The Eleven-Plus (11+) is an important examination administered to some students in the UK in the final year of their primary education. It governs admission into secondary schools which rely on academic selection. This typically challenging time for many parents and children has been exacerbated this year due to the current lockdown. 

To help ease the pressure off parents by providing helpful information and sharing guidance from teachers as well as the first-hand experiences of parents who have successfully tackled the process, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in the UK held special webinars for parents of Year 5 children on Thursday 30 July and Wednesday 5 August 2020.

Over 160 families attended the webinars during which teachers and experts provided a deeper insight into the competition for school places and encouraged parents to maintain a realistic perspective on their children’s potential.

Attendees also learnt how best to prepare for the exams, with specific tips on the exam papers, including the importance of 'quality over quantity' and investing time to practise and learn from past papers.

Experts conveyed the importance of correct preparation during the evening before and on the morning of the exam. Integral to this discussion was useful advice on maintaining a positive frame of mind when approaching and sitting the exams.

The webinar also revealed valuable life skills that participants can harness to help them in their future academic and professional lives.

A key concluding message drew upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s ethos of “Hard Work + Prayers = Success” as a universal formula to help achieve maximum potential.

A mother from Birmingham later shared her impressions of the event: “Thank you so much for this invaluable guidance. My husband and I have been concerned for many weeks and were debating how we can prepare for these exams. The advice has eased our worries and we will now focus on the techniques to give our daughter the confidence to achieve her very best.”

