11+ Mock Tests: Benefits and Bewares

This blog discusses the subject of 11+ mock testing. Before you read, I just wanted to affirm the fact that, whilst we at Ingenia Education do provide 11+ mock tests, my intention is to provide some genuine advice for parents about the pros and cons of these mock tests in as unbiased a manner as I can.

At the time of writing, there is roughly one month before the deadline for 11+ registration and just over three months until the exam itself. Whilst this seems like plenty of time, one must not forget that we are about to enter the summer months and a host of different holidays and exciting events for many families. The only (incredibly minor!) downside is that, before many of us know it, it has gone in a flash and all of a sudden it is September.

It is therefore no surprise that many parents begin to think about extra 11+ preparation for their child now, and generally at the forefront of their thinking is finding mock tests for their children to attend. Across Warwickshire, there are a few companies offering such tests aimed at giving children an experience of what the real test will be like for children. For many, this is the first real exam which they will experience, and yet it doesn’t seem fair that it will be one of the hardest. Whilst these mock tests can be incredibly beneficial in a child’s preparation for the 11+, there can also be downsides. So, I shall outline a few benefits and bewares when considering entering your child for 11+ mock tests.

Benefit: experiencing the “test day”

One of the most frequent questions I have been asked by children preparing for the test is about how the day will actually run. Many children will be anxious about the day because it is not something they will have experienced before, and they may turn these anxieties into misconceptions about the test day, such as that they will be shouted at for doing anything wrong, or thinking the whole time will be spent doing the test with no break or opportunity to go to the toilet etc. One benefit of mock tests is that they let children experience first hand how the test will run. They will see an example of how they will sit, what the rules of the test will be and a general timetable of the day. Also, the adults running the test will know that it is many children’s first time, and will know how to explain things and answer their questions to help them understand what they need to do. This should prevent children from creating misconceptions about the real test day and help them to feel a bit more relaxed in their preparation.

Beware: some children find the test overwhelming

The 11+ test is very challenging, and the mock tests aim to replicate the experience in as accurate a way as possible. Some children find a formal testing environment very daunting, and there are a few factors which can cause children to be unsettled: sitting in an unfamiliar room with other children and adults they don’t know; doing their work in silence; not being able to get up and move around as they please etc. Even though most children will have experienced tests at school, a formal test in a different environment just seems to bring a different mindset for many children (and indeed many adults). It is in fact quite common for children to feel this way about the Year 6 SATS simply because they know it is an important set of tests, and even because children are unsettled by the fact they are completing them in the school hall or a different room to their classroom.

You know your child best, and you may feel that a mock test will just create more anxiety. When I was a child, I hated formal tests. I knew I had to take them and they were important but, in my head, the fewer the better. Your child may be similar; they know they will take the 11+ and they want to take it to get into grammar school, but you know they would be much better off only taking one test instead of worrying about additional practice ones.

Benefit: experiencing an exam paper

As you may already know, there are no official 11+ practice materials. No past papers are, or have ever been, released which hinders many parents’ attempts to help their child prepare for the exam. An 11+ mock test is the closest thing children will get to experiencing an 11+ exam paper. The companies which run the tests write their own papers based on a significant amount of research on the limited information released.

Children will be able to experience the format of the test and the style of questions they may be asked. They will also be able to see how they have to record their answers (marking a multiple choice box in a specific way) and can practise doing so. This means that, when it comes to the real test, they won’t lose marks simply because they didn’t fill in their answer paper in the correct way. Additionally, they will be able to experience the time restrictions they have to face which will help them to understand the importance of working quickly and efficiently. Many children are caught out by the sheet number of questions they have to answer in short periods of time, and therefore leave many unanswered. If they have attempted a test in advance, they will become aware of the need to work quickly through the questions and can practise this at home before the real test.

Beware: over-testing

Over-testing has a number of significant issues. First, children can become so bored by the process that they lose any enthusiasm they had and become less motivated. This results in less focus at home during their practising, and a general apathy towards the real test itself resulting in a weaker score. Secondly, children feel they have to get a better score each time, and if their score dips or doesn’t improve enough in their (or someone else’s) opinion, they can feel a sense of failure. They then have to go back into the next exam feeling as if they will “fail” before they have even begun, which can escalate into more complex issues.

Additionally, 11+ mock tests can be quite costly. Our research has suggested the going rate if around £60 per test, with some costing as much as £100. Entering your child for four or five tests (which some companies do offer) would therefore carry a significant financial commitment, and yet there isn’t much benefit for children completing that many. Most parents who decide to enter their child into a mock test usually opt for one or two; I certainly wouldn’t recommend more than one per month,

Benefit: gives an indication of your child’s progress

This is perhaps one of the most important benefits of 11+ mock tests. The results usually give an indication of how your child is doing in their preparation and how they might fare in the real 11+ exam. Most companies provides results within two weeks (sometimes sooner), and these include a breakdown of each section of the test and how your child scored in each one. You can then use these results to see which areas perhaps require a bit more work in the remaining weeks, and where your child is performing well. This is invaluable information for both parents and tutors to help set more focused work, hopefully resulting in a greater chance in the real 11+ test.

Beware: pressurising children

Parents obviously want the best for their children, and would love for them to attend the best schools. Unfortunately, I hear of many situations where parents apply far too much pressure on their children to do well in the 11+, and many very bright children crack under the pressure. Children might see a mock test as just as important as the real 11+ and put far too much pressure on themselves to do well and not to “fail”. If the results aren’t as good as were hoped, or if they don’t improve on their previous mock test score, this can result in the child thinking they have let down their parents. As mentioned in my previous blogs, it is essential to remind children that it is only a test, and you are proud of them whatever the outcome. However, you may feel that mock tests are an added pressure your child doesn’t need, and instead choose to focus attention on their preparation for the real 11+ at home.

If you would like more information on the 11+, SATS or any other aspects of primary education, please contact us and we would love to help you. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and you can learn more about our company or sign up for one of our 11+ Mock Tests at www.ingenia-education.co.uk.