How often should my child revise this summer?
Aside from the excitement of time off with the family, rising temperatures and (if we’re lucky enough) distant holiday destinations, 11 plus revision rarely springs to mind at this time of year.
However, with the 11+ entrance exam in less than two months time and SATs fast approaching, it is essential that your child does not lose momentum in this vital stage of their preparation.
As 11plus tutors, the question we are most often asked is: “How often should my child be revising throughout the summer holidays?”
The answer is that your child should be revising a little bit each day (as the entrance exam is fast approaching) and there are simple techniques to help incorporate revision into your child’s daily routine.
To add some revision structure to your summer, KSOL tutors have provided five top tips and a useful check-list that will take the pressure off your 11+ summer!
Tip 1 – Make revision a personalised experience.
Every child is unique and has a different way of absorbing and retaining information. For example, some children are auditory learners, retaining information best when speaking and listening, whilst others are visual learners who prefer learning with colours, images or symbols.
Identify which type of learning style your child responds best to and tailor their revision accordingly!
Tip 2 – Use your surroundings to inspire revision material this summer.
Revision doesn’t have to be restricted to pen and paper, it can be incorporated into your everyday routine. For example, encourage your child to calculate the speed your plane/bus is travelling at, distance it travels and time it takes.
Stuck for ideas? Whilst paying for the bill, ask your child to calculate how much each person owes or alternatively, calculate currency conversions in shops. Incorporating problem solving into real life scenarios is fantastic practice for the entrance exam. Furthermore, your child will be revising without even realising!
Tip 3 – Play board games!
Word board games expose your child to regular word pattern recognition, vocabulary and spelling; ensuring subtle English revision is maintained throughout the holiday.
Why not allocate your child a Word of the Day? Encourage them to write out the definition, incorporate it into multiple sentences and come up with synonyms and antonyms.
Tip 4 – Try a new learning environment.
Put the pens and pencils away for the day and try an educational excursion that’s close to home. Surrounded by plenty of playful distractions, children often associate the home with after-school downtime, which can disrupt concentration and prevent them from getting the most out of their revision.
Plan a day out to the library or museum with friends. Getting your child out of the house and away from a monotonous revision schedule will help motivate learning and improve memory retention. Revising with friends will provide plenty of opportunity for question and answer revision practice and furthermore, remind your child that they are not alone in preparing for the 11plus.
Tip 5 – Create a structured revision plan.
Although it is difficult to plan exactly when your child will be revising this summer, to ensure your child is fully prepared, planning ahead is essential. Firstly, it would be extremely beneficial to make a list of each of your child’s weak areas. This will help you envisage exactly how much your child needs to cover before the exam and therefore how much revision is needed. Once this list is prepared, you may set aside a specific time each day and allocate a topic.
KSOL tutors recommend that children revise first thing in the morning over the summer. As the 11+ entrance exam usually takes place in the morning, this will help your child mentally adjust to perform quickly and efficiently when it comes to the real thing. What’s more, it feels great to get revision out of the way, so your child can enjoy the rest of their day!
KSOL Checklist:
- If your child is an online member of KSOL, on your parent dashboard, go to the ‘History’ tab to identify weak areas that you can work on with your child.
- Encourage your child to watch the Interactive Video Lessons available on their student dashboard under ‘Education Bank’. These are currently revision videos and will therefore provide an excellent addition to their studies.
- Ensure your child sits at least one mock exam. This will help eliminate final nerves, improve time-management and familiarise your child with the format and content of the exam.
- Add additional resources to your child’s learning. Did you know that KSOL have our own range of revision books and flashcards?
- Spend time this summer reassuring your child that their best effort is good enough. In case they do not gain a space, ensure that you give their local secondary school plenty of praise.
We hope you have found the information in this 11+ guide helpful.
If you have any queries or would like to speak to an educational adviser, please don’t hesitate to contact the team on 0121 733 6558.
