Help your child at home: with test scores

Many parents ask how they can help to improve their child's test scores. The obvious answer is to practise. It is more difficult when it comes to tests such as Non Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning and other such papers. These tests are used to test intelligence and basic reasoning powers of a child. Your child might sit tests such as these for an 11+ examination, on trying for entry to a Secondary school or during their first few weeks at Senior school in tests called CATS (Cognitive Ability Tests).

CATS help the teachers assess the best way that a child can be streamed, maybe which subjects to take or which groups of children to allocate to which class.

• Verbal Reasoning – is all about thinking with words
• Quantitative Reasoning – deals with thinking with numbers
• Non-verbal Reasoning – tests ability to recognise relationships with shape and space.

Verbal Reasoning

• Improve both written and spoken vocabulary
• Ensure a better connection with words
• Help with interpretation of ideas
• Help with communication 
• Assist in understanding facts
• Develop understanding of consequences.

1. Word connections such as arable farming and growing crops; space and astrology.
2. Recognise patterns in words such as rectangle containing tan, create and angle.
3. Solve word codes Fine is to HLRJ so what is the code for sway?
4. Find words opposite in meaning such as fast:slow, positive:negative
5. Combine words to create compound words (out, by, suit) ( way, case, side) (outside, byway, suitcase)

Quantitative Reasoning

1. Creating models, such as constructing a cube
2. Comparing sizes and shapes (both 2 and 3 dimensional)
3. Drawing inferences
4. Supporting conclusions based on sound mathematical reasoning.

Non Verbal Reasoning

Other Resources

Other useful resources: