The two most common questions I get asked by my students in the run up to their 11+ Grammar Entrance exams are, 'what will happen on the day?' and 'what is the test like?'
Knowing the answer to both of these questions is vital for a student's confidence and peace of mind. Read on to find all the information you need to put your child's mind at ease.
The Entrance Test Itself
The 11+ West Midlands Grammar test is provided by GL Assessment. The test is presented in two papers, with each paper lasting around an hour. Over the two test papers, students will be tested on the four aspects of:
English Comprehension
Verbal Reasoning (VR)
Mathematics
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR)
The individual test papers are then structured into smaller sections, with each section generally being a short set of questions containing one of the four elements.
Unlike the tests the students will be used to completing at school, the 11+ Grammar tests do not ask for 'written' answers. This is because there is a separate answer sheet which uses a tick-box, multiple choice structure, and so answers are simply selected rather than explained.
The four elements of the test have a weighting. English and verbal reasoning account for 50%, non-verbal reasoning 25% and maths 25%. Scores are then standardised to take into account differences in age, ensuring that children born later in the academic year are not at a disadvantage in comparison to those in the same cohort born much earlier in the academic year.
What to Expect on Test Day
The test centres and staff are incredibly experienced at administering the West Midlands Grammar tests and so know how to put the students at ease. Chaperones are on hand to ensure the students feel comfortable and can have any questions they may have answered.
There is a break between the two papers, allowing for a much needed toilet and brain break. At this point students are welcome to have the snack they have brought with them and a drink. It is worth knowing this so that you can bring this with you on the day.
Students are required to bring their own equipment: pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. As with general exam conditions, this should be in a clear pencil case or zip bag. Rulers, highlighters and other stationery with not be required. Students only need mark the answer sheet in pencil so only a pencil and rubber in required for this. If students accidentally forget stationery, or items are lost or broken, alternatives can be provided.
The test is well structured and example and practice questions are provided so that students understand what is expected by them for each section.
The test instructions are delivered by an audio recording, ensuring all students - regardless of the test centre they are in - will have exactly the same test experience.
So that students can pace themselves appropriately, they are advised how long they should ideally spend on each section before that section starts.
Candidates must all work on the same section together, so students are not allowed to turn ahead to the next section nor return to a previous section. They must stay on the section being covered by the audio recording at that time. If the section they are working on is one of the longer sections, e.g. the maths reasoning section, a five-minute remaining reminder will be given on the audio recording.
As with any new experience, preparation and familiarisation is key to performing to your best. Going into the test knowing what it will look like and what the actual day will be like can have a huge impact on the overall success of exam day.
To help your child be best prepared for this important exam, my 11+ Tuition Classes offer not only the necessary skills to answer the exam questions successfully but also the chance to talk through what will happen on the day. Having someone your child can talk to and answer all the numerous questions they may have is a big part of helping them to feel confident and calm ahead of test day.
To find out how I can help your child through their 11+ experience visit my 11+ Tuition Classes page.
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