How to Prepare for the 11+ Year by Year
Whether your child is in Year 4 and just starting, Year 5 and in the thick of it, or Year 6 with the exam weeks away — this guide gives you a clear, actionable plan for each stage.
Y4–Y6
Covers all three year groups
4 subjects
English, Maths, VR & NVR
20–30 min
Effective daily practice time
Sep Y6
When most 11+ exams are sat
What you'll get from this guide
- Term-by-term preparation plan for Year 4, Year 5, and Year 6
- Subject-by-subject breakdown: what to prioritise and when
- The most common preparation mistakes and how to avoid them
- A peak-season checklist for families starting between April and July
Not sure which year group advice applies to you? Start with our guide on when to start preparation for a personalised timeline.
Where to Start
The right starting point depends on where your child is now, not where the calendar says they should be. Before diving into a preparation plan, honestly assess these three things:
Maths confidence
Can they do times tables up to 12×12 fluently? Are they comfortable with fractions, decimals, and percentages at their year group level? If not, this is where preparation starts — not with 11+ papers.
Reading & comprehension
Do they read independently for pleasure? Can they explain what they've read and infer meaning beyond the literal text? Reading ability is the single strongest predictor of 11+ success across all four subjects.
Reasoning exposure
Has your child seen verbal or non-verbal reasoning questions before? Most children haven't — and that's fine. Reasoning is highly trainable. But it does need dedicated practice time built into the plan.
Preparation Timeline
A realistic year-by-year view from Year 4 to exam day
Year 4
Foundations
Autumn
Secure Maths & English fundamentals. Read widely every day.
Spring
Introduce reasoning concepts informally. Identify any gaps.
Summer
Gentle exposure to 11+ question types. Build confidence.
Year 5
Core Preparation
Autumn
Structured practice: VR, NVR, Maths papers. 20-30 min daily.
Spring
Target weak areas. Increase difficulty. Timed practice starts.
Summer
Full timed papers. 2-3 mock exams. Exam technique polish.
Year 6
Exam Term
Sep (Exam)
Light revision only. Confidence building. Rest before the test.
Year 4
Foundations
Autumn
Secure Maths & English fundamentals. Read widely every day.
Spring
Introduce reasoning concepts informally. Identify any gaps.
Summer
Gentle exposure to 11+ question types. Build confidence.
Year 5
Core Preparation
Autumn
Structured practice: VR, NVR, Maths papers. 20-30 min daily.
Spring
Target weak areas. Increase difficulty. Timed practice starts.
Summer
Full timed papers. 2-3 mock exams. Exam technique polish.
Year 6
Exam Term
Sep (Exam)
Light revision only. Confidence building. Rest before the test.
Year 4: Laying the Groundwork
Year 4 is about building the foundations that 11+ preparation sits on. This is not the year for timed papers or intense exam drilling. Think of it as strengthening the roots so the tree can grow.
Autumn Term (Sep–Dec)
Spring Term (Jan–Mar)
Summer Term (Apr–Jul)
“The best thing we did in Year 4 was just read. Every night. All kinds of books. By the time we started proper practice in Year 5, her comprehension and vocabulary were already strong.”
— Parent, Mumsnet 11+ thread
Year 5: The Core Preparation Year
Year 5 is where preparation gets structured. Your child should now be working through 11+-specific material regularly. The goal is to build familiarity with all question types, develop speed, and identify (then fix) weak areas before the summer.
Autumn Term (Sep–Dec)
Spring Term (Jan–Mar)
Summer Term (Apr–Jul)
Sample weekly schedule (Year 5 Spring onward)
Daily reading (20+ min) happens alongside this, not instead of it. Adjust based on your child's energy and school commitments.
Year 6: The Final Push
By Year 6, the exam is imminent — typically in the first or second week of September. This is not the time for new material. It's the time to consolidate, build confidence, and arrive at the exam rested.
Summer Holiday (Aug)
Exam Week (Sep)
“The children who did best in our group were the ones whose parents stayed calm. The kids who were anxious had anxious parents. It sounds obvious but it's worth saying.”
— Parent, Mumsnet results thread
Subject-by-Subject Guide
Most GL Assessment 11+ exams test four subjects. Here's what each one involves and where to focus your child's practice time.
English
Comprehension passages, grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary
Top tip: Daily reading is the single most effective English preparation. A child who reads widely and discusses what they read will naturally build comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar awareness.
