11+ Halifax Grammar Schools - English Diagnostic

We've mapped out the exact non-verbal reasoning syllabus covered in the English test for 11+ entry to Halifax Grammar Schools. Based on this, we've created diagnostic assessments for each topic that will assess your child's knowledge and pinpoint exactly which areas they need to focus on so that they are exam ready.

The aim of our diagnostics is to highlight both your child’s current level and the level they need to reach to pass their exam. As such, our diagnostics are ideal for students in Years 4, 5 and 6. Of course, a Year 4 student would not be expected to perform as well as a Year 6 student, but in each case, the diagnostic will show you exactly what your child needs to focus on.

This diagnostic covers 4 topics. Each topic takes around 55-75 minutes to complete. However, they don’t need to be completed in one go. Each topic can be taken separately.

The diagnostic is divided into many short sections, which don’t need to be completed in one go. However, please ensure that your child is in a good frame of mind and is able to focus in a quiet room when they attempt each section. This will ensure you get an accurate assessment of their level. Please also ensure you have a stable internet connection.

You will receive a detailed breakdown of your child’s performance, by topic and level. This will allow you to make informed decisions on which areas to focus on and how much work is needed to get to the right level for the school you are targeting.

A simple traffic light system of red, yellow and green is used to highlight where your child has excelled and where they need to improve. At a glance, you will therefore be able to work out how your child is doing and what is needed to bridge the gap.

We recommend completing the full diagnostic for every level and topic. This is crucial as it allows you to get a full overview of your child’s current level as we’ve made sure to cover every possible topic that could come up in the exam.

To begin, navigate to your dashboard and set up a Child Profile, entering all the required details. Once completed, assign the diagnostic to your child. Your child can then log in using the created child profile and begin the assessment.

Each Exam Beacon diagnostic can be taken once. This is by design. Repeated attempts of the same diagnostic leads to responses based on memory rather than true understanding. Additional practice recommendations are provided for every topic upon completion.

For each topic, we have created three levels of difficulty. Level 1 focuses on foundational knowledge. Level 2 covers common questions that come up in the exam. Level 3 targets more advanced concepts. We recommend beginning with Level 1 and working through to Level 3.

Recommendations for further practice are provided for every topic upon completion of each diagnostic.

Exam Beacon diagnostics offer the ideal starting point for your exam preparation journey. Completing one at this stage will set you up for success, saving you time and effort by identifying exactly what your child needs to know and what they need to focus on. We recommend completing a full diagnostic for every subject that will be tested in the exam your child will take. For example, if the school you are targeting assesses Maths and Verbal Reasoning only, you should take just the Maths and Verbal Reasoning diagnostics.

Exam Beacon diagnostics offer a great sense check if you are midway through exam preparation. They will alert you to any intervention that may be necessary and also give you an unbiased, external insight into your child’s performance that will empower you as a parent to make the right decisions regarding revision, preparation and tuition.

Our ranking system takes a number of factors into consideration to ensure we are providing an accurate assessment of your child’s level. This includes specific school exam timings, question formats, difficulty levels and of course your child’s performance. Using our wealth of experience, we are able to provide you with benchmarks to aim for specific to the school you are targeting.

You can provide them with direct access to your child’s account or you can easily export and share your child’s final report for them to view.