Let’s be honest, preparing for the 11+ English exams can feel overwhelming.
Between comprehension passages, vocabulary building, grammar drills, and creative writing tasks, your child may feel like they’re being asked to juggle five balls in the air… with one hand.
And as a parent, it’s natural to wonder:
- “Are we doing enough?”
- “Why are the scores not improving?”
- “Where do we even start?”
Scoring well in the 11+ English exams isn’t about having a genius-level child or memorizing a hundred grammar rules. It’s about smart preparation, targeted practice, and emotional support.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through practical, parent-tested tips that actually work, plus some eye-opening facts about the exam that most families don’t know.
Why So Many Bright Kids Struggle with 11+ English?
Let’s start with something real.
You’re not alone if your child is bright but still struggling with English practice.
The reason? The 11+ English exams are not just about knowing the right answers. They test:
- Critical reading
- Precision in grammar
- Vocabulary breadth
- Emotional nuance in writing
And the ability to think fast under time pressure
That’s a LOT for a 10- or 11-year-old to handle for 11+ English scores.
A 2022 review found that over 47% of children who sat the 11+ exams papers in English scored lower in English than in Maths, even though they reported enjoying English more. The culprit? Comprehension, timing, and vocabulary pressure.
Tip 1: Break the Exam into Skills, Don’t Tackle Everything at Once
Instead of approaching the 11+ English exams like one giant task, break them into key sections:
- Comprehension
- Grammar and Punctuation
- Vocabulary and Cloze Tests
- Spelling
- Creative Writing
Each of these areas uses different muscles in your child’s brain, and they all require different strategies.
Start by identifying your child’s weakest section (is it inference in comprehension, punctuation in grammar, or structure in writing?). Then work on improving just that area for one week at a time.
Tip 2: Practice Active Reading, Not Just Passive Reading
Reading a book is great. But reading for the 11+ English scores is different.
To build comprehension and analytical skills, your child needs to read actively, which means asking questions, spotting literary techniques, and summarising ideas while they read.
Here’s how to do it:
- After each page, ask: “What happened here?”
- Circle words they don’t understand, and talk about them together
- Ask: “How is the character feeling right now? How do you know?”
- Point out similes, metaphors, and descriptive phrases
Even 10 minutes of this kind of reading each day can transform how your child handles 11 English exam questions.
Many children can read well but struggle with questions like “What does this word suggest?” or “Why did the character do that?” These are inference skills, and they don’t magically develop without practice.
Tip 3: Make Vocabulary Personal and Playful for 11+ English scores
Memorizing lists of words doesn’t work. Your child might remember them today and forget them by next week.
Instead, make new vocabulary part of their everyday life for 11+ English scores.
Try this:
- Pick one “word of the day” (like reluctant or magnificent)
- Use it in a sentence during dinner
- Ask them to draw it, act it out, or use it in a joke
- Build silly stories around new words
This kind of playful learning helps with vocabulary retention, which is key to handling 11 plus exam papers in English with confidence.
Want to know how ready your child really is? Our 11 plus mock exams feel just like the real thing, so they can practise under pressure, build confidence, and walk into test day feeling calm and prepared.
Tip 4: Use Short-Timed Practices (Not Endless Worksheets)
Doing four hours of worksheets in a row may look productive… but it’s not the best way to improve.
The 11+ English scores are about thinking quickly, staying calm, and spotting small details under pressure.
Instead of long study sessions, use:
- 10-minute comprehension bursts
- Quick-fire grammar quizzes
- Timed cloze passages
This trains your child’s brain to get used to timed pressure, without burning them out.
Tip 5: Reverse-Engineer Exam Papers
Don’t just “do” papers, break them apart.
After each test, sit down with your child and:
- Mark the questions they got wrong
- Ask why they answered that way
- Discuss the correct answer and the thought process behind it
- Highlight where they lost time or skipped questions
This habit helps children understand the exam structure, especially in the 11 exam English syllabus areas like creative writing or inference questions.
