Why Reading Matters So Much for the 11+
The most important piece of advice we have for parents is to encourage your child to read. Over many years of supporting children through the 11+ process, we have consistently noticed a correlation between the children who read and those who achieve well in competitive entry exams
The numbers from research into child literacy are very compelling.
Children who read for just 20 minutes a day are exposed to approximately 1.8 million words each year and often achieve test scores in the 90th percentile.
By comparison, children who read for only 5 minutes a day encounter around 282,000 words annually, with attainment typically much closer to average levels.
Understandably we are concerned when we hear a parent say, “My child just doesn’t enjoy reading.” We believe this is a vital and non-negotiable element in a child’s 11 plus preparation. Reading to your child is incredibly beneficial.
Regular reading strengthens nearly every skill required for success in entrance exams, including:
Vocabulary development - A wide vocabulary is essential for Verbal Reasoning, comprehension tasks, and high-quality creative writing.
Spelling accuracy - Regular reading can help children improve spelling
Reading speed and fluency - Children who read frequently process information more quickly, helping them manage long comprehensions under timed conditions.
Punctuation and grammar - Exposure to well-written texts improves written accuracy and sentence structure.
Mathematical comprehension - Comprehension of multi-step word problems is often a stumbling block in exams.
Verbal Reasoning - A broad and advanced vocabulary is required to cope with questions involving synonyms, antonyms, analogies and logic.
Concentration and stamina - Reading regularly builds focus and resilience, both crucial when sitting several demanding exams in a single day.
The Benefits Go Beyond the 11+
Reading does far more than improve exam performance. It also helps children to:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve sleep quality
Develop imagination and creativity
Expand general knowledge and curiosity
Build empathy and emotional understanding
These wider benefits often have a positive knock-on effect in school and at home. Children who enjoy reading frequently become more independent, articulate, and self-assured learners overall.
Click here to see our Recommended Reading Lists for 11+
Dates for the Diary
Queens College London - Open Evening: Wednesday 13 May, 5-7pm
and 11+ 2027 Taster Day: Monday 29 June
St Augustine’s Priory - Register for a visit on their website.
Aldenham - Open Morning Saturday 16 May
Mill Hill & Belmont - Open Morning Saturday 16 May
Forest Senior School - Tours available in June, booking open now on their website.
Saturday 9 May
Year 4
English - We studied homophones and the common spelling mistakes children often make.
Maths - Continuing with fractions: comparing and ordering fractions by converting them to fractions with common denominators. Changing mixed numbers to improper fractions and vice versa.
Year 5
English - We analysed and completed a comprehension activity on the poem The Listeners by Walter de la Mare.
Maths - Handling Data: mean, mode, median and range.
Verbal Reasoning - Balance the equations eg. 27 ÷ 9 x 100 = 70 x 3 + ?
Non-verbal Reasoning - Nets of cubes.
Interview Practice - What do you think about artificial intelligence? How will it affect our future?
