11 Plus Vocabulary Boost Tips
If your child needs a vocabulary lift but you do not have hours to spend on it, this article is for you. Eight practical things, none of which take longer than 10 minutes a day, all of which work.
1. Word of the day on the fridge
Pick one word each morning. Write it on a sticky note. Stick it where everyone will see it. Use it at least once during the day. Encourage your child to use it back at you. Total time: under five minutes per day.
Across a school year, that is 200 plus new words your child has met, used and heard, in real life. Not on a flashcard. In their actual house.
2. The synonym game in the car
On any car journey of more than 10 minutes, play the synonym game. “How many words for ‘walked’ can you think of? I’ll start: ambled.” Take turns. Build slowly. Do not stop the game until you can both feel it, then start a new word.
Categories that work brilliantly: walked, said, looked, big, small, sad, happy, scared, surprised, angry. Each has a wonderful range of more sophisticated alternatives.
3. Read together, and stop when something is interesting
Reading aloud to your child, even when they can read alone, gives you the moment to pause when a word stands out. “What does ‘conspicuous’ mean? Look at the sentence around it.”
These pauses are worth more than a flashcard pack. Aim for two to three pauses per chapter. Not so many that the story collapses, but enough that your child knows you are reading actively.
4. Newspaper word of the week
Subscribe to First News (a children’s newspaper) or pick one article from a normal newspaper each week. Read together. Pick one or two interesting words from each piece, look them up, talk about them. Newspaper writing uses different vocabulary from fiction, and 11+ comprehension passages include both.
5. The thesaurus moment in their writing
When your child is writing a piece and reaches for a generic word (“good,” “bad,” “nice,” “big”), pause and ask: “is there a stronger word here?” Open a thesaurus together if needed.
Done weekly across Year 5, this single habit transforms the language of their writing. They start reaching for stronger words by themselves.
6. Vocabulary collections
Children remember words in groups better than in isolation. Make a small notebook (or a page of a notebook) for vocabulary collections. One page for words about weather. One for words about light and dark. One for words about emotions. Add to them across the year.
Encourage your child to use words from their own collections in their writing. The pride of using a word they collected themselves is real.
7. The word origin moment
Many sophisticated English words come from Latin or Greek roots. “Telephone” is “far” plus “sound.” “Photosynthesis” is “light” plus “put together.” “Geography” is “earth” plus “writing.”
When you meet a word with a clear root, take 30 seconds to mention it. Children love this and they remember it. By Year 6, a child who knows a handful of common Latin and Greek roots can decode hundreds of unfamiliar words on first sight.
8. Praise vocabulary when you hear it
When your child uses a sophisticated word in conversation, notice it. “I loved your use of ‘reluctant’ there. Great word.” Children chase the words that earn praise. Within months, they are reaching for the words you have noticed before.
How to know it is working
Three signs the work is paying off:
- Their writing changes. Generic adjectives are replaced by specific ones. Sentences feel more deliberate.
- Their conversation changes. They use words they did not used to use. They sometimes correct you when you reach for a weaker word.
- Their comprehension scores rise. Particularly on inference and language questions, where vocabulary depth is the underlying skill.
Want a structured vocabulary programme woven into weekly English teaching? Our Year 5 and Year 6 weekly workshops do exactly this, alongside comprehension and writing.
Frequently asked questions
How many of these tips should I use?
Pick two to start with. Embed them. Add another in a fortnight. Eight at once is overwhelming. Two well used habits beat eight half started ones.
What if my child is not interested in vocabulary games?
Switch the form. Some children love the synonym game in the car. Others prefer collecting words in a notebook. Others light up at word origins. Find which form your child actually engages with and lean into that.
How long until I see a difference?
Conversation changes within weeks. Writing changes within a term. Test scores typically lift by the second mock after consistent vocabulary work begins, around three to four months.
Are vocabulary apps a substitute for these habits?
No. Apps test recognition, which is the easy half of vocabulary. Real vocabulary work needs use, conversation and context. Use apps as a supplement, not as the main strategy.
