Confident, relaxed ‘average’ children perform far better than brilliant, anxious ones.

• Schools can set what they like. However, the tried, tested and almost universal format is a comprehension test and an essay (composition).

• A comprehension exercise tests the child’s ability to understand what he reads and then to express, in his own words, his answers to questions on what he has read. The usual format is a shortish passage which may be fact or fiction followed by a series of questions. The questions may require an answer in sentences or in multiple choice form which requires the child to choose an answer out of a selection he is offered. Many state primary schools do not do formal exercises like these and not to a time limit. The time limit - and getting used to it - is obviously crucial if a child is to garner maximum marks in an exam and to feel confident beforehand.

• This is a common problem. Writing a story or a description to order - which comes naturally to many children - seems a huge challenge to many others. However, there are numerous ways of getting over this. 11+ English: A Parent’s Toolkit has a lot of suggestions of different approaches to help parents help their children.

• Reading is one of the best ways to learn new words but no-one will read if they don’t enjoy it and are not interested in what they read. At this age, what they read is less important than that they read. Look at your daughter’s enthusiasms. Some children will read eagerly if they are given a book or magazine about something that interests them. Does your daughter like horses? play stations?  fashion? dinosaurs? pop stars? You may find that a book on something she cares about will change her attitude. What matters is getting the habit of reading. Once she has the habit, her vocabulary will grow without the need to learn lists of words.