Home › 11+ guides for parents

11+ guides for parents

Practical guides for parents, written plainly. No pressure and no promises, just what helps.

• When should my child start preparing for the 11+?
  A calm, practical timeline for 11+ preparation from Year 4 to the test, with tips on routines, pace and how to avoid starting too early.
• What is verbal reasoning in the 11+?
  What verbal reasoning is, the common 11+ question types with a short example of each, and simple ways to help your child practise at home.
• What is non-verbal reasoning in the 11+?
  A parent’s guide to non-verbal and spatial reasoning in the 11+: series, odd one out, analogies, reflections, rotations, cube nets and codes.
• What maths topics are in the 11+?
  The maths topics 11+ tests usually cover, from place value to ratio and data, plus common traps and tips for working quickly without a calculator.
• 11+ English comprehension tips for parents
  How to help your child with 11+ comprehension: retrieval and inference, vocabulary in context, multiple choice versus written answers, and SPaG.
• 11+ creative writing: planning, openings and timing
  How to help your child with 11+ creative writing: a five-minute plan, strong openings, vivid description, timing, and how writing tasks are used.
• 11+ standardised scores explained
  What age-standardised 11+ scores are, why raw mock scores cannot be turned into them, and how to use practice scores sensibly at home.
• 11+ test providers explained: GL, Quest, FSCE and more
  Who sets the 11+ in your area? A plain guide to GL Assessment, Quest, FSCE and school-set tests, and how answer sheets, sections and timings differ.
• How to use 11+ mock tests well
  Get more from 11+ mock tests: when to start, how to time them, marking and reviewing mistakes, spacing them out, and why more papers is not always better.
• A balanced Year 5 summer 11+ revision plan
  A calm, realistic summer 11+ plan for Year 5: short daily sessions, plenty of rest and reading, a sample weekly routine and tips to keep it enjoyable.
• 11+ test day checklist for parents
  A practical 11+ test day checklist: the night before, what to bring, breakfast and travel, handling nerves, and what parents can do while they wait.
• Keeping 11+ preparation calm and in perspective
  How to keep 11+ preparation calm: spotting pressure, talking about the test, protecting wellbeing and remembering the many good school options.
• Grammar school vs independent school entrance tests
  How grammar school 11+ tests differ from independent school assessments, including school-set papers, online pre-tests and interviews, and how to prepare.
• Building vocabulary for the 11+
  Practical ways to build your child's vocabulary for the 11+: reading widely, word lists, games, flash cards and chat that help new words stick.
• How 11+ registration works
  A general guide to 11+ registration: registering with your council or school, typical deadlines, test and results timings, and the 31 October application.
• The Northern Ireland transfer test: a guide for parents
  A calm guide to the SEAG transfer test in Northern Ireland: what it is, the format, how results work and a gentle preparation plan from P6.
• Starting 11+ preparation in Year 4: a gentle guide
  How to start 11+ preparation in Year 4 the gentle way: reading, times tables, spelling, short practice, reasoning games and a simple plan to Year 6.