Ask any 11+ tutor what predicts success most accurately, and they'll say "vocabulary". The 11+ rewards children who know more words — not just to score on vocab questions directly, but because rich vocabulary makes every comprehension passage easier to understand.
Why word lists alone don't work
Children can memorise 500 words for a test, but vocabulary that sticks comes from encountering words in context. Reading widely is the most reliable source.
The 12-month plan
Months 1-3: foundation
- Read for 20 minutes daily — fiction matched to slightly above current level.
- Keep a "new words" notebook. Aim for 5 new words per week.
- Define each in the child's own words, with a memorable example.
Months 4-6: structured practice
- Add 11+ vocabulary lists (200-300 high-frequency 11+ words).
- Practise synonyms and antonyms daily — 5 minutes each.
- Continue daily reading.
Months 7-9: applied
- Mix vocab into mock-paper practice. Discuss unknown words after each mock.
- Introduce Greek and Latin roots (e.g. aqua, cycle, port).
- Encourage child to use new words in their own writing.
Months 10-12: refinement
- Review trickiest words weekly.
- Practice timed verbal-reasoning vocab questions.
- Focus on word relationships (analogies, odd-one-out).
Books that build 11+ vocabulary
Strong vocabulary growers: Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke, Michelle Magorian, Eva Ibbotson, Roald Dahl (the more sophisticated stories), Frances Hardinge.
Quest Arena's worksheet library has 300+ vocabulary worksheets.