11 Plus exams are also called entrance exams for grammar schools. It is your child’s ticket to have quality secondary education. In this blog, we will discuss the type of questions asked in the exam. There are four categories of 11 Plus exam questions: English, Maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. This last category is primarily a test of IQ, not academic skills.
The 11 Plus exam can be a real struggle for students who lack critical thinking and underperform at school. Such students will start losing confidence. For such pupils, 11 Plus tuition in High Wycombe, Barnet and Manchester can put them back on track, so as a parent, your frustration can soon turn into hope, as you will see your child flourishing in the academic field. Moreover, you can get online tutors from all over England.
Many questions roam in parents’ minds regarding this exam. What do they ask in the 11 Plus? Is it different from school exams? In this blog, we will try to clear your confusion regarding it and show how these questions differ from academic papers.
11 Plus Exam Questions: Here are Some Examples
Children in their final year of primary school take the 11 Plus exam. The test’s purpose is to select the most talented students to attend grammar school. 11 Plus exam questions aim to test children’s academic ability rather than their intelligence.
Below we will discuss the exam questions asked in 11 Plus relevant to each subject.
English 11 Plus Exam Questions
The English section of the 11+ exam may or may not be included. However, these kinds of questions are still worth practising. Hence, the verbal reasoning part of the test will become easy if the student has a good grasp of English.
Likewise, your child will not be tested on material they have not already learned in school. There is no harm in a little practice for intelligent children, but they shouldn’t have any trouble answering them.
Getting familiar with the types of questions you may encounter is the best way to prepare for the test. The following examples are just so you understand the 11 Plus exam questions pattern:
Which one of the following has correct punctuation?
- Its his school
- Its’ his school
- It’s his school
- It his school
So, if a child understands punctuation, they will be able to answer the question correctly. In this case, the correct option is C.
Here’s another example:
What is the antonym of the word below?
Commence (verb)
- Terminate
- Begin
- Start
- Launch
Of course, “commence” means the opposite of “terminate”, so it is the correct answer.
Maths 11 Plus Exam Questions Examples
Maths is not a necessary subject in the 11 Plus exams held all over the UK. They may or may not include it. It is optional to complete all sections. The verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections of the 11+ will require a good understanding of Mathematics.
Maths lessons at school will cover every topic in Maths asked in 11 Plus exams, and the children who are proficient with numbers should be able to nail it in no time!
The best way to prepare for the 11+ Maths test is to practise questions like the ones below. You may also have to answer more complex questions, such as those listed below:
Here’s an example.
Which of the following is the biggest number: -109, -88, -5, 0?
-109
-88
-5
0
The correct answer is 0
Zero is the biggest number because all the other digits are negative. Hence, the answer is 0.
A candidate must know timetables and have a firm grip on addition, subtraction, and multiplication. To ensure good performance, you must familiarise your child with all the topics taught in KS2 Maths.
Verbal Reasoning 11 Plus Exam Questions
Our next step is to discuss the 11+ exam’s core components. It is purely a test of intelligence, and these subjects are not taught at schools. Even if your child is clever, they will have difficulty with these questions if they are not proficient in their Maths and English. Moreover, it will require them to use online resources for better comprehension.
There may be a variety of questions on the exam. Expose your child to as many 11+ questions as possible to ensure that they understand them all.
Here is an example:
Select the creature with three letters that would most effectively spell the word in the sentence below. We had no idea it cost so much money ST when we saw the building.
- COB
- PEN
- HOG
- OWL
This is a situation where sPENt is the word: a pen (in this sense) is a full-grown swan.
So, children will need practice and routine to get good marks in the exam. The verbal reasoning part of the test consists of such a broad range of questions that it is hard to revise. It is also helpful to read a lot, do crosswords and anagram puzzles, and play word games.
Comprehension
Reading comprehension is worth mentioning despite not being a separate part of the test. However, it is an essential part of English. It is, therefore, necessary for candidates to be able to read and understand text blocks to complete the non-verbal reasoning portion of the 11+ exam successfully. Several paragraphs of text are shown to candidates, followed by questions. Word understanding is measured through these questions.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Rather than using words, non-verbal reasoning tests assess children’s ability to solve problems using patterns and shapes. Coding, puzzles, odd-one-out, builds, rotations (spatial awareness), and other IQ-testing questions are included.
Children can solve problems with non-verbal reasoning by analysing data and then arriving at a solution. By using it, children are able to handle problems without depending highly on words. Children with reading and language difficulties may benefit from non-verbal reasoning tests.
Conclusion
11 Plus exam questions require practice because practice is what makes us perfect! Once your child can master subjects, they will start to enjoy them. Hence, don’t be afraid to walk into preparation and ensure that your child does not miss learning opportunities. If your child has the potential but cannot match the pace of the school, then 11 Plus tuition at Luton, Barnet and Manchester can help them. Tutoring enables children to touch academic milestones.
