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Starting 11+ preparation in Year 4: a gentle guide

Updated 2026-11-05

Year 4 can feel early to be thinking about the 11+, and in many ways it is. But there is a lot you can do at this age that is light, enjoyable and makes later preparation much easier.

Why early is about habits, not pressure

Children in Year 4 are usually eight or nine. They are not ready for full practice papers or long revision sessions, and they do not need them. Much of the maths and English in 11+ tests is taught in Year 5 and Year 6, so drilling it now can confuse more than it helps.

What Year 4 is good for is habits: reading every day, recalling number facts quickly, noticing interesting words and enjoying a puzzle. These skills grow slowly and are hard to rush in the final months, which is why a gentle start now pays off later.

Think of Year 4 as laying foundations. If your child finishes the year reading happily and knowing their times tables, you have done a great deal.

Reading for pleasure

Reading is the single most useful habit for the 11+, because it supports comprehension, vocabulary, spelling and verbal reasoning all at once. The key word is pleasure. A child who loves books will read far more than one who is made to.

Let your child choose some books freely, including comics, joke books and non-fiction.
Keep reading aloud to them. Hearing richer language than they can read alone builds vocabulary.
Talk about what you read: why a character acted that way, or what might happen next.
Visit the library often and try new authors and types of book.

Times tables, spelling and vocabulary

In England, the National Curriculum expects children to know their multiplication tables up to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4. Children in state primary schools in England take the multiplication tables check in the summer term of Year 4, a short online check of how quickly they can recall these facts. Secure tables make almost every later maths topic easier, from fractions to long multiplication.

Practise little and often: chanting in the car, quick-fire questions at dinner, or a simple card game. Focus on the tables your child finds tricky, such as 6, 7, 8 and 12, and include the related division facts.

For spelling, ask your child’s teacher which words the class is learning, including the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list. Look at patterns, such as words ending in -tion or -ous, rather than learning long lists by heart.

Vocabulary grows through conversation. Use interesting words naturally, explain them, and play games such as finding a better word for “nice” or “said”.

Short practice and reasoning games

If you want some structured practice, keep it short: about 10 minutes, two or three times a week, is plenty at this age. Stop while your child is still enjoying it. A short practice book at the right level can help, but it is entirely optional.

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not usually taught in school, but children can build the underlying skills through play.

Word games: crosswords, word searches, anagrams and games where players link or change words.
Number games: dominoes, dice games and card games that involve adding up or spotting patterns.
Logic and shape puzzles: jigsaws, tangrams, building bricks, spot-the-difference and simple sequence puzzles.
Strategy games: board games that involve planning ahead and thinking about what comes next.

Signs your child is not ready yet

Every child develops at their own pace, and it is fine to pause. Watch for signs that practice is doing more harm than good.

Tears, worry or arguments whenever practice is mentioned.
Losing interest in reading or activities they used to enjoy.
Saying they are “bad at maths” or “not clever”.
Being very tired, or struggling with ordinary schoolwork.

If you see these, step back. Return to reading together and games for a few weeks or months. You can always come back to practice later, and nothing in Year 4 is so important that it is worth harming your child’s confidence. Talking to their class teacher can also help you judge whether the 11+ is right for your child.

A simple plan from Year 4 to Year 6

Use this as a rough outline and adapt it to your child and your area. Test dates and formats vary, so check with your council or school which test your area uses and when it is sat.

Year 4: reading for pleasure, times tables to 12 × 12, spelling patterns, word and number games, and occasional 10-minute practice sessions.
Year 5: find out about your test and its registration dates. Try a few untimed questions in the autumn, build a short weekly routine from spring, and introduce timing gently in the summer.
Year 6: for tests sat in the autumn, keep practice light in the final weeks, with a couple of practice papers in test-like conditions, plenty of rest and normal family life.

Above all, keep the 11+ in proportion. Friends, sport, play and sleep matter just as much as practice, and a happy, curious child is the best starting point for any test.

Questions parents ask

Is Year 4 too early to start 11+ preparation?

Year 4 is too early for intensive practice, but a good time to build habits such as daily reading and secure times tables. Keep it light and enjoyable.

How long should a Year 4 child practise for?

About 10 minutes, two or three times a week, is plenty. Reading together and games count as valuable preparation too.

What is the multiplication tables check?

It is a short online check taken by Year 4 children in state primary schools in England, testing quick recall of times tables up to 12 × 12.

Should we use practice papers in Year 4?

Full practice papers are not needed yet. They are more useful in Year 5 and Year 6, once your child has met more of the content.

Want to see what a paper set out like your child's test looks like? Every pack and handbook has a free sample. Find your test area or try the free flash cards.