How to Prepare for the Thirteen Plus Exam

In this Section, we discuss the ways to prepare for the 13 plus exam, including understanding the ways to research the schools to which you want to apply. You will have to address the following questions:

• what school do I want to apply to?

• What are the entry requirements for that school?

• What resources do I use to prepare for the 13 plus exams?

• How to find an 13 plus private tutor?

What is tested in the 13+ exam?

Independent schools typically test four areas in the 13+ that I will list below. English and Maths typically follow the National Curriculum KS3. Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning test a child's ability to grasp language concepts and spot patterns-more like an IQ test. The most successful students who sit the 13+ usually function above what is expected for their age.

1. English

• Comprehension: This area looks at the child's ability to understand complex text and answer questions from the texts.

• Spelling and Vocabulary: This area assesses the child's breadth of vocabulary , accuracy of spelling and understanding of English.

• Grammar and Punctuation: This section enables the examiner to evaluate the child's understanding of the English language's structural rules.

2. Maths

• Arithmetic: This includes assessing the child's proficiency in basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

• Problem Solving: It assesses the child's aptitude to use mathematical knowledge to solve problems.

3. Verbal Reasoning

• Language processing: An assessment of a child's ability to understand and process language. The tasks may include identifying text patterns, solving word problems, following written instructions to produce a solution, recognizing letter sequences and breaking down letter- and number-based codes.

• Skills over Knowledge: These exams aim to evaluate a child's reasoning skill rather than their learned knowledge. The focus is on their ability to think critically and solve problems using words.

4. Non-verbal Reasoning

• Spatial Awareness: This measures the child's ability to understand shapes and their spatial distributions.

• Pattern Recognition: This area evaluates the ability of the child to identify abstract patterns and sequences.

Thirteen Plus Resources

1. Practice Papers

Practice is the essence of perfection. Giving your child practice papers in the style of the exam they will sit will allow them to appreciate the format, time management, and expected results.

For access to over 2000 13+ practice papers, please request access here to my google drive.

2. Textbooks

As parents, you may often find yourselves debating the value of a traditional textbook over the seemingly endless online resources. While it's true that the internet provides plenty of educational content, textbooks can offer a systematic and cohesive learning approach tailored specifically for the 13+ exam.

Thirteen Plus Private Tutors

A private tutor is often a game-changer during the 13+ process. For many this is a taboo topic, unspoken among parents; however, I can tell you it is very common. It offers

• Individualised Attention: With a private tutor, your child receives one-on-one attention. Unlike teachers in a classroom setting, tutors can address specific problem areas, dynamically adjust teaching methods to suit your child's learning style, and move at their pace.

• Extra Curricular Content: For many parts of the 13+, the content is not covered in the majority of school. For example, the reasoning parts of the exams. A tutor will give access to this kind of practice.

• Boosting Confidence: A private tutor can help boost your child's confidence as they prepare for the 13+ exam by providing reassurance and strategies for overcoming exam anxieties.

• Convenience and Flexibility: Unlike in traditional teaching set-ups, tutors offer a flexible schedule that works best for your child and you. They can tutor at home, online, or at a convenient location, eliminating the time spent commuting.