11+ preparation checklist
Print this and stick it on the fridge. It covers the whole 11+ journey from Year 4 foundations to exam-day logistics, in the order our tutors actually work through it. Tick items off as you go.
Before anything else
- List your target schools and their exam supplier (GL or CEM-style)
- Diarise registration deadlines (they close before the test date)
- Download each school's free familiarisation materials
- Agree the weekly time budget: 2-3 hours in Year 5, not more
Year 4 foundations
- Times tables to 12, instant recall
- Daily reading, above age level where possible
- Mental maths: halves, doubles, number bonds to 100
- Puzzles and games that build pattern-spotting
Year 5 weekly routine
- One timed reasoning section, marked the same day
- One maths or English topic lesson on a known weakness
- 30 minutes of reading, five days a week
- One full mock every 3-4 weeks from spring, scores tracked
- Error log: every mistake gets one line and a redo date
Summer of Year 5
- Full mock every 1-2 weeks, reviewed together
- Pacing drills: questions per minute by section
- Two-pass method practised until automatic
- Keep one rest day a week, every week
Exam week
- Confirm the exam time, location and what to bring
- Light review only, no new material
- Early night, normal breakfast, arrive early
- Two sharpened pencils, eraser, ruler, water (per school rules)
Tutor tip: Ticking boxes is progress, but marked mocks are proof. If you want a tutor to run the mocks, mark them and keep the score data honest, that is exactly what our 11+ programme does, and the first two classes are free.