How to prepare for the 11+ exam
8 min read · updated 2026-08-31
The 11+ decides entry to grammar and many independent schools, and it rewards long, calm preparation over last-minute panic. This timeline shows what to do in each year, what the exams actually test, and how to tell whether your child is on track.
What the 11+ actually tests
Most grammar schools use papers supplied by GL Assessment, while some regions and schools use CEM-style questions. Whatever the supplier, the four skill areas repeat: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths (based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum), and English comprehension.
Independent schools usually set their own entrance exams and add an interview. Always download your target school's exact format; schools differ more than parents expect.
Year 4: build the foundations (light touch)
In Year 4 the goal is comfort, not papers. Ten to twenty minutes a few times a week of times-tables fluency, reading aloud, mental maths and simple puzzles builds the base that reasoning questions assume. If it feels like a chore now, it will feel like pressure in Year 5.
Year 5: structured practice and weekly mocks
Year 5 is the engine year. A typical working week looks like this:
- ✓ One timed reasoning paper section, marked the same day
- ✓ One maths or English topic lesson targeting a known weakness
- ✓ Thirty minutes of reading, five days a week
- ✓ One full mock every 3-4 weeks from spring, with scores tracked
Year 6: polish, timing and confidence
The exam lands in September of Year 6 for many regions. By summer the content is done; what remains is timing discipline, careful question reading, and keeping morale steady. Full mocks every 1-2 weeks, reviewed together, so exam week feels like routine.
How to know your child is on track
Mock scores tell you more than feelings. If practice scores sit consistently around or above your target school's historic pass thresholds, you are on track. If they plateau for six weeks, change the method before increasing the hours. And if two honest terms of work have not moved the needle, a good tutor will tell you, because an unhappy child in a school that did not fit is the worst outcome of all.
FAQs
When should 11+ preparation start?＋
Light foundations in Year 4, structured weekly practice through Year 5, and timing-focused mocks in the summer before the Year 6 exam. Accelerated six-month programmes exist, but earlier is calmer.
How many hours a week does 11+ prep need?＋
About 2-3 focused hours a week in Year 5, split across short sessions. Consistency beats marathon weekends, and sleep matters more than one extra paper.
Can a tutor guarantee a pass?＋
No one can guarantee a place, and you should distrust anyone who does. What good tutoring guarantees is honest assessments, structured practice and steady progress you can see in mock data.
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