11+ ONLINE WORKSHOPS and Courses — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 11 Plus (11+)?
The 11 Plus exam is the collective name for the selective entry exams for grammar and independent schools across the UK. The 11 Plus is sat in Year 6.
Who will run the sessions?
All our workshops are run by our team of excellent super-tutors, all of whom have passed competitive school entrance exams such as the 11 Plus, attended Russell Group Universities, and have regularly tutored for the 11 Plus under The Exam Coach within the last 2 years. You can find out more about our team below.
Why are The Exam Coach’s 11+ sessions different?
The teaching style The Exam Coach has developed aims to make the learning experience as enjoyable and effective for students as possible. Our founder (James Davey) wanted to replicate the qualities of the best teachers he encountered during his own education — high-energy, enthusiastic teachers, who told stories and gave clear, memorable explanations. Every Exam Coach tutor is trained to deliver in this style.
What’s the difference between 11+ workshops and paid courses?
Our 11+ workshops are around 45 minutes in length. In these workshops, your tutor will share some background information about themselves and our workshops with new students. This is followed by 40 minutes of teaching time. 11+ workshops are available at least once a week for up to 30 students. Students can only see, hear and message the tutor — no one else. The dates and times of these workshops change each week to ensure everyone can benefit from them. Details of each week’s 11+ workshop are released on Mondays.
The content of each 11+ weekly workshop varies between 11+ Verbal Reasoning, Comprehension, Creative Writing or English Vocabulary. Our taster workshops are a great way to experience our teaching and let your child learn something new before booking one of our courses. Class notes are sent out 24 hours after each 11+ workshop, containing key learning points and the answers to the class test.
Our 11+ courses run over five days (either at weekends or during the school holidays). Each session is 90 minutes in length and focuses on exam technique and key content for a specific 11+ discipline. Students can see, hear and communicate with everyone in the course.
Our courses help students develop the critical foundation needed for each of their 11 Plus exams — for example, understanding effective exam technique and the mark scheme. We provide clear explanations, give students easy-to-remember exam techniques and show worked examples. Our courses are designed to ensure students master the skills they require in order to achieve their full potential in their 11+. We currently offer the following courses/crash courses for 11+ preparation:
Comprehension (multiple choice and written answer)
Creative Writing
Persuasive and Informative Writing
Verbal Reasoning
If you are looking for an 11+ course in a subject we do not currently offer. Please be in touch and register your interest to teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv.
How do I book and pay?
Simply choose a course from our 11 Plus Courses schedule and enter your personal details once prompted. Our courses can be paid for via PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and other common online payment types.
We now also accept payment through Clearpay at checkout (only for our 11+ 5-day courses). This allows you to split the course cost into four interest-free payments, payable every two weeks.
Once payment has been made, you will immediately receive a confirmation email. You will be automatically invited to each session in your chosen course at least 24 hours before the start time (or immediately if the workshop starts sooner than 24 hours). Workshop invitations and resources will be delivered to the email address you provide at the checkout.
All our 11+ weekly workshops accept payment through Zoom via PayPal. To join, simply register for your chosen workshop via the Zoom form. You will then receive a confirmation email containing the link to join the workshop at the specified time. You will be sent a reminder email one hour before the workshop. Spaces are limited.
How do I use a discount code or offer on my booking?
Discount codes are available for use during certain promotions. To use a discount code, simply enter the given code at checkout and apply it. The discount will then automatically be applied to your basket if you have met the required criteria.
All free workshop/paper offers are handled manually by our team. We will be in touch, using the email address you provided at checkout, after purchase to organise this with you.
Please note, the offers and discounts available on our products change throughout the year. All discount codes and offers are subject to availability and each one cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
How do I know what is going to be taught in each course/workshop?
There is always a detailed course description provided on each course purchase page. Within every workshop or course, your tutor will explain 11+ questions, concepts and ideas succinctly and clearly. They will highlight student misconceptions and explain the required method to achieve the answer. They will then allow students to apply what they have learned to new questions within the same workshop, therefore creating measurable improvement after each workshop.
How does an online workshop/course work?
All Exam Coach workshops and courses use Zoom as well as digital notes, polls and slides arranged and organised beforehand. Students should come prepared with a pen/pencil and paper/workbook. Any other resources required for our 11+ courses will be sent out beforehand via email. The tutor will prompt students at the appropriate times to take their own notes down in order to ensure active engagement with the material. The Exam Coach tutor will also share their own notes and worksheets at the end of the lesson via an email to the parent.
What do I need to do to ensure the lesson goes smoothly?
Please install Zoom in advance of your workshop and make sure it is working. This will help to ensure that the session starts promptly for your child and the other students. (See below for guidance on how to install Zoom).
You will receive an invitation link by email in advance of the session. This will be your login link. It will be sent to the email address which you used to book. Make sure you have this link ready.
Please ensure that your child is in front of their screen and ready to go 5 minutes before the official session start time, this is so they have time to organise themselves appropriately.
Is each course stand-alone?
Yes, all our 11+ courses are stand-alone and self-contained. This means that your child does not need to have attended any previous workshops before signing up for a course. However, please ensure that your child is able to attend all 5 sessions in your chosen course so that they can make the most of the teaching time.
Is each weekly workshop stand-alone?
Yes, every 11+ workshop is stand-alone and self-contained. This means that you can sign up for our free workshops at any time.
What technology does my child need to participate?
All they will need is access to a laptop, tablet or smartphone and a free Zoom account.
How do I sign up for a Zoom account?
Click here to visit the Zoom website and sign up for a free basic account.
If you are having trouble installing, please visit their installation help page.
Is a Zoom account free?
Yes, a basic account is free, so you will not incur any costs signing up to Zoom.
What if I need to cancel a lesson?
You can cancel your child’s space on any 11+ course at least two weeks before it is due to start and receive a full refund. All 11 Plus course bookings are non-refundable after this point. This is because, once a space is booked, it is no longer available for other parents who might also want to book and spaces are limited in number. You will not receive a refund if your child misses one or more of the sessions in your chosen course after the course has started.
Please note, if you book a 5-day course with us under a “free workshop/weekly tuition” promotion, the cost of any attended weekly sessions before the time of cancellation will be deducted from the amount refunded.
What if I need to change a lesson time?
Our workshops and courses contain multiple students, therefore the delivery time cannot be changed.
Any further questions?
If you have further questions, please fill in the form below or contact teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv.