11 Plus English
The English section of the 11 Plus varies greatly depending on where you live.
Some areas, such as Kent have a creative writing exercise, others include a comprehension
exercise and some use multiple choice papers to test aspects of comprehension and grammar.
Grammar
Grammar can be thought of as 'The Rules of Language'.
It is how we use words, sentences and paragraphs to record and structure language.
Sentences are made up of nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions and connectives.
Punctuation is an important part of grammar because it
ensures clarity and makes reading easier.
Spelling
Words are constructed from all the letters, both vowels (a,e,i,o,u) and consonants (the other letters) and there are some rules that help with spelling - most of the time!
Reading
There are various types of text to read - fiction, non-fiction, reports, adverts, poems etc.
Writing
There are different types of writing to consider, which are dependant on the purpose.
Examples are narratives, persuasive writing, factual writing (explanation), instructions (recipes, directions, manuals), leaflets, reports, newspapers, letters, recounts and stories.
Vocabulary
A good vocabulary is essential for the 11 Plus, especially for English and Verbal Reasoning.
A good primary dictionary and/or thesaurus is well worth investing in and your child should know how to use it properly.
Comprehension
Comprehension is the act of understanding the text. It is not just about knowing what the words mean, it is grasping the meaning, context and importance of the text.
Types of words, Sentences and phrases used in English
Abbreviation |
A shortened form of word - (St. for street) |
Acronym |
A word formed from the first letters of a phrase |
Alliteration |
Words beginning with the same letter |
Adjective |
Words that describe something |
Adverb |
A word that modifies other words - (when, where, how) |
Anagram |
A phrase formed by rearranging the letters of a word |
Antonym |
Words that mean the opposite |
Article |
Used before a noun - (the, a, an) |
| Comparative |
A way of comparing things - (more than, taller than) |
Compound Word |
A word made from two or more words - (sandpaper) |
| Consonant |
letters b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,q,r,s,t,v,w,x,y,z - not a vowel |
Contraction |
A shortened form of word - (I've - I have) |
Conjunction |
A joining word - (and, but, or, however) |
| First Person |
Writing as if you are in the story - (I went to, I listened) |
Homophone |
Words that sound the same but have different meanings |
Interjection |
Words used to express feeling or emotion - (hey, oh) |
Metaphor |
A comparison of two unlike things - (time is money) |
Noun |
A word used to name a person, place or thing. |
| Onomatopoeia |
Words that sound like their meaning - (crash, woof, meow) |
| Palindrome |
A word that reads the same forward or backwards - (rotor) |
| Paragraph |
A group of sentences related to a topic or theme |
| Plural |
More than one |
| Preposition |
A word that shows a relationship - (under, over, on, in) |
| Pronoun |
Words used instead of a noun to avoid repetition - (I, it, his) |
| Proper Noun |
A specific place, person or thing - (London, Alison, Mr Jones) |
| Proverb |
A phrase or saying expressing wisdom or advice |
| Punctuation Mark |
A symbol to used clarify meaning and indicate separation |
Rhyme |
Words that sound similar - (fight, sight, might) |
Sentence |
A group of words that mean something - must include a verb |
| Simile |
A comparison of two things - (as white as snow) |
| Superlative |
A word that conveys the most, best or least -(hottest, coldest) |
| Synonym |
Words with the same meaning - (dry, arid) |
| Tense |
A form of a verb to show time - past, present and future |
| Third Person |
Writing from the perspective of someone else - (she said) |
| Verb |
A word that describes the action - a doing word |
| Vowel |
The letters a,e,i,o u |
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