An 11 Plus Study Plan

How long to prepare

Most families begin focused preparation in Year 5, around twelve to fifteen months before a September Year 6 test. Starting earlier in Year 4 can work well if it stays light, building reading, vocabulary and number confidence rather than drilling exam papers.

What matters more than the start date is consistency. Twenty to thirty minutes most days beats a long, tiring session once a week.

A term by term plan for Years 4 to 6

Use this as a flexible outline rather than a rigid schedule:

• Year 4: build foundations through wide reading, times tables and mental maths, with no exam pressure
• Year 5 autumn and spring: introduce each subject, learn the question types and core techniques
• Year 5 summer: start short timed practice and a first, low stakes mock exam
• Year 6 up to the test: full past papers, timed practice and targeted work on weak areas

Building a weekly timetable

A balanced week in Year 5 or 6 might look like the list below. Keep sessions short and stop while concentration is still good.

• Maths: two short sessions, one on skills and one on mixed practice
• English and comprehension: one session, plus daily independent reading
• Verbal Reasoning: one session focused on a few question types
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: one session, building speed and pattern spotting
• One weekend slot for a timed paper or review, kept relaxed

Balancing the four subjects

Spend more time on the subjects your child finds hardest, but do not drop the strong ones entirely. Reasoning subjects in particular reward little and often, because they are about recognising patterns quickly rather than memorising facts.

Confirm which subjects your target schools actually test, since this varies by region and board, and weight the plan accordingly.

Using past papers and mock exams

Introduce full papers gradually. Begin untimed to learn the format, then add time limits so your child gets used to working at pace. Always review mistakes together, because understanding why an answer was wrong is where most of the progress comes from.

Sit a few mock exams under realistic conditions in the months before the test. A mock builds stamina, exposes timing problems and takes some of the fear out of the real day.

Keeping it sustainable

Preparation is a marathon, so protect the things that keep your child fresh:

• Protect downtime, sport and sleep, which all support learning
• Track progress simply so you can see weak areas shrinking
• Expect plateaus and the odd bad day, and do not panic
• Praise effort and improvement rather than only scores