How to Prepare for the 11 Plus: a Year by Year Plan

It can be hard to decide what to practise when test dates and formats differ by area. A short set of questions can help you choose what to review next, but it is only a snapshot, not a full assessment or an exam prediction.

The schedule below is an example, not a recommended minimum or a promise of a result. Adjust it to your child's school workload, wellbeing, starting point and local test. The 11+ is not one exam: subjects, formats, timings and dates vary by school and area. Check the current instructions from the test authority before setting a plan. Our parent guide to what the 11+ actually is explains the basic formats and admissions steps.

Before you plan anything: a fifteen minute diagnostic

Begin with a small set of questions from the subjects your local test uses. GL Assessment publishes familiarisation material for English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, but local authorities and schools decide which subjects and question types their own tests include (GL Assessment).

You can spend about fifteen minutes on a starting check if that fits your child. For example:

• Ten minutes: try a few questions from the relevant subject areas.
• Five minutes: try a short timed section, if the real test is timed and your child is ready.
• Review: note what your child could explain and what needs practice. A single score is only a summary of those questions, not a complete diagnosis.

Use the answers as a starting point for a conversation. Did your child understand the question? Did they run out of time, or were they unsure how to begin? Different difficulties may call for different practice.

Reading the result: which of three branches you are on

Use these three broad planning examples to decide what kind of support may help. A child may fit more than one branch or move between them as they practise.

Branch A: broadly on track

If discussion and working show that the sampled methods are familiar, focus on maintaining them and learning the local test format. Even scores alone cannot show that no new teaching is needed. A child in this situation may need practice to maintain familiar skills and learn the local test format, rather than a large amount of new content.

Branch B: one area is clearly behind

Three areas are steady and one sits well below. A child with one weaker area may benefit from spending more practice time there, then reviewing whether that focus is helping. Non-verbal reasoning may be a less familiar question format for some children; related visual and spatial skills appear in the curriculum, but test-specific question types differ. If non-verbal is your gap, our non-verbal reasoning guide sets out the question families and a consistent solving method.

Branch C: starting from scratch

If several question formats are unfamiliar, begin by learning what each task asks. Add timing only when your child understands the task and the local paper uses a time limit.

Work backwards from your local test date

A useful starting point is to find the published test date and count back from it. Dates can change, so check the test authority’s current calendar.

These are examples from the 2027-entry cycle, not dates for every test:

• Buckinghamshire. For children moving up to secondary school in September 2027, the practice test was on 8 September and the main Secondary Transfer Test was on 10 September 2026. That is the first fortnight of Year 6. The test date illustrates why some families prepare before Year 6.
• Essex (CSSE). The CSSE 2027-entry guide scheduled its English and Mathematics tests for 19 September 2026; its guide lists those two papers, not a separate reasoning paper (CSSE 2027-entry guide).
• The admissions deadline. Secondary applications usually close on 31 October, but check your home council’s dates. For example, Kent set 2 November 2026 for 2027 entry because 31 October fell on a weekend.
• Offer day. Secondary offers are sent on 1 March or the next working day; check your council's timetable.

In these examples, test results were scheduled before the local application deadline. Result dates and application dates vary, so check both rather than assuming that a test result will arrive in time.

Count backwards from your own test date. There is no single preparation length that suits every child or every test. Earlier reading and number practice can support school learning without turning into formal exam preparation. Our companion piece on when to start 11+ preparation works through several regional variants.

Enter your child’s date of birth below for an illustrative school-year timeline in England. It does not establish selective-school registration or test deadlines; confirm those with each target school for the entry year.

Years 3 and 4: optional foundations

If you are planning ahead in Years 3 and 4, reading for enjoyment and number fluency are useful options. Formal 11+ practice is not a requirement at this age.

Year 3: encourage regular reading and practise number facts as part of ordinary activities if your child enjoys them. There is no need to follow a separate 11+ timetable.

