Over 20 years experience teaching and tutoring children

11 Plus Mock Exams at Tintagel Tutoring

Tintagel Tutoring offers mock exams in the months leading up to the 11 Plus, designed to replicate the conditions of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Exam as closely as possible. Each exam is conducted under formal exam conditions and lasts approximately two hours. While it is not essential for your child to sit a mock exam, we recommend participating in at least one to gain valuable experience in a formal testing environment before the real exam. [Book your child’s mock exam here.]

Mock exams provide an excellent opportunity for children to practice working under timed conditions, helping them manage exam day nerves and build confidence. They also play an important role in our tuition, giving a clear picture of your child’s progress across each area of the exam, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, they help children improve their timing and exam technique, boosting self-assurance and readiness for the real exam.

After each mock exam, we provide detailed, specific feedback for parents, helping you understand your child’s progress and supporting learning at home. For booking and more information, please visit our dedicated 11+ Mock Exams page.

 11 Plus English at Tintagel Tutoring 

Comprehension
Reading comprehension is all about understanding and interpreting what has been read. In the 11+ exam, children are presented with a short passage — either fiction or non-fiction — followed by a series of multiple-choice questions.

While children will already have experience with comprehension exercises at school, the 11+ test is often more challenging. Some of the ways it differs include:

• Time pressure: Children must answer the questions within a set time, which can make it harder to think carefully and respond accurately.
   
• Multiple-choice format: Unlike the sentence-style answers common in school exercises, 11+ multiple-choice questions test understanding in a more precise and detailed way.
   
• Variety of texts: Exam passages may include classic literature, such as works by Thomas Hardy or Charles Dickens, which use older or more formal language. Exposure to a wide range of texts and writing styles can help children feel more comfortable with unfamiliar language.
   

Encouraging children to read widely across different genres and eras will make comprehension easier and more enjoyable.

Reading and Vocabulary
Questions on both the English and Verbal Reasoning papers often assess a child’s vocabulary and spelling. Reading regularly is one of the most effective ways to build both.

Even if you haven’t focused on this before, it’s never too late to start. Encourage your child to read for enjoyment every day, even for just 15–20 minutes. When they come across new or challenging words, note them in a vocabulary book along with their meanings. Over time, this will strengthen both their comprehension and their confidence in tackling the vocabulary-based questions in the 11+.

11 Plus Numerical reasoning at Tintagel Tutoring

What is Numerical Reasoning?
Numerical reasoning focuses on a child’s ability to interpret and solve worded problems using basic mathematical concepts. The questions are designed to test logical thinking and problem-solving skills rather than advanced maths. While the calculations themselves are usually straightforward, the challenge often lies in understanding what the question is asking and deciding which methods to use. Many questions are connected, with later answers depending on earlier ones, which adds an extra layer of reasoning.

Preparing for Numerical Reasoning
The best way to build confidence in numerical reasoning is through practice with a variety of problem-solving questions. This helps children learn how to identify relevant information, recognise patterns, and choose the correct mathematical approach. Because the test is timed, children also benefit from practising efficient calculation methods, allowing them to work accurately under pressure.

Topics Typically Covered
While the exact content can vary, children should have a solid understanding of the following areas of maths:

• Word problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
   
• Decimals in word problems, including money calculations
   
• Fractions, decimals, and percentages, including conversions between them
   
• Interpreting graphs such as bar charts, pie charts, and travel graphs
   
• Probability expressed as fractions
   
• Ratio and direct proportion
   
• Unit conversions and scale problems
   
• Area, perimeter, and volume
   
• Averages (mean, median, mode, and range)
   
• Time problems and reading timetables
   

Through structured tuition at Tintagel Tutoring, children develop the reasoning skills and confidence they need to approach numerical questions with clarity and accuracy, preparing them fully for the 11+ exam.

11 Plus Verbal reasoning at Tintagel Tutoring

What is Verbal Reasoning?
Verbal reasoning is all about a child’s ability to think with words — spotting patterns, finding hidden words, and sometimes creating new ones. It is designed to test logical thinking and problem-solving skills, rather than just vocabulary knowledge or reading fluency.

To perform well in verbal reasoning, children generally need skills in three key areas:

1. Comprehension
This involves understanding and analysing written information, then using it to draw correct conclusions based solely on the text. Strong comprehension helps children interpret questions accurately and avoid mistakes.

2. Grammar
Grammar skills are essential for many 11+ verbal reasoning questions. Children may be asked to complete passages so that they are grammatically correct, which requires knowledge of tenses, sentence structure, and spelling.

3. Vocabulary
A broad vocabulary is central to success in verbal reasoning. This includes understanding synonyms, antonyms, and the meaning of words in context. Many exams now use cloze tests, where words in a passage are either partially or completely removed.

• For partially removed words, children must think of the correct word and spell it accurately.
   
• For fully removed words, children select the most appropriate option from a given list, testing both vocabulary and grammatical sense.
   

Regular practice with a variety of reading materials, short comprehension exercises, and vocabulary-building activities will strengthen language skills, improve understanding of words in context, and help children approach verbal reasoning questions with confidence.

11 Plus Non-Verbal reasoning at Tintagel Tutoring

What is Non-Verbal Reasoning?
Non-verbal reasoning tests use diagrams, shapes, and pictures to assess a child’s ability to think logically and solve problems visually. Rather than relying on reading or language skills, these tests focus on pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and the relationships between objects. Children may be asked to spot similarities or differences, complete sequences, or identify errors within shapes and patterns.

Skills Required for Non-Verbal Reasoning
Success in non-verbal reasoning depends on strong spatial awareness and the ability to analyse visual information logically. Some children naturally excel in this area, while others can improve significantly through practice.

Through structured tuition, children learn to break down patterns into smaller parts, eliminating incorrect options step by step. They also develop an understanding of key mathematical concepts, such as rotation and reflective symmetry, and apply logical thinking to see how different objects relate to each other.

With consistent practice, children can build confidence and improve their non-verbal reasoning skills, equipping them to approach these diagrammatic and pictorial questions with clarity and success.