Think Academy UK’s New 11+ English Programme: Complete Guide for Parents
Preparing for the 11+ English exam takes more than memorising vocabulary and completing practice papers. Think Academy UK’s new 11+ English programme helps children build strong foundations in grammar, develop advanced vocabulary, understand challenging texts and apply effective writing techniques.
Designed for Years 3–6, with Year 4 and Year 5 courses launching first, the programme covers seven core areas and 92 key knowledge and skill areas. Its structured curriculum helps children progress from understanding key concepts to applying their English skills confidently in exam conditions.
Parents can experience the teaching approach first-hand through a FREE 11+ English trial lesson. Sessions are scheduled from 30 October to 15 November 2026, subject to availability.
Book a FREE 11+ English Trial Lesson →
Page Contents
What Is Think Academy UK’s New 11+ English Programme?
Think Academy UK’s new 11+ English programme is a structured learning course designed to help children build the knowledge and practical skills required for selective grammar and independent school entrance exams.
Rather than focusing solely on exam papers, the programme develops English skills systematically. Children learn new concepts, practise applying them and revisit previous learning to strengthen their understanding over time.
The curriculum covers seven core areas and 92 key knowledge and skill areas, helping children connect different aspects of English rather than treating each topic in isolation.
The programme includes:
- Vocabulary: Build a broad vocabulary and learn to use words and expressions in context.
- Punctuation and grammar: Develop accurate sentence construction and understand essential SPaG rules.
- Literary devices: Recognise techniques writers use to create meaning and effects.
- Language techniques: Explore how writers describe characters, develop plots and influence readers.
- Reading comprehension: Practise retrieving information, making inferences and analysing texts.
- Writing: Develop narrative, descriptive, persuasive, functional and reflective writing skills.
This integrated approach helps children move from understanding individual concepts to applying their knowledge in more challenging English tasks.
Why Are Years 4 and 5 Important for 11+ English Preparation?
Year 4 and Year 5 are important stages for building a strong foundation before the final period of 11+ exam preparation.
Children at this stage may understand basic English concepts but still struggle to apply them consistently. For example, a child might memorise advanced vocabulary but find it difficult to use those words naturally in creative writing. Another child might understand a reading passage but struggle with inference questions or the time limits of an exam.
A structured programme helps children develop their skills in stages:
- Understand key concepts: Learn vocabulary, grammar rules, reading strategies and writing techniques.
- Apply the knowledge: Practise using these skills in sentences, comprehension questions and writing exercises.
- Develop confident application: Combine different skills to tackle more demanding 11+ English questions.
Starting earlier gives children more time to revisit difficult topics, address weaknesses and build confidence before Year 6 exam preparation becomes more intensive.
What Does the 11+ English Curriculum Cover?
Think Academy’s curriculum brings together seven areas of English learning, covering 92 key knowledge and skill areas.
1. Vocabulary and Spelling
A strong vocabulary helps children understand complex reading passages, answer comprehension questions and express ideas precisely in their own writing.
The programme covers more than 2,200 core and advanced vocabulary words, including synonyms, antonyms, prefixes, suffixes, word roots, compound words, homophones and commonly confused words.
Children develop their understanding of vocabulary in context, helping them move beyond memorising definitions to applying new words accurately.
2. Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG)
Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar support both comprehension and writing. Children need to recognise grammatical structures, construct clear sentences and identify errors in written English.
The curriculum covers 28 SPaG topics, including sentence punctuation, commas, apostrophes, direct and reported speech, hyphens, parentheses, colons, semicolons, subject–verb agreement, tenses, clauses and active and passive voice.
Regular practice helps children improve accuracy and recognise how sentence structure affects meaning.
3. Literary Devices
Literary devices help writers create imagery, communicate emotions and make their writing more engaging.
The programme covers 12 literary devices, including:
- Simile and metaphor
- Personification and hyperbole
- Alliteration and assonance
- Onomatopoeia
- Oxymoron and symbolism
- Pathetic fallacy
- Imagery and anaphora
Children learn to identify these techniques in reading passages and understand their effects. They can then apply suitable techniques to strengthen their own creative writing.
4. Language Techniques
Understanding language techniques helps children explain how writers create characters, develop settings, build suspense and influence readers.
The curriculum includes techniques for describing characters and settings, narrating plots, structuring writing and using persuasive and rhetorical language.
Children explore methods such as foreshadowing, suspense, flashbacks, dialogue, varied sentence openings, effective paragraphing and persuasive techniques.
These skills are useful for both reading comprehension questions and creative writing tasks.
5. Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension requires more than finding information in a passage. Children also need to interpret meaning, recognise language effects, make inferences and understand a writer’s purpose.
