Inspiring Tutors’ Founder, Sherry Zhang, shares her top tips for entrance exam success
As another atypical school year draws to a close, there is no doubt that students deserve a well-earned rest this summer. However, the holiday break provides students with a unique opportunity; the chance to prepare for Autumn term entrance exams, such as the 11+. The 11+ is a selective exam which secondary schools, both independent and grammar, use to identify the most academically able children.
As a busy mum of two, I know that there often aren’t enough hours in the day, let alone the time to read up on the technicalities of entrance exams! So, I’ve compiled a list of top tips which will help your child(ren) to sit their exam with confidence.
*The following tips apply not only to the well-known 11+, but to all common entrance exams.*
1. A Room Of One’s Own
Set aside a specific place where your child can revise without being disturbed. Ensure that they have all of the right resources to hand, such as water, pens, and plenty of paper.
2. What’s in a name?
A broad vocabulary will set your child apart in an exam – encourage daily, multi-genre reading and using a thesaurus to find synonyms. Support your child by sparking conversations which use words that are challenging or rare.
3. Brave the Unknown
On exam day, your child may encounter a question type that is completely new to them. By openly acknowledging and preparing for this, your child will refrain from panic, and use the skills they have developed in their revision to adapt their answer.
4. Time flies when you’re having fun…
The true test of any exam is whether or not a candidate can work within the time constraints. Once your child is confident with the content, line up ‘mock’ exams using past papers, and remember to set a timer. This will give you a sense of what your child can manage in timed conditions, and help to direct their revision.
5. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
Scheduling regular breaks is essential. A mere five minutes can make a world of difference, and help your child to resume with improved focus. The summer holidays span several months, meaning that students can introduce study without compromising the balance of work and play.
6. Not all those who wander are lost
Planning trips in the summer which are relevant to your child’s studies is a brilliant and organic way of bringing their learning into everyday life. From the British Museum to the Tower of London, the summer is the perfect time to bring subjects to life.
7. Fall down seven times, get up eight
Encourage persistence, resilience, and self-belief. Be honest with your child; learning can be tough! Roll with the punches and reinforce that making mistakes is normal.
8. Putting a face to a name
Visiting potential schools can help your child to envisage their future at secondary school. This can be a great motivation for children: when revising, they can keep this vision in mind.
9. Know thy self
As a parent, it is crucial that you keep things in perspective and your emotions under control, as children will pick up on your anxieties. Reiterate to your child that no matter the result of the exam, you will love and support them unconditionally.
10. Know thy enemy
Take the time to research the entrance process and registration deadlines for each individual school. The majority of schools will test English, Maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Be aware that, in addition to English and Maths, top independent schools may assess Geography, History, and Languages.
11. Slow and steady wins the race
Start your preparations early, and plan a long-term revision schedule to avoid cramming. A last-minute rush will put the whole family under pressure, so ensure that you are well prepared in the run-up to the exam.
Sometimes, it is tricky for a parent to establish a teacher/student relationship with their child. After a period of erratic home-schooling, this dynamic is bound to be even more fraught than usual. A private tutor can be an incredible support at this time.
Based in the heart of London, Inspiring Tutors tailors tuition according to your child’s optimal learning style, empowering them to unlock their full potential, and gain the tools and confidence to succeed in their exams. With a roster of elite tutors, we enjoy a 100% success rate in ensuring our students gain entrance to independent school admissions.
At Inspiring Tutors, we take pride in the bespoke nature of our services. If your child is struggling with a particular topic, one-on-one sessions with a subject specialist can help to target these areas. If your child thrives in group settings and has particularly missed this element of learning, we run group workshops throughout the summer to brush up on past learning.
If you would like to find out more, visit our website or contact me at sherry@inspiringtutors.co.uk.