Mathematics
Arithmetic, word problems, fractions, geometry, data handling, algebra basics
Top tip: Speed matters in 11+ Maths. Practise mental arithmetic daily. A child who can do 7×8 in one second has a real advantage over one who needs five seconds — across 50 questions, that's minutes saved.
Verbal Reasoning
Word patterns, codes, analogies, hidden words, letter sequences
Top tip: VR is highly trainable but unfamiliar to most children. Start with untimed practice to learn the question types, then gradually add time pressure. A strong vocabulary gives a significant advantage.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Pattern sequences, spatial reasoning, matrices, reflection, rotation
Top tip: NVR is the most “learnable” subject — children who have never seen it before can improve dramatically with practice. Focus on teaching them to verbalise the rules they see: “the shape rotates 90° each time and gets smaller.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After reading thousands of parent discussions and working with families across the country, these are the patterns that consistently cause problems.
Starting with papers instead of fundamentals
Jumping straight into 11+ practice papers before securing curriculum Maths and English is like running before you can walk. Papers expose weaknesses — but if the weakness is basic arithmetic or reading comprehension, the fix isn't more papers. It's going back to fundamentals.
Practising strengths and avoiding weaknesses
Children (and adults) naturally gravitate toward what they're good at. If your child loves Maths but struggles with VR, they'll want to do Maths practice. You need to gently redirect. The exam tests all subjects equally — one weak area can undo three strong ones.
Too many mock exams
2–4 mock exams is enough. After that, the diagnostic value drops sharply and the stress value rises. Each mock should be carefully reviewed: which questions were wrong and why? Without that review, a mock is just a stressful experience with a number at the end.
Comparing your child to others
Every child’s starting point is different. A child scoring 75% on practice papers in January of Year 5 is not “behind” a child scoring 85% — they may simply have started later or have different strengths. Focus on your child’s trajectory, not their position relative to others.
Neglecting rest and wellbeing
A tired, anxious child performs worse on every measure. Sleep, play, friendships, and downtime are not luxuries competing with preparation time — they are part of preparation. An exhausted child who has done 500 papers will underperform a well-rested child who has done 200.
Peak Season Checklist (Apr–Jul)
If you're reading this between April and July, you're in the window when most families either start preparation or intensify it. Here's your action checklist based on your child's current year group.
Year 4 right now (exam in Sep 2027)
Year 5 right now (exam in Sep 2026)
Year 6 right now (exam already passed or this Sep)
Ready to start practising?
Free unlimited practice across all four 11+ subjects — Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Start Free PracticeFrequently Asked Questions
What subjects does the 11+ test?
Most 11+ exams test four subjects: English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Some regions only test reasoning (e.g. Buckinghamshire) and some include all four (e.g. Kent, Sutton). Check our regional guides for the exact subjects in your area.
How many hours a week should my child practise?
In the core preparation phase (Year 5), 20–30 minutes of focused daily practice on weekdays is effective — that's about 2–2.5 hours per week of structured work. Add daily reading (20+ minutes) which should not feel like “prep”. Avoid exceeding 45 minutes per day — diminishing returns set in quickly for 9–10 year olds.
Is it too late to start in Year 5?
Not necessarily. If your child has strong Maths and English fundamentals, Year 5 gives you 12 months — enough for most GL Assessment areas. For super-selective schools, it'll be tighter but achievable with consistent daily practice. Read our timing guide for detailed advice on late starts.
Should I hire a tutor?
A tutor is not essential. Many children pass the 11+ with parental support and structured resources. A good tutor can help identify weaknesses, build exam technique, and provide accountability — but only if your child responds well to that dynamic. If you do use a tutor, Year 5 is the right time to start — not earlier.
What should we do in the summer before the exam?
The summer before the exam is for consolidation, not cramming. Do 2–3 timed papers per week, review mistakes carefully, and focus on weak areas. Take at least two full weeks off for rest and family time. An exhausted child performs worse than a slightly less-prepared but well-rested one.
Do practice papers from different publishers matter?
Yes, somewhat. GL Assessment papers are the gold standard for GL regions — Bond, CGP, and official GL papers are all widely used. The question styles can vary between publishers, so expose your child to 2–3 different sources rather than working exclusively from one. What matters most is reviewing the answers, not just scoring them.
Sources & References
- GL Assessment: What is the 11+?
- CEM (Durham University): 11+ Information
- National Curriculum: KS2 Maths & English
- Mumsnet: 11+ 2026 Support Thread
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