The programme covers 12 reading comprehension question types, including:
- Retrieval
- Inference
- Language effect
- Vocabulary in context
- Character and setting
- Writer’s purpose
- Structure
- Summary and prediction
Children practise identifying evidence in a text and using it to support their answers. They also develop strategies for eliminating unsuitable options and approaching challenging questions more systematically.
6. Writing Skills
Creative writing can be challenging when children are unsure how to plan a piece, structure their ideas or choose appropriate techniques.
The curriculum covers six writing genres:
- Narrative writing
- Descriptive writing
- Persuasive writing
- Argumentative writing
- Functional writing
- Reflective writing
Children learn how different writing purposes require different approaches. For example, a suspenseful story may use carefully controlled pacing and descriptive detail, while persuasive writing may use emotive language, rhetorical questions and the rule of three.
7. Reading-to-Writing Application
The programme connects reading and writing so that children can learn from high-quality texts and apply what they discover.
Instead of studying vocabulary, comprehension, literary devices and writing separately, lessons combine these skills through a structured learning journey:
Close reading → Vocabulary and sentence building → Reading skills → Literary devices → Writing application
Children first explore how writers use language, then practise recognising techniques and applying them in their own work.
For example, a lesson might explore a suspenseful extract, identify how the writer builds tension, practise inference questions and then use similar techniques in a short piece of creative writing.
This helps children understand not only what effective writing looks like, but also how to produce it themselves.
How Does Think Academy Teach 11+ English?
Integrated Reading and Writing Lessons
The programme uses carefully selected, high-quality texts to develop several English skills within the same lesson.
Children explore vocabulary and sentence structures, analyse language, practise comprehension strategies and apply their learning to writing.
The aim is to make connections between different skills so that children can use their knowledge in unfamiliar questions and writing tasks.
Learning from High-Quality Literature
Think Academy’s course materials use texts selected from Year 5 reading lists recommended by leading UK independent schools.
Through these texts, children develop vocabulary, explore literary techniques and practise reading comprehension while building their writing skills.
For example, children may examine how a writer conveys an emotion through actions and details rather than stating it directly.
Instead of writing:
I was sad.
A child could develop the idea into:
I stared at the floor, blinking hard as I twisted the corner of my sleeve between my fingers.
This illustrates the technique known as show, don’t tell, helping children create more vivid and engaging writing.
Developing Writing Techniques Step by Step
Rather than introducing too many literary techniques at once, lessons focus on the techniques most suitable for a particular writing purpose.
For persuasive writing, children might explore:
- Rule of three: Grouping three ideas to create rhythm and emphasis.
- Pathos: Appealing to readers’ emotions.
- Hyperbole: Using deliberate exaggeration for effect.
Children learn why these techniques work and how to use them appropriately, helping them become more purposeful and confident writers.
Who Teaches the 11+ English Programme?
Think Academy states that its tutors are native English speakers who undergo a rigorous selection and training process. Tutors hold degrees in Literature or related disciplines from universities and have experience in 11+ English teaching and exam preparation.
The programme combines subject knowledge with structured teaching to help children develop their understanding, practise exam techniques and work towards applying their skills independently.
How Can Your Child Try the Programme for Free?
Think Academy UK is offering free 11+ English trial lessons so families can experience the teaching approach before deciding whether the programme is suitable for their child.
Trial sessions are scheduled from 30 October to 15 November 2026, with weekday evening and weekend morning options. Availability varies by year group, so families should confirm the latest available sessions when registering.
Think Academy’s launch materials reported that more than 1,070 students had booked free 11+ English trial lessons at the time the materials were prepared.
The initial course launch focuses on Year 4 and Year 5 students.
Book a Free Year 4 or Year 5 Trial Lesson
Give your child the opportunity to experience structured English learning, explore challenging texts and practise applying English skills with guidance from a tutor.
Register for a FREE 11+ English Trial Lesson
Choose your child’s year group and contact Think Academy to confirm the latest session availability.
Build a Stronger Foundation for 11+ English
Preparing for the 11+ involves more than completing practice papers. Children need a strong foundation in vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, comprehension and writing, alongside the ability to apply these skills accurately under exam conditions.
Think Academy UK’s new 11+ English programme brings these areas together through a structured curriculum covering seven core areas and 92 key knowledge and skill areas.
With progressive learning, integrated reading and writing lessons, and opportunities to practise applying new skills, the programme aims to help children develop greater confidence and prepare more systematically for 11+ English exams.
Explore the programme and book a free trial lesson to discover how Think Academy can support your child’s English learning.