Year 4: continue reading and number work as fits around school. Talking about a story or explaining how they solved a calculation can help you notice what your child understands.

Year 4 summer: if you already know the target test, you could show your child a small sample of its question formats. Keep this optional and stop if it adds stress.

Year 5: the core year, term by term

For many children, Year 5 is a useful time to begin test-specific practice. If your target school tests in Year 5, work backwards from that earlier date.

Autumn term: choose a manageable routine based on the local test and your child’s gaps. Revisit a few earlier questions to see what needs more practice.

Spring term: try short timed sections if they reflect the local test and your child is ready. Review mistakes before adding more timed work.

Summer term: a full practice paper may help rehearse the format if your child is ready. Buckinghamshire says its own practice test is for familiarity, not for measuring how well a child has done. Check what the practice result can and cannot tell you in your own area.

Summer holiday: if the test is in September, you may want to leave time for familiarisation and rest. Do not assume that every child needs the same weekly hours or holiday schedule.

The final twelve weeks and exam week

In the final weeks, follow the local test format. Short timed sections or a practice paper can help rehearse timing, while untimed review can help address questions your child does not yet understand. Keep the workload manageable.

Buckinghamshire's test, for example, consists of two papers measuring verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills, each around forty-five minutes of testing and about sixty minutes including the introduction, produced by GL Assessment. Rehearse that structure specifically, including the break between papers. GL Assessment also cautions that timings, topics and question counts vary from area to area, so rehearse your local format, not a generic one. You can browse our mock tests as one possible way to practise timing.

In the final week, keep any practice short and familiar if your child finds it useful. Leave space for sleep and normal routines, and avoid introducing a large amount of new work immediately before the test.

Starting late: plans for 12, 8 and 4 weeks

If you start late, first check whether registration is still open. Then choose a small amount of practice focused on the local test and the areas your child finds difficult.

Twelve weeks: start with familiarisation and a short review of relevant subject areas. Add timed practice gradually if useful, leaving time to revisit errors.

Eight weeks: prioritise the local format and a few fixable gaps; avoid assuming that a full timed paper every week is suitable for every child.

Four weeks: focus on understanding the instructions and format. Use short timed practice only if it is manageable and leave time to rest before test day.

What to drop when the plan breaks

Illness, a house move, a hard term at school. When the week collapses, cut in this order.

1. Consider reducing first: extra workbooks, additional papers and work that does not match the local test.
2. Review next: if a topic is difficult, choose a small part to revisit rather than adding a large block of new material.
3. Keep reading flexible: reading can remain an enjoyable activity rather than another scheduled task.

If the plan becomes difficult to manage, reduce the workload and keep the most useful activity for your child. This might be a short practice section, a review of one missed question or time away from test preparation.

Term by term checklists for your branch

You can turn the branch that fits your child into a simple checklist: list the term, the practice you plan to try and what you will review. Change it if your child’s needs or the test dates change.

You can start with a free diagnostic to see a sample of your child’s strengths and areas for practice. Use the result as a starting point, then choose any follow-up work yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How long does 11 plus preparation take?

There is no fixed duration. Check the test date and format, then choose a manageable amount of practice that fits your child and the time available.

What age should you start preparing?

For an early-September Year 6 test, Year 5 leaves time to learn the format and practise relevant skills. A Year 5 test may require an earlier start.

What can make preparation less useful?

Practising a format that does not match the target test, relying on one practice score as a prediction, or skipping the review of errors can make preparation less useful. Check the local format and use practice results as information, not an outcome forecast.

What if we miss the application deadline?

Secondary application deadlines are set in the home council’s admissions timetable. 31 October is a common deadline, but a weekend may change the date, as it did for Kent in 2026. Check how late applications are handled locally. If a place is refused, read the decision letter for the school’s appeal route and deadlines, alongside the GOV.UK appeal guidance. An appeal is a separate step from making a late application. Put the admissions dates in your calendar before building a study plan, and check for updates from the council.