Vocabulary is a key piece of the 11+ exam. Not only do vocabulary questions feature on the English portion of the exam, but having a good grasp of vocabulary is crucial for the comprehension and verbal reasoning sections. Memorising vocabulary can be difficult for some students, but the good news is there are many other, more effective ways for learning vocabulary. Here is a guide to helping your child expand their vocabulary and apply their vocabulary skills on the 11+ exam.
Everyday Vocabulary Learning
Just as babies learn language from hearing people talk in daily life, so do older children and adults learn vocabulary best from using it every day. For students preparing for the 11+ exam, two important skills are needed to advance their understanding of vocabulary beyond everyday language.
First, children need to use language accurately and effectively. If you notice errors in how your child uses words–commonly confused words might be ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ or ‘less’ and ‘fewer’–gently correct them and explain the difference. Never discourage your child or say they use language wrong; instead, show them how accurate and effective vocabulary can help them to express themselves more clearly. And remember that language changes according to use (for example, the singular ‘they’, as used here, is now commonly accepted) and that informal language is OK for use with friends, but less so on the exam.
Secondly, encourage your child to develop their vocabulary beyond what they use in everyday speech. Use advanced words in your own speech and explain what they mean if it is not clear from the context. You can also prompt your child to use more complex vocabulary when they speak to you. For example, if your child says something is ‘great’, ask them to elaborate using more specific words.
Vocabulary from Reading
Another valuable method of learning new vocabulary is by reading. Reading alone introduces new vocabulary, often without the reader’s knowledge, and people who read often frequently have the most expansive vocabulary. Encourage your child to read a wide variety of books, including fiction and non-fiction and cover a wide range of topics that are interesting to your child.
In preparation for the 11+ exam, your child can read more deliberately for new vocabulary. Have them create a list of new words that they encounter and record the dictionary definition. Then, have them use the words in their own sentences to make sure they have adopted the words into their vocabulary. Or have them look up synonyms in a thesaurus and think about the different connotations of the words.
Context Clues and Etymology
Unless your child memorises the dictionary (which I do not recommend!), they will likely encounter some unfamiliar words on the exam. Making an educated guess at a word’s meaning is thus a critical skill for children and readers of all ages. There are two main ways to do this: context clues and etymology.
Context clues are the most useful tool for children sitting the 11+ exam. This involves looking at the rest of the sentence to see if there are any hints at the meaning of the unknown word. For example, a child may guess that the word idyllic is something good in the sentence, “She found the holiday in Greece to be idyllic and dreamed of returning someday.” Children can easily practice finding context clues: if they find an unknown word, have them guess what it means before looking it up. Encourage guesses even if they are not quite sure–often a child has a better idea than they realise–and help them to figure out which other words in the sentence were clues for them.
Etymology is the origin of a word. Words are often made up of other words and finding these smaller words can hint at the meaning of the unknown word. Children can learn common suffixes and prefixes (pre-, re-, in-, -ed, -tion, -able). Removing these from the unknown word can reveal the smaller root word inside: incomparable becomes ‘compar’, which is like compare. Many etymologies can be too complex for 11+ students and are more useful for older students, but, as with context clues, knowing to look for hints is a valuable skill for all ages.
Answering Vocabulary Questions
Vocabulary questions on the 11+ exam do not simply ask for the definition of vocabulary. Instead, for example, they may ask students to select the words which mean the opposite (antonyms). These kinds of questions require your child not only to know the meanings of the target word and all the potential answers, but also to think critically about the relationships between words.
To help your child prepare, discuss topics like synonyms and antonyms (same and opposite meaning words), and definitions and connotations (the literal meaning of a word and how it is used/what it implies). Talk about the part of speech of a word–whether it is a noun, adjective, verb, etc.–and how words can change from one part of speech to another (growth, grown, growing).
When practicing vocabulary questions, encourage your child to think about each word carefully. They should not choose the first possible answer, but the best possible answer. For example, one word might seem like a synonym (happy and comfortable) but there may be a closer synonym (happy and joyful). Haste can often lead to inaccurate assumptions about words.
Children are learning new vocabulary all the time. The best way to help your child prepare for vocabulary questions on the 11+ exam is to guide them towards a deliberate understanding of the words they use and hear every day. Knowing the complexities of words–their similarities and differences, basic meanings and nuances–and their relationships to each other can help your child translate their skills to the vocabulary questions on the 11+ exam. Moreover, these skills are the building blocks to understanding complex ideas and communicating effectively throughout life.
11+ Tuition at A Star Tutoring
If your child is preparing for their 11+ exam, don’t let vocabulary be a stumbling block in their path to success. Our 11+ tuition services are delivered by proven tutors in advanced Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal Reasoning, with weekly homework and regular consultations with parents.
As parents, we understand that you want your child to have the best possible chance of success. That’s why we provide personalized support and guidance to help your child reach their full potential. With our expert tutors and comprehensive study materials, your child can gain the confidence and knowledge they need to perform their best on the 11+ exam.
If you’re looking for additional resources and support in preparing for the 11+ exam, contact us online today or give us a call on 01782 619 065.
