Classes for 11+ & 13+       

One-to-one classes

11+ MATHEMATICS

Individual tuition will cover the current syllabuses including the following elements. All classes are tailored to the individual needs of the student.

  • number and place value

  • addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

  • Roman numerals

  • rounding numbers (including simple decimals)

  • negative numbers

  • multiples and factors

  • prime numbers

  • square and cube numbers

  • estimation

  • equivalent fractions

  • mixed numbers and improper fractions

  • the 4 operations with simple fractions

  • ordering fractions

  • percentage (%) and calculation of percentages

  • equivalents of fractions / decimals / percentages

  • ratio and proportion

  • algebra: simple formulae

  • number sequences and term-to-term rules

  • reading and converting measurements

  • perimeter and area

  • volume and capacity

  • using decimal notation in problems up to 3 d.p.

  • use of standard units for length, area and volume

  • 2D & 3D shapes

  • acute, obtuse and reflex angles

  • regular and irregular polygons

  • nets

  • parts of circles

  • finding missing angles

  • grid coordinates

  • translating and reflecting simple shapes

  • line graphs

  • tables, pictograms, time graphs, timetables

  • tallying

  • carroll diagrams and sorting

  • mean (as average)

  • construction and interpretation of pie charts, bar charts and line graphs

“The aim is that students should develop fluency, reason mathematically and be able to solve problems.” ISEB

13+ MATHEMATICS

Individual tuition will cover the elements above in more detail and with more complex questions. In addition, the following elements will be covered.

Lessons will be tailored to the appropriate syllabuses, and, where appropriate, to specific schools.

  • using a wider range of symbols e.g. <, >.

  • highest common factor (HCF)

  • lowest common multiple (LCM)

  • prime factorisation

  • calculations with negative numbers

  • using the 4 operations with proper and improper fractions and mixed numbers

  • BIDMAS / BODMAS

  • inverse operations

  • integer powers and real roots

  • standard form

  • interpreting percentages and percentage change

  • percentages > 100%

  • significant figures and decimal places

  • inequality notation

  • using a calculator accurately

  • algebraic notation

  • substituting numerical values in formulae

  • collecting like terms and multiplying brackets

  • changing the subject of a formula

  • solving linear equations

  • simultaneous equations

  • recognise, sketch and produce simple linear graphs

  • conversion graphs

  • finding and using the nth term in sequences

  • arithmetic, geometric and other sequences

  • solving simple linear inequalities

  • using scale factors, scale diagrams and maps

  • using ratio notation, dividing a quantity by a given ratio

  • expressing one quantity as a fraction of another (<1, >1)

  • simple interest

  • distance, time and speed questions

  • perimeter and area of triangles, parallelograms, trapezia etc.

  • volume of cuboids, prisms (including cylinders)

  • perimeters of 2D shapes (including circle circumference)

  • areas of circles and composite shapes

  • ruler and compass constructions, bisecting angles

  • names of all polygons (up to decagon)

  • standard conventions for labelling triangles

  • properties of 3D shapes, nets and calculations

  • probability (randomness, fairness, likely outcomes)

  • Venn diagrams

  • scatter graphs and description

  • mean, median, mode and range

  • construct and interpret charts e.g. bar charts, pie charts

  • describe relationship between bivariate data

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13+ Maths / 11+ & 13+ English

VR & NVR

11+ ENGLISH

All English classes seek to build on and expand the vocabulary which students use in their writing, the correct use of punctuation, accurate spelling and develop complexity in the use of grammar.

The following elements will be covered:

  • gathering information from a text

  • skimming and scanning

  • summarising information

  • inference

  • understanding character

  • synonyms and antonyms

  • homophones

  • sentence beginnings

  • using paragraphs (TiPToP)

  • PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation)

  • word roots

  • correct punctuation (including use of commas, colons and semi-colons, hyphens etc.)

  • idioms

  • prefixes and suffixes

  • tenses

  • prepositions

  • determiners

  • conjunctions and connectives

  • alliteration

  • onomatopoeia

  • similes

  • metaphors

  • personification

  • active and passive voice

  • reported speech

  • modal verbs

  • use of adjectives and adverbs

  • plurals

  • parentheses

  • story / essay structure

  • story / essay planning

  • short sentences / complex sentences

  • building tension

  • description

“ A course in English should provide enjoyment and stimulation

to encourage a positive attitude towards every aspect of the subject.” [ISEB]

13+ ENGLISH

Tuition will seek to build on the elements above with greater emphasis on the following areas:

  • using high-level vocabulary

  • precise use of text in answers

  • inference

  • style and mood

  • opinion and balanced judgement

  • comparison and contrast

  • poetry

  • narrative

  • genre

  • close analysis of texts

All students should be encouraged to read as widely as possible. Lists for suggested reading are available.

VERBAL REASONING (VR)

Verbal reasoning exams test the student’s understanding, reasoning and logic.

Because the questions are very different in style, VR is usually taught in separate lessons, although elements can be included in English lessons.

N.B. Look out for our VR short courses!

All VR papers test word meaning, making words, codes and maths based questions (Yes, in English!). The ISEB syllabus (below) illustrates the main topics covered.

  • opposite meaning

  • similar meaning

  • word connections

  • closest meaning

  • odd ones out

  • reading information

  • inserting letters

  • hidden words

  • missing word

  • move a letter

  • compound words

  • make a word

  • letters for numbers

  • number series

  • letter connections

  • word letter codes

  • word number codes

A separate course in VR is vital if the student’s exams include a VR paper.

NON-VERBAL REASONING (NVR)

The tests for non-verbal reasoning, like those for verbal reasoning, are very different in style and need to be taught separately.

They include reasoning with abstract shapes and spatial awareness. The main elements are:

  • series and patterns

  • finding rules which link shapes

  • similarities and differences (size, colour, orientation, thickness and number of lines etc.)

  • common properties

  • codes, and linking codes to shapes or features

  • odd one out

  • matrices

  • hidden shapes

  • merging shapes

  • nets

  • rotations

  • reflection

  • folding and punching

  • 2D views of 3D shapes

Different exam boards (and some individual schools) have variations in the style and content of NVR. Individual lessons will be tailored to the student’s needs after the principle content has been taught.

A student who is excellent in Maths and/or English will often fail, or fall short of expectations, in NVR and VR.

Why? NVR and VR are very different in content and approach to the other tests.

If your entrance requirements include VR or NVR you need to study them separately.

There are many good books to help you with this and you should use them. However, after many years of teaching I have found that being able to discuss the possible answers with a tutor and even argue the merits of different answers cannot be beaten.

The book is in black and white, definitive and correct. The tutor has the opportunity to explain, encourage and explore.