the paper simple, it is imperative to avoid making inadvertent errors since these mistakes may negatively influence the candidate’s score. Conversely, if the test taker considers the exam challenging, there is no need to worry, as the score will likely be revised accordingly.
In general, the candidate is encouraged to concentrate on accuracy and preciseness. If speed is not accompanied by accuracy, the score will be lower. Furthermore, submitting the paper in due course but with many spelling and grammatical mistakes may also lead to low grades. Regarding academic performance, accuracy is just as important as speed. If the paper is submitted on time but with many mistakes, it will reflect poorly on the student’s performance, resulting in a lower score.
Conclusion
These are some of the 11 Plus FAQs that parents and students must know before preparing their children for entrance exams. Although English and Maths paper follows the National Curriculum, there are still many questions which test your child’s logical and problem-solving competency. 11 Plus exam results are out in mid-October; however, some school conduct transfer test in two sections and the results of both portions can have different dates, so in many cases, parents will have to wait till March.