How to Help Your Child Improve 11 Plus Mental Maths Skills
The journey to preparing for the 11 Plus exams is challenging yet incredibly rewarding. Among the various skills needed for success, mental maths stands out as essential for tackling exam questions quickly and accurately. Mastering 11 Plus mental maths skills can give your child an edge, boosting both their speed and confidence. In this guide, we’ll explore actionable strategies to help your child improve their mental maths, from building foundational skills to fostering a positive mindset.About 11 Plus Mental Maths Skills
Mental maths is the ability to solve problems in one’s head without relying on calculators or paper. For the 11 Plus exam, this includes calculations related to addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and percentages. Whether preparing for 11 plus mocks or Birmingham 11 Plus Mock Exams, mastering these skills is crucial.The 11 Plus Grammar School exams, including both CEM and GL formats, often contain mental maths sections that require quick thinking and accuracy. These skills are essential not only for maths-focused sections but also for tackling 11 plus non-verbal reasoning and 11 plus verbal reasoning problems where logic and calculation speed play a part.Assess Your Child’s Current Mental Maths Level
Before diving into practice, it’s important to gauge where your child currently stands. Conducting a baseline assessment will allow you to identify strengths and weaknesses, focusing on areas needing improvement.Using 11 Plus-specific resources, such as 11 Plus mocks and practice papers, is a great way to start. These tests provide a realistic look at what your child will encounter during the exam. Observing their approach to these problems can highlight any gaps in knowledge or areas where they struggle under time constraints. This initial assessment is vital for tailoring their practice sessions.Build a Strong Foundation in Core Maths Skills
Building 11 Plus mental maths skills starts with a solid foundation in basic arithmetic. Knowing multiplication tables, understanding fractions, and being able to handle addition, subtraction, and division are all essential. By establishing a strong base, your child will have a much easier time with more complex mental maths problems.Regular practice of these core skills is key. Activities like daily drills, flashcards, or even involving maths in real-life scenarios—like calculating totals during shopping trips—can reinforce these skills in a natural and engaging way. As they gain confidence in these foundational skills, they’ll be better prepared for more advanced mental maths tasks on the 11 Plus Grammar School exams.Develop Speed and Accuracy
The 11 Plus exams, known for their time constraints, reward students who can answer questions quickly and accurately. Therefore, focusing on speed and precision is essential for improving 11 Plus mental maths skills.Start with timed practice sessions. For example, set a timer for a series of maths questions, gradually decreasing the time as your child gets more comfortable. Encourage your child to focus on accuracy first, then gradually build speed without sacrificing correctness. In high-pressure environments, it’s easy for students to make errors, so make sure they review answers and stay calm.Incorporate Fun and Engaging Mental Maths Activities
To make learning enjoyable, consider incorporating fun activities into the routine. Math-based games, apps, and puzzles can reinforce skills while keeping your child engaged. Apps like Mathletics or Times Tables Rock Stars offer interactive challenges that make practice enjoyable, building 11 Plus mental maths skills without it feeling like a chore.Brain teasers and puzzles such as Sudoku are also excellent for building logical thinking and quick decision-making skills. Organizing a family quiz night centered around maths questions can turn learning into a bonding experience, adding a friendly element of competition.Use 11 Plus Practice Papers and Mocks
Using resources like 11 Plus mocks is one of the best ways to simulate the exam environment and prepare effectively. Practice papers mirror actual exams, giving your child familiarity with question formats and helping them get comfortable with the timed setting.Scheduling regular mock exams is also beneficial. By taking Birmingham 11 Plus Mock Exams or similar mock tests, your child can become accustomed to exam conditions and develop time management skills. After each mock, review results together to identify common mistakes and areas for improvement, whether it’s calculations or specific topics like 11 plus verbal reasoning or 11 plus english comprehension. With each practice session, their speed and accuracy will improve, building confidence.Teach Mental Maths Strategies
Learning specific strategies is fundamental for improving 11 Plus mental maths skills. Techniques like rounding numbers to make calculations easier, using estimation for quick checks, and breaking down complex problems into simpler steps can make mental maths more manageable.For example:- Number Splitting: Break numbers into parts to simplify addition and subtraction.
- Multiplication Shortcuts: Memorize multiplication tricks, such as recognizing patterns in multiples of 9.
- Visualization Techniques: Encourage your child to visualize problems on an imaginary number line, helping them mentally map out steps.