Don’t Leave Vocabulary Late: Upgrade Words for 11 Plus Success
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Every year, I see parents posting online, worried that their child is behind on vocabulary for the 11+ exams. Families often wait until Year Five or later, only to realise children may need to know around ninety-five per cent of words in a text to follow it confidently. Building this fluency takes time, so starting early might make a real difference.
Start 11 Plus Vocabulary Early – Upgrade Words at Home
Introducing richer vocabulary doesn’t have to feel like extra work. We began in Year Three as a family, simply upgrading our everyday words. Instead of saying someone was ‘late’, we’d playfully swap in ‘tardy’. ‘Said’ became ‘remarked’, ‘shouted’ or ‘muttered’. This playful approach turned learning into a game, making those words stick.
Families can explore vocabulary together at the dinner table, on school runs or during bedtime stories. Exposure in context is what helps children truly grasp meaning and makes those words part of their everyday language.
Why 11 Plus Vocabulary Matters for Comprehension
Strong vocabulary skills underpin comprehension. Without a secure grasp of the words on the page, children may struggle to infer meaning, summarise effectively or follow the logic of a text. They may also find word problems in maths questions unnecessarily difficult. Working on vocabulary early saves children from frustration later and may spark a love of words and reading.
Flashcards and Context in 11 Plus Preparation
Flashcards and word lists can be helpful tools, but they are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive strategy. Words repeated in a meaningful context are far more likely to stick than isolated lists. Stories, conversations and playful examples help children see how words are used and keep learning light and engaging.
Our ‘Five a Day’ 11 Plus Vocabulary Approach
When my children were preparing for the 11+, we used a simple ‘Five a Day’ system. We picked five words each day – sometimes from a workbook, sometimes from books we were reading – and tried to use them in as many sentences as possible. We practised on dog walks, in the car and even over dinner. Some sentences were serious, others silly, but the words stuck because they mattered in context.
Why I Created My 11 Plus Vocabulary Reading Books
This experience led me to create The Cadwaladr Chronicles and The Cadwaladr Quests, a set of vocabulary-rich novels designed to build comprehension naturally in context. Each page includes built-in footnotes that explain synonyms, antonyms, and literary device tips, which I call Knowledge Nuggets. These stories make vocabulary and comprehension practice an integral part of the reading experience, rather than an extra chore.
Final Thought on 11 Plus Vocabulary Success
Vocabulary is at the heart of 11+ success, but it’s also a gift for life. Start early, keep it playful and weave new words into daily routines. With time, children might not only grow more confident in their tests but also develop a lifelong love of language.