One of the key sections that will come up in the 11 plus assessment is verbal reasoning, which is designed to test the vocabulary, reading and code-breaking skills of the child that is sitting the test. This means that the key skills that are needed for this part of the assessment are critical thinking and problem-solving.
One of the most important things to focus on for 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning is vocabulary, which will play a huge part in the success of this section. Furthermore, skills in deduction will prove very useful. It is about more than knowing what the words mean, so there should be a focus on being able to think about them in the context of a situation as well. What is included in the verbal reasoning section will differ depending on who is providing the examination, the region of the grammar school, and the individual grammar school itself.
CEM 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning
If your child is taking the CEM 11+ exam, then the verbal reasoning section may include:
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Close passages
- Close sentences
- Jumbled sentences
GL 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning
If your child is taking the GL 11+ exam, then the verbal reasoning section may include:
- Related words
- Hidden word
- Closest meaning
- Letter series
- Make a word
- Letter connections
- Opposite meaning
- Word number codes
- Same meaning
For more information on what will be specifically covered in your area, it is best to contact the local education authority for the grammar school or contact the school directly.
Practicing Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning might be something that your child is naturally good at, or it could be something that requires some more work. While verbal reasoning is not as straightforward to revise as maths or English might be, it is possible for your child to improve through practicing the skills that are required for it and expanding their vocabulary. We provide a full course to improve skills in 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning for this purpose.