11+ Preparation (Year 4 Foundation)
Our Year 4 pupils will initially focus on developing their core understanding of fundamental subjects which include: reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary development, spoken language, arithmetic and numerical reasoning. They will also be introduced to verbal reasoning (including cloze procedure), non-verbal reasoning (including 3D and spatial). These are subjects that are not traditionally taught in schools; therefore, our Year 4 Foundation programme is designed to enable pupils to develop a strong understanding of the principles within them.
Our pupils will also be working through our 11+ vocabulary list, learning the definitions, antonyms and synonyms from a word bank we have developed. We also have a recommended reading list which consists of a wide range of books, both fiction and non-fiction. We encourage our pupils to read daily and analyse the texts in order to help them develop their language and inference skills.
Competition for places at grammar and independent schools is intense. The number of applicants is rising each year, making entry into these schools increasingly more difficult. At Excel Tuition Centre, the 11+ programme begins in Year 4 (two years before the exam date) in order for your child to have the appropriate time for preparation.
From September 2024, the West Midlands Grammar Schools have announced a new collaboration. Entrance into any of the Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall, and Wolverhampton grammar schools has now been combined, meaning students only need to sit ONE test on one day, to be considered for ANY of the grammar schools in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
At Excel Tuition Centre, we carry out extensive research to help develop our 11+ programme around the GL Assessment format to ensure that our students are preparing for their exams in the most effective way.
The 11+ Preparation class is only suitable for academically abled students that are already achieving high levels in their schoolwork.
The 11+ exam is a selective entry examination for entrance
into some grammar and secondary schools.
Within the West Midlands this includes the following:
Consortium of Grammar Schools in Birmingham
- Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School (for boys)
- King Edward VI Aston School (for boys)
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
- King Edward VI Five Ways School
- Handsworth Grammar School (for boys)
- King Edward VI Handsworth School (for girls)
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar (for girls)
Not part of the Consortium but where an entrance exam is used as part of the selection process
At Excel Tuition Centre, we develop our pupil’s subject knowledge to the required levels, as well as their exam techniques and time management skills. The following is a list of subjects that are covered in each of the 11+ Preparation programmes.
English
11+ English exam papers usually consist of a timed comprehension test with several questions based on the passage. Some of the questions may also be based on punctuation, parts of speech and English grammar. The CEM 11+ English exam papers are multiple choice. Independent Grammar School exams may use a different format and usually include a creative writing task.
Mathematics
11+ Maths exam papers are designed to test the child’s depth of knowledge on many topics which include; the four rules (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, shape, area, graphs, data analysis, money, measurement, algebra, number, place value, statistics, numerical reasoning, geometry and time.
Non-verbal Reasoning
11+ Non-verbal Reasoning exam papers consist of logic type questions based on shape, patterns, numbers, symmetry, 3D (including spatial) and sequences.
Verbal Reasoning
There are around fifty possible types of questions used in 11+ Verbal Reasoning exams. These include letter and number sequences, analogies, letter and number codes, odd one out, middle/size order, word endings/beginnings, cloze exercises, identifying antonyms, identifying synonyms and anagrams.
