The 11+ exams are a critical milestone for many children and effective time management is key to ensuring success. As a parent, you play a vital role in guiding and supporting your child through this challenging period. One of the key factors to success in these exams is effective time management. In this article we will explore how you can help your child develop and hone their time management skills to excel in the 11+ exams.
Before outlining some useful tips and hints for developing time management skills it is important to outline what is meant by ‘time management’; it is the strategic allocation and efficient use of time during an exam so that all questions are answered within the given timeframe. Often in the 11+ exams, time is quite pressurised and there are a large number of questions to complete in a short period of time. Pupils need to plan how much time to spend on each question and maintaining a steady pace to maximise performance and reduce stress.
Create a study schedule
A structured study schedule is the backbone of effective time management. Here’s how you can create one:
1. Assess the 11+ syllabus
Break down the whole syllabus into manageable sections. Understanding what needs to be covered will help in allocating appropriate time to each subject.
2. Set realistic goals
Help your child set achievable daily and weekly goals. This keeps them motivated and provides a sense of accomplishment as they tick off completed tasks.
3. Include breaks
Ensure the schedule includes short breaks between study sessions to avoid burnout. The Pomodoro technique, which involves 25-minute study sessions followed by a 5 minute-break, can be effective.
4. Balance the 11+ subjects
Rotate subjects to keep the study sessions diverse and engaging. This also prevents the monotony of studying a single subject for long hours.
Teach effective time allocation
One of the biggest challenges with the 11+ exams is time allocation. Help your child calculate the average time they should spend on each question. For example, if a maths section is 25 questions and 25 minutes, they should aim to spend about one minute per question. In verbal reasoning or non-verbal reasoning questions the time per question might be much shorter (15 – 30 seconds).
Develop effective reading techniques
Reading quickly and effectively is crucial for managing time, especially in comprehension and reasoning sections.
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Skimming and scanning: Teach your child to skim through passages to get the gist and scan for specific information. This should save time when reading it thoroughly and help them to grasp the main points.
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Highlight keywords: encourage highlighting or underlining important keywords in the questions (e.g. find the true or false statement according to the accompanying passage, or find the synonym or antonym for a word).
Prioritise questions strategically
Questions in the 11+ exam are generally equal to one mark but some may be more time-consuming than others.
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Easy first: Advise your child to answer the easier questions first. This ensures they secure marks quickly and build confidence.
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Mark and move: If they encounter a difficult question, they should mark it and move on, returning to it later if time permits. This prevents them from getting stuck and wasting time.
Practice elimination techniques
Multiple-choice exams often include distractors - options designed to confuse:
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Eliminate wrong answers: Teach your child to eliminate obviously incorrect answers first. This increases the probability of choosing the correct answer if they need to guess.
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Educated guesses: If they’re unsure, making an educated guess after eliminating wrong options is better than leaving a question blank (unless there’s a severe penalty for incorrect answers).
Simulate exam conditions
Practising under realistic exam conditions can significantly enhance time management skills:
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Quiet environment: Ensure practice sessions are conducted in a quiet environment similar to the actual exam setting.
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Full-length papers: Regularly practice full-length papers under timed conditions to build stamina and get used to the exam’s duration.
Analyse performance and adjust
After each practice session, review your child’s performance:
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Identify weak areas: Look for patterns in mistakes and time management issues. Are there specific types of questions that consistently take longer?
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Adjust the study plan: Use this analysis to adjust the study schedule, focusing more on weak areas and refining time management strategies.
Encourage a balanced approach
While practice is essential, balance is equally important:
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Breaks and relaxation: Ensure your child takes regular breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout. Short, frequent breaks can help maintain focus and productivity.
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Healthy Lifestyle: Encourage a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep. A healthy body supports a sharp mind, which is crucial for effective time management.
Stay positive and supportive
Finally, maintain a positive and supportive environment:
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Celebrate successes: Celebrate milestones and improvements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement boosts morale and motivation.
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Open communication: Keep the lines of communication open. Discuss any challenges your child faces and work together to find solutions.
Improving time management skills for the 11+ exams involves structured practice, strategic thinking and a supportive environment. By incorporating these strategies, you can help your child navigate their preparation more effectively, reduce stress and enhance their chances of success. Remember, your involvement and encouragement are pivotal in helping your child develop these crucial skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey.
By Chris Pearse
Chris Pearse is a qualified Primary School Teacher with 10 years' experience in teaching. He started Teachitright in 2006 to provide support for children taking secondary school exams and is passionate about helping children achieve their potential whilst enjoying education.