A rich vocabulary is essential for the verbal reasoning sections of 11+ exams. Some children love to read, whilst others hate it. Reading a wide range of material is the best way improve vocabulary. But, many children skip words they do not understand and seldom bother to find out what a word means. Then, there is the old issue of context. Words can have different meanings, depending upon the context, yet examples are not always obvious.

WordBuilder is an easy to use tool to enhance vocabulary and help with 11+ and SATs success. It rapidly enriches vocabulary in a focused, independent, but fun way. We would like all children to develop a life-long love of reading and hope WordBuilder is not used solely as a substitute for reading. Reading short articles such as BBC New Round is an ideal way to read a little, yet encounter a  varied vocabulary.

Most educational authorities discourage intensive tutoring and some claim their 11+ exams are tutor-proof, but this should not be believed. The key to 11+ success is preparation.  Some children will pass without any preparation, but many won't and many don't want to take the risk.

Some children begin 11+ preparations in year 5 and some children in year 4. It really depends upon the child and the 11+ exams you intend to take.

Eleven plus students should focus on spellings and the special 11+ word lists, which comprise of carefully selected words, many of which have frequently featured in eleven plus tests (11+ Common words for VR/Secondary School and 11+ Increasing Vocabulary for VR/Secondary School) as well as the Sats Year 6 Tests word lists.

Those starting in year 4 should begin with spellings from the year 4 spelling lists and progress to year 5 and 6 spelling lists. They do not need to work on every list. Towards the end of year 4 or from the beginning of year 5 they should start the year 6 sats and the special 11+ word lists starting with 1 word list a week, concentrating on Meanings; Definitions; Antonyms;  Synonyms, and Cloze Words, building up to 2 word lists a week. "Solve Conundrums" are for fun only and should not be taken too seriously! Those starting in year 5 should work on up to 2 lists a week. Children should not try and learn dictionary definitions of words, but should understand the "gist" of a word, as context has a bearing on meaning.

WordBuilder tests meanings using synonyms, thereby improving vocabulary. Word definitions are tested by providing a group of synonyms to further enrich vocabulary. Antonyms are useful to reinforce meanings, but it should be noted that all words do not have antonyms. The Cloze Word sentences put words in to context and provide an example of word usage.

If your 11+ region has cloze passage tests, we recommend children start practising using the Cloze Passage module during the latter part of year 5. They should begin with the Year 4 cloze passages and progress to the Year 5 tests. Cloze tests can first be attempted using word lists and once confidence is built, tests can be undertaken with clues displayed. Since parents can create their own cloze tests, children should never run out of material.


The following regions administer their own examinations at the beginning of year 6: