11+ Examination Guidelines - English and Mathematics
GUIDELINES 11+ Mathematics Examination
Time allowed: one hour
The emphasis in the entrance examination is upon potential rather than purely on techniques already acquired, and every effort is made to allow mathematical intelligence to show itself even where mathematical training has been rather rudimentary. However, knowledge of the following topics will certainly be an advantage:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of integers.
- Simple fractions and decimals.
- Perimeter, area and volume of simple figures.
- Applications of arithmetic to problems concerning money, distance, speed, time etc.
- Interpretation of bar charts and other simple forms of graph.
- The symmetry of reflections and simple rotations.
- Elementary geometry - angles, shapes, angle sum of triangles, angles on a clock face.
- Easy percentages.
The examination will consist of a single, non-calculator paper divided into two parts. Section A will contain a number of short questions in which little or no 'working' is required. Section B is perhaps more demanding, but gives a chance for the bright child to show his or her potential. It will contain a small number of questions, each of which requires a more extended argument. The questions will be less structured than those in Section A and will be answered on lined paper rather than on the question paper itself. Experience of the following approaches could be useful:
- Spotting number patterns or sequences
- Axiomatic work; reading a new set of rules and using them.
- Drawing careful, accurate diagrams.
- Estimation, to arrive at approximate answers.
- Simple ideas of algebra - using letters for numbers
GUIDELINES 11+ English Examination
TWO PAPERS
Paper One: Comprehension (15 minutes to read the passage set, and 30 minutes to answer questions on it)
Paper Two: Composition (30 minutes in total)
In the first paper, Candidates will be presented with a passage of English (either fiction or non-fiction). Comprehension questions on this will test their understanding on a factual level, and will also require the pupils to read interpretatively. The spelling and punctuation of answers will be a factor in the mark given.
In the second paper, Candidates will be presented with a range of titles and will be asked to choose ONE of them as the subject for continuous prose writing. The choice of subjects will be quite wide and will include opportunities for personal, descriptive and narrative writing.
The marking of the Composition paper will take into account the following; imagination, fluency of expression, breadth of vocabulary, grasp of syntax and paragraphing, as well as accuracy of spelling and punctuation.