What is The 13 Plus Exam? Ultimate Guide for Parents

The 13 Plus late entrance test is a chance for students to get admission to Year 9 in Grammar School. This is a competitive exam since schools do not usually have many seats available. This guide will cover everything from exam subjects to pass marks and exam dates. 

Parents frequently ask about the relevance of the 13 Plus Common Entrance Exam. Many top UK independent schools use it.

The ISEB 13 Plus exams are standard; schools may create Common Entrance (CE) papers. Schools that set their exams are usually more prestigious and harder than ISEB assessments. 

Note that 13-plus material, format, and requirements differ per school. When your child is 12 or 13, they take the 13 Plus exam in the Spring or Summer of Year 8. Therefore, this is for Year 9 applicants.

How To Pass the 11 Plus Common Entrance Exams?

The first thing that parents think about is what is on the 13 Plus test. November, January, and May/June are the three times your child may take the 13+ exams. There is a lot of competition for the 13 Plus. 

Students must improve their test methodology and critical thinking abilities to pass the 13 Plus test, which evaluates Verbal and Nonverbal Reasoning, Maths and English. 

You may face challenges while taking your child’s 13 Plus preparation in your hands. Thus, hiring or getting expert help from professional 13 Plus tutors at 11 Plus Tutoring could help a lot. Learning from experts, your child will have a better chance at securing admission to Grammar School through the 13 Plus late entrance test. 

What Is Included in the 13 Plus Common Entrance Exams?

The curriculum of 13 Plus tests is almost the same as 11 Plus, but there will be an added difficulty level. Let’s see which subject areas your child will have to prepare for exam success:

1. 13 Plus Mathematics Paper

The 13 Plus Maths paper will test how well students know and understand basic Maths ideas. There are three Maths tests: one with a calculator, one without, and one where you do the Maths in your head. Students are encouraged to expand on their knowledge from the National Curriculum courses as part of the 13 Plus exam guide.

  • Algebra
  • Number
  • Geometry
  • Ratio and proportion
  • Statistics and Probability

2. 13 Plus English Paper

The 13 Plus English paper has a variety of topics that seek to test how well your child understands both writing and poems, as well as how well they can read both practical and descriptive/imaginative text. However, this part tests how well students understand what they read, their language, words, and writing. It might have reading passages to understand, writing creatively, and spelling drills.

  • Show that you can analyse the text.
  • Write with clarity, precision, and eloquence; thoughtfully answer open-ended questions.
  • Show that you understand language, spelling, punctuation, and the proper style for your many assigned jobs.
  • Write imaginatively.

3. 13 Plus Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Nonverbal reasoning tests provide insights into your child’s potential and future academic performance. Verbal Reasoning assesses your child’s linguistic comprehension and ability. Your child will do better on these exams the more words they know.

Nonverbal Reasoning (NVR) tests demand the ability to identify patterns, parallels, and similarities in novel designs, such as series completion, codes, and analogies. These assessments show a student’s comprehension and assimilation of new material regardless of language proficiency.

  • Missing Letters
  • Code Sequences
  • Word Construction
  • Spatial Reasoning
  • Finding the Figure

4. 13 Plus Science

This part assesses a student’s application of scientific principles, comprehension of scientific ideas, and knowledge. Some possible questions could be about general science, chemistry, physics, or biology. Students’ understanding of biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as the cultural background of these subjects, is tested on the Science Common Entrance Exam.

  • Resources 
  • Conservation
  • Cells and organisation
  • Nutrition and digestion
  • Chemical reactions

Additionally, there are two or three tiers of paper in several disciplines. Verify the 13 Plus Common Entrance curriculum and levels that your preferred institution demands. For instance, although some people are content with level one or two scores, others need a strong result on the level three Mathematical exam, which is the highest level.

Written exams for the Common Entrance at 13 Plus exam guide run over four days. The length of the papers ranges from forty minutes to one and a quarter hours, while specific assessments are shorter, such as mental arithmetic and language speaking and listening exams.

How to Help Your Child Prepare for the 13 Plus Test

  • Get Expert Instruction

Encourage your children to read periodicals, novels, and newspapers. Exam preparation is the area of expertise for many professional 13 Plus tutors and tuition facilities. With years of expertise, experts will give your child the tools to pass the test. As a result, they may also administer practice exams to evaluate your child’s development and teach practical test-taking techniques.

  • Prepare Ahead of Time

Getting a head start on your 13 Plus test preparation is essential. It suggests that children start getting ready as soon as possible. But this will give your child ample time to learn the abilities they’ll need to succeed and acquaint themselves with the test. Commencing early also entails approaching studies more leisurely and gradually.

  • Effective Time Management

Due to the time constraints of the 13 Plus test, your child must learn strong time management skills. Identifying the areas that need additional attention and creating a preparation schedule that spans many months need practice with previous papers. To help your child practice working under pressure, employ a timed technique.

  • Effective Time Management

Due to the time constraints of the 13 Plus test, your child must learn strong time management skills. Identifying the areas that need additional attention and creating a preparation schedule that spans many months need practice with previous papers. To help your child practice working under pressure, employ a timed technique.

  • Techniques Using Example Documents

There are many exams in the 13 Plus, including Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English, and Mathematics. Get a few example exams here, then review them with your child. However, this will assist in acquainting students with the exam structure, the questions that may arise, and the anticipated difficulty.

  • Make Use of Online Learning Resources

Use internet tools to assist your child in getting ready for the 13 Plus exam guide. Practice questions and sample papers are among the many free resources available on the internet. On the other hand, you might spend money on tutors and online courses. These materials will direct and aid your child’s growth.

Conclusion

As a parent, you can ensure your child is ready for the 13 Plus test guide by practising informed and critical thinking. Find out how each school assesses test scores by researching the schools you want your child to attend. List the schools quickly according to factors like extracurricular activities, faculty, and location. Ascertain that every school on your shortlist will test across various disciplines.

Lily Morgan
Author: Lily Morgan