11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Tips: Suggestions that can help!

Nathania

Medical Student

11+ Verbal Reasoning tests assess your child’s ability to reason and solve written problems. Key skills that are needed include:

• Vocabulary knowledge
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving and logic
• Reading comprehension
• Identifying patterns

The verbal reasoning section of 11+ can be one of the hardest sections as children aren’t taught this at school. Below are some tips on how to tackle this section:

1. Know the exam board

The test will vary depending on the exam board. For example, GL Assessment usually has 21 question types that are used on their verbal reasoning 11+ papers, whereas other exam boards cover a wider range of verbal reasoning question types. Knowing the exam board will help you know which question types to focus on and what resources to practice with.

2. Read more

Having a wide vocabulary will help with tackling the different question types in the 11+ verbal reasoning exam. You can expand your child’s vocabulary by encouraging them to read more, particularly books that are more challenging for their age group. Reading a newspaper is also a good way to be exposed to new words they may not have come across.

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3. Keep a word journal

When your child comes across a new word, tell them to write it down in a notebook. Ask them to look up the definition of the word and find some synonyms and antonyms. They should also try to practice using it in a sentence. This will increase their familiarity of the word and help it stick in their mind. At the end of the week, give your child a spelling test with these new words to see if they can spell them.

4. Improve memory

Having a good memory helps in memorising all the new vocabulary your child is learning for 11+ verbal reasoning exam. You can test their memory using memory games that they can download on their phone or you can test them verbally by asking them what different words mean.

5. Learn techniques for different questions

As you practice 11+ verbal reasoning questions, you will come across common question types. For example, 1 question type is “Insert a Letter”. This involves picking one letter to complete a word and begin a word. Coming up with a set technique to tackle a type of question will help improve your child’s speed and accuracy. Encourage your child to come up with fun ways to remember these techniques.

6. Practice 11+ Verbal Reasoning papers

Practice makes perfect, especially with the 11+ Verbal Reasoning paper. The more you practice, the more familiar your child will become with the questions and spotting different patterns. Practice under timed conditions to work on improving their speed.

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