11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Preparation – Year 5
A list of schools/areas this advice applies to is at the bottom of the page.
Skills development and exam preparation – Year 5
If preparing at home you have a choice between:
1. Using a structured course
2. Using books
In summary, if you choose a structured course all the planning is done for you, everything is included and you just have to print it out and do it. On the other hand, if you choose to buy books you would need to do the planning yourself and decide what to do when.
Please download our FREE 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning preparation guide which gives detailed explanations of how to structure a preparation programme at home and how to use the resources we have recommended below.
1. Using Structured Courses For Preparation
ⓘ Editor’s Pick – Learning Street’s Complete 11 Plus Programme offers excellent coverage of all elements needed for the 11 Plus exam. They also provide a version covering just the Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning elements of the complete programme if you do not need coverage of maths and non-verbal reasoning.
If you have less time available before the exam, try the medium length course (approximately 20 weeks) or the short course (approximately 10 weeks).
2. Using Books for Preparation
Step Zero (see guide) – Vocabulary development throughout the preparation process
ⓘ Editor’s Pick- Learning Street- Complete Vocabulary Course or Vocabulary Enhance or Vocabulary BoostOR
elevenplusexams – 11+ Vocabulary in Context – Level 2
elevenplusexams – 11+ Vocabulary in Context – Level 3
elevenplusexams – 11+ Vocabulary in Context – Level 4
Kit’s Educational Publishing – Complete Graded Spelling lists for years one to six
Step One (see guide) – Introductory phase
Use one of the four following books
IPS – Verbal Reasoning Method and Technique
CGP – Verbal Reasoning Study Book
Bond – How to do Verbal Reasoning
Step Two (see guide) – Familiarisation
Use some of the following books
CGP – Verbal Reasoning 10/11 – The 11 Plus Practice Book
Step Three (see guide) – Initial testing and exam technique development
Use some of the following books
Bond – 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Assessment Papers 10/11 Book 1, Book 2
Letts – 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Assessment Papers 10/11
Step Four (see guide) – Exam skills development using 11 Plus standard tests
ⓘ Editor’s Pick- GL Assesment- Verbal Reasoning 11 Plus Multiple Choice Pack 1, Multiple Choice Pack 2 and Multiple Choice Pack 3AND/OR Use some of the following books
IPS – Verbal Reasoning 11 Plus Practice Papers – Dual Format
CGP – Multiple Choice Verbal Reasoning Test Papers
Letts 11+ Success Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
Schools/areas this advice applies to:
Berkshire Reading – all schools – apart from Reading Grammar School
Buckinghamshire – all schools
Dorset – all schools
Essex – all schools – apart from Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Gloucestershire – all schools
Greater Manchester – all schools – apart from Sale Grammar School and Urmiston Grammar Academy
Hertfordshire South West – all schools
Hertfordshire – all schools
Kent Medway – all schools
Kent – all schools
Lancashire – all schools
London Kingston-upon-Thames – all schools
London Redbridge – all schools
Wiltshire – all schools
Yorkshire Calderdale – all schools
Yorkshire North – all schools
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School – Cumbria
Newstead Wood School – London Bromley