English 11+ Tuition

Writing clearly and imaginatively while using proper structure, varied sentence types, and engaging language:

• Story Structure – Crafting engaging beginnings, detailed middles, and strong conclusions.
• Descriptive Writing – Using sensory details, figurative language, and varied sentence structures to create vivid descriptions.
• Character Development – Creating well-rounded characters with depth and personality.
• Dialogue Writing – Using proper punctuation and realistic speech to enhance storytelling.
• Persuasive Writing – Structuring arguments effectively and using emotive language.
• Letter Writing – Understanding formal and informal letter formats.
• Essay Writing – Organising ideas logically and developing well-structured arguments.

Accuracy in commonly tested words and complex vocabulary:

• Commonly Misspelled Words – Focusing on frequently tested tricky words.
• Prefixes & Suffixes – Understanding word formation and spelling rules.
• Homophones & Homonyms – Differentiating between words like “there/their/they’re” or “affect/effect.”
• Root Words & Word Origins – Learning how words are built and their meanings.
• Silent Letters & Irregular Spellings – Identifying words with silent letters and unpredictable patterns.

Correct use of punctuation marks such as commas, apostrophes, and speech marks:

• Full Stops & Capital Letters – Mastering sentence boundaries and proper nouns.
• Commas – Using commas for lists, clauses, and pauses in writing.
• Apostrophes – Understanding contractions and possessive forms.
• Speech Marks – Formatting dialogue correctly.
• Colons & Semi-colons – Using them to improve sentence variety and clarity.
• Exclamation Marks & Question Marks – Knowing when and how to use them effectively.

Understanding sentence structure, verb tenses, and proper word usage:

• Parts of Speech – Understanding nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
• Sentence Structure – Differentiating between simple, compound, and complex sentences.
• Tenses – Using past, present, and future tenses accurately.
• Subject-Verb Agreement – Ensuring verbs match their subjects correctly.
• Clauses & Phrases – Identifying and using independent and dependent clauses.
• Active vs. Passive Voice – Recognising and using each appropriately.
• Direct & Indirect Speech – Converting between them accurately.

Expanding word knowledge and understanding synonyms, antonyms, and word meanings in context:

• Synonyms & Antonyms – Expanding word choices and understanding opposites.
• Word Meanings in Context – Identifying definitions based on surrounding text.
• Idioms & Proverbs – Understanding figurative expressions.
• Prefixes, Suffixes, & Root Words – Learning how words are formed.
• Shades of Meaning – Differentiating between words with similar meanings but different intensities.

Developing fluency in reading and writing through exposure to high-quality texts:

• Fluency in Reading & Writing – Developing confidence in processing and producing text.
• Sentence Variety & Complexity – Using different sentence types for engaging writing.
• Cloze Exercises – Filling in missing words based on context.
• Editing & Proofreading – Identifying and correcting errors in written work.
• Reading for Pleasure – Encouraging wider reading to build comprehension and analytical skills.

GL English Assessment

GL – Online with Pre-ISEB

The GL 11+ English exam is used by many selective schools in the UK to assess candidates’ proficiency in English. The exam focuses on various areas of literacy and comprehension to determine students’ suitability for secondary education.

Here’s an overview of what it typically involves:

Comprehension with questions from a given extract:

Candidates are given a passage of prose, poetry, or sometimes non-fiction to read. Questions are attached to these and they must answer questions on the passage to demonstrate their understanding.

These questions can include:

• Literal comprehension – Understanding the direct information in the text. 
• Inference skills – Reading between the lines to infer meaning or feelings that aren’t explicitly stated.
• Vocabulary – Identifying the meaning of words from context or directly.
• Analysis – Questions about the author’s use of language, tone, and techniques.

Grammar, Punctuation, and Sentence correction:

Students need to be able to correct punctuation, grammar, or spelling errors in a passage or sentence. Along with this, they need to understand parts of speech:

E.g There may be questions requiring knowledge of nouns, verbs, adjectives, metaphors, personification etc.

Spelling and Vocabulary – There may be exercises or questions where students have to choose the correct spelling or word meaning. Some papers include vocabulary-based tasks to assess the range of words the student knows, deciphering this for questions centred around synonyms and antonyms.

CEM English Assessment

The CEM 11+ English exams were originally designed to assess a child’s aptitude for grammar school entry, but has since been incorporated into independent school testing. It focuses on evaluating key literacy skills rather than just knowledge of the curriculum. 

What does it involve?

Comprehension:

Reading Passages: Children are presented with a text, which could be fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. The questions focus on understanding the text, including: 

• Literal comprehension (recalling facts)
• Inference (reading between the lines)
• Interpretation of themes and character motives
• Vocabulary in context (identifying meanings of words as used in the passage)

Vocabulary

Synonyms and Antonyms: Students are asked to identify words that mean the same or the opposite of given words.

Word Usage: This could involve selecting the right word to fit into a sentence or identifying words that are incorrectly used in a sentence.

Cloze Passages: Students are given passages with missing words and are required to fill in the blanks using contextual clues.

Grammar and Punctuation, along with Sentence Structure

Identifying and correcting sentences with grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement or sentence fragments.

Punctuation: Questions often test knowledge of correct punctuation, including commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks.

Spelling

These can be presented in various formats, such as selecting the correct spelling of a word or identifying a misspelt word in a sentence.

Verbal Reasoning

While verbal reasoning is its own subject area, in the CEM exam, verbal reasoning questions sometimes overlap with English skills.

What are the topics? 

• Identifying letter patterns in words
• Matching words based on meanings or relationships
• Working with word logic, analogies, or completing word puzzles

Overview of the CEM English & Verbal Section

This is very much a mixed paper. Please do note that the English sections are combined with other subjects such as verbal reasoning, so students need to be quick and adaptable. 

What makes CEM tests more challenging is the importance placed on speed and time management. CEM exams are designed to be time-pressured, encouraging students to work quickly without sacrificing accuracy. To prepare, children should focus on building strong reading habits, expanding their vocabulary, and honing their comprehension skills. They can really benefit from practising with past papers or similar comprehension and vocabulary exercises.