Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Find out all you need to know about the Royal Belfast Academical Institution application process and how to prepare your child for success in their 11 Plus exam.
Overview
Test Month
November
Results
February
Allocations
May
Exam Board
CEA or GL
Address
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, College Square East, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 6DL
About the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is an independent grammar school for boys aged 11-18.
What subjects are covered on the test?
Entry to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution is possible by two routes. Pupils can either sit the PPTC test or the AQE tests.
The PPTC test is set by GL Assessment. It consists of an English paper and a maths paper. All questions are multiple choice, and each paper is split into a practice assessment and a main assessment. The practice assessment allows the children to become familiar with the style of questions ready for the main assessment.
The maths paper consists of 10 minutes on the practice assessment and 45 minutes on the main assessment, while the English paper consists of 20 minutes on the practice assessment and 50 minutes on the main assessment.
The PPTC will cover:
English
Mathematics
The AQE is set by CEA (Common Entrance Assessment). There are three papers to sit, and whilst it is recommended that applicants sit all three papers, it is only compulsory to attend two assessments.
Each paper is an hour long and consists of both maths and English questions. The English questions involve a mixture of multiple choice, poem and prose passage for the comprehension element.
The CEA will cover:
Mathematics
English
Application process
The deadline to register for The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is usually in September, with the 11 plus exam taking place in November/ December. Results are made available in February, and allocations take place in May/ June. Find out more information on the application process for The Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
Tuition tailored to your chosen school
We design a curriculum to meet your chosen school requirements and coach your child in the techniques and skills to give them the best chance of success in their 11 Plus exams.
Exam technique & coaching
Practise exam speed
Hone skills & accuracy
Unlimited practice material
Regular progress meetings and reports for you and your child
Tuition from £175 / month
Start your 11 Plus and Entrance Exam journey today.
Cancel anytime
No joining fee
In centre or online
Memberships to suit you
Cancel anytime
No joining fee
In centre or online
Memberships to suit you
Cancel anytime
No joining fee
In centre or online
Memberships to suit you
FAQs
How can I ensure my child gets into the best school possible?
We know that preparing for the exam can be a major focus in your child’s education and we are here to support you throughout that journey. We do not believe in simply ‘teaching to a test’, which is why we offer individualised courses and specialist courses that complement your child’s education in the run up to and beyond the exam.
Working in small groups and independently our members grow in confidence and develop exam techniques to prepare them for the day of the exam and beyond.
Our unique approach not only uses the most up-to-date resources, our engaging and motivational tutors will guide and support your child every step of the way, whilst providing clear and honest feedback about your child’s progress.
Is my child guaranteed to pass?
11 Plus exams are highly competitive and selective exams so we cannot guarantee that your child will pass.
What we can ensure is that your child is given the opportunity to do their very best with the knowledge, confidence and understanding of the exam they are going to sit.
We work really hard to bring enjoyment to their experience and send your child away with a fearless approach to learning.
From what age can my child start 11 Plus tuition?
Children can join our 11 Plus programmes at any time. Our foundation course starts for children in Year 3 focusing on building concrete maths and English skills.
For children in Year 4 our course introduces exam content and problem solving skills that they will face in entrance exams.
Once children are in Year 5 we develop advanced knowledge, speed and accuracy to achieve exam success.
Can my child prepare for more than one school entrance exam?
Yes. Our lessons are tailored to meet the requirements of the local schools in your area. Our managers will advise you on the best programme of work to follow so that your child covers all the material necessary for their chosen schools.
How often should my child have extra tuition?
At Explore we take a blended approach that involves a weekly individual session, essential to focus on your child’s core maths and English skills and vital to exam success, as well as one scheduled class-taught session each week that focuses on exam-specific techniques and content.
As part of our offering we recommend regular home practice, to embed learning of new skills covered in class. We utilise bespoke online and paper-based materials to provide your child with clear activities to practise at home.
Do you offer mock exams?
Mock exams form a crucial part of your child's preparation for 11 Plus and take place in our centres towards the end of the course.
How much homework do you set?
Home work is set according to your child's individual needs.
We combine digital and paper-based resources to give your child unlimited practice materials that you can access wherever and whenever you need them.
Why should I choose Explore Learning?
We understand that you want to give your child the best opportunities in life and we are here to support you throughout their journey into secondary education. We believe every child should have fair access to exam preparation, we don’t pre-test children, and welcome children of all abilities and will give them the best possible preparation to demonstrate their potential.Our comprehensive 11 Plus and Entrance Exam courses give children the opportunity to become confident in a range of verbal and non-verbal reasoning methods. In addition, we ensure children are developing the core maths and English skills needed to tackle any exam with confidence. We also prepare children for entrance exams into independent schools, tailoring our courses to suit the focus of schools in the local area.