Tip 6: Practice Creative Writing from Prompts,N ot Blank Pages
“Write a story about a boy and a dog.”
“Describe a garden in winter.”
Most children freeze when faced with a blank page.
The trick? Give prompts with structure.
Try:
- “Write about a time you lost something, using three emotions: fear, confusion, relief.”
- “Describe a stormy night, focus on what you see, hear, and feel.”
- “Write a letter to your future self in 20 years.”
Then add a challenge: use at least 2 similes, 1 rhetorical question, and a sentence with varied punctuation.
This helps your child use the tools examiners are looking for, not just tell a story.
In some counties, over 60% of children lose marks in the 111+ exams in English because they either rush the writing section or run out of ideas mid-way. That’s not a writing problem; it’s a planning and confidence problem.
Tip 7: Use Past Papers Like Real Exams
Once your child is comfortable with all the individual sections, it’s time to put them together, with real 11+ English scores, English under timed conditions.
This builds:
- Exam stamina
- Familiarity with tricky question styles
- Confidence in managing time
Create a quiet space. Use a timer. And treat it like a real test, no interruptions, no early feedback. Review it together after.
Even doing one past paper per week in the final 6–8 weeks before the exam can significantly raise performance.
Tip 8: Celebrate Small Wins and Progress
Improving in English isn’t always obvious. One day, they might write a brilliant story, and the next day, they miss half the questions in a comprehension test. That’s normal.
Track their growth like this:
- Keep a writing folder to compare early vs. recent stories
- Track how many minutes it takes to finish cloze tests
- Celebrate when they learn a tricky new word or master punctuation
Children need visible proof that their efforts are working; it helps them stay motivated during longer 11 plus exams seasons.
Make English Feel Less Like a Threat
So many children feel nervous about English because it feels “fuzzy” compared to Maths or Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Let them know:
- There’s no such thing as a perfect story
- Even adults guess the meanings of new words
- Every mistake is a clue to what’s improving next
When English becomes something they explore, not fear, their confidence grows, and their scores follow.
How Quest for Exams Can Help
At Quest for Exams, we know how much effort, time, and love go into helping your child succeed in the 11+ English scores.
That’s why we’ve designed:
Realistic 11+ English scores English aligned with current grammar school standards
Topic-specific bundles targeting 11+ exam papers English questions, and vocabulary
Graded writing tasks with feedback
Short, smart practice papers for busy families
Affordable bundles so your child can revise without being overwhelmed
Because it’s not just about passing the exam.
It’s about helping your child feel proud of their progress, one paper, one word, one win at a time.
Get your child exam-ready with real 11 plus exam questions and answers that help them understand what to expect and how to get it right.
Ready to help your child master English? Start today at QuestForExams.co.uk
FAQs
Q1. How long should my child study English each week for the 11+?
Aim for 3–4 focused sessions of 30–45 minutes per week. It’s better to have short, consistent practice than cramming once a month.
Q2. What’s the most common mistake in 11+ English scores?
Time mismanagement. Many children run out of time during comprehension or spend too long on one creative writing idea. Timed practice helps fix this.
Q3. My child reads a lot but still struggles with comprehension. Why?
They may be reading passively. Help them practice active reading, summarising, predicting, questioning, and analysing characters while they read.
Q4. Are the 11+ English exams the same in every region?
No, formats vary. Some include creative writing, others focus on comprehension and grammar. Always review your local 11 exam English syllabus for exact details.
Q5. What’s a good way to boost my child’s vocabulary quickly?
Make it playful. Use “word of the day” games, write silly sentences together, and encourage your child to spot new words in books or shows.
Q6. Can Quest for Exams really help if we’ve started late?
Yes! Our bundles are designed to be flexible, focused, and high-impact, perfect for families on a tight schedule or just beginning their prep.