Boost Your Child’s 11 Plus Preparation With Reading

Preparing for the 11 Plus Entrance Exam can feel overwhelming, but strong reading skills are key to success. A rich vocabulary, strong comprehension, and reading fluency all play a crucial role in tackling the exam’s verbal reasoning paper and the comprehension sections of the English paper. In this post, we’ll share effective tips to boost reading and help your child develop the confidence and skills needed to perform their best.

Incorporating reading into your child’s daily routine can make a significant difference by:

✅ Expanding Vocabulary – Reading exposes your child to new and unfamiliar words in context, helping them understand and remember vocabulary more effectively.

✅ Improving Comprehension – Regular reading enhances your child’s ability to understand and analyze texts, a key skill for the comprehension sections of the English paper in the GL Assessment exam.

✅ Strengthening Spelling – Seeing words repeatedly in print reinforces correct spelling patterns and rules.

Here’s how you can make reading a fun and effective part of your child’s daily routine and a key part of their 11 Plus preparation.

Key Strategies to Boost Reading Skills

1. Diverse Reading Materials

Encourage your child to read a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational texts. This diversity not only keeps reading interesting but also exposes them to different writing styles and vocabulary.  It can also promote conversations and the opportunity to discuss different topics with your child. Suggestions include:

• • Fiction: Adventure, mystery, fantasy, and classic literature i.e. ‘The chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis.
  • Non-fiction: Biographies, science books, history texts e.g. Kids National Geographic & DK Eyewitness
  • Poetry: Poems from different cultures and time periods.
  • Informational Texts: Newspapers, magazines, educational websites e.g. The Week Junior 

Or take a look at our 11 Plus recommended reading list, which provide lots of ideas to get your bookwork reading.

2. Daily Reading Habit

It’s important to establish a daily reading routine with you child. 20-30 minutes of reading each day can lead to significant improvements over time. Take a look at our top tips below of how to create a daily reading habit with your child.

• Set a specific time for reading, such as before bed or after dinner. Consistency helps children build a habit and look forward to their reading time. Reading before bed can also help your child fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer
• Create a cozy reading nook to make the experience enjoyable.
• Read together and discuss the books to make it a shared activity. You can talk about the characters in the story and ask them questions about how they would handle the situation or how it makes then feel. These discussions will get them to deepen their understanding and make reading a shared experience.

3. Vocabulary Building Activities

A strong vocabulary is essential for success in the entrance exam, as it improves reading comprehension and the speed at which your child can tackle and understand the questions. Making the learning process more fun and using interactive activities adds a playful element to revision. This in turn encourages active participation in a low pressure and relaxed environment, leading to better understanding and vocabulary acquisition.  Have a go at incorporating some of the following activities into their revision timetable and see what happens.

• Word of the Day: Introduce a new word each day, look up its meaning and then encourage them to use the word within sentences.
• Flashcards: Create flashcards with challenging words and remember to include their definitions. Try to encourage them to use the words throughout the week.
• Word Games: Play games like Scrabble, Boggle, or online vocabulary quizzes to improve spelling. These are great fun for all the family.

4. Comprehension Practice

Comprehension is another component of the 11 Plus exam and tests your child’s ability to understand, interpret and analyse written texts. They can improve their comprehension skills with targeted exercises.

• Summarise Stories: After reading a chapter or story, ask your child to summarise the main points to check their understanding.
• Ask Questions: Discuss the book and ask questions about the plot, characters, and themes.  
• Predict Outcomes: Encourage your child to predict what will happen next.  This will help them hone their skills of being able to ‘read between the lines’ and draw their own conclusions based on hints in the text.

All of these exercises will help them to practice inference and building their comprehension skills.

5. Spelling Reinforcement

Strong spelling skills not only improve written accuracy, but also enhances vocabulary, reading comprehension and overall confidence in language. Help your child become a better speller through regular practice and exposure to words by using the following techniques:

• Spelling tests: Hold mini spelling competitions at home. Focus on common Year 5 & Year 6 spelling words & tricky spelling rules e.g. i before e, except after c.
• Writing Exercises: Have your child write short stories or diary entries using new vocabulary. Or read out sentences and ask your child to write them down, focusing on accuracy.
• Online Tools: Use spelling apps and websites for interactive practice.
• Mnemonics and memory tricks: e.g. necessary – one collar, two sleeves or strawberry sauce for knowing how to spell ‘dessert’.

Conclusion

Incorporating reading into your child’s 11 Plus preparation is a powerful way to boost their vocabulary, comprehension, and spelling skills. By creating a diverse and engaging reading routine, you can help your child develop a love for reading that will benefit them not only in their exams but throughout their academic journey. Happy reading!