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When should my child start preparing for the 11+?

Updated 2026-11-04

There is no single right moment to begin, but most families find that steady, light preparation over about a year works better than a late rush or a very early start. Here is a sensible way to think about timing.

The short answer

For most children, the spring or summer of Year 5 is a comfortable time to begin focused 11+ practice, because many tests are sat in September of Year 6. That gives roughly six to nine months of regular, manageable work.

Before that, the best preparation is simply a good primary education: lots of reading, confident times tables and the habit of explaining answers. None of this feels like “11+ work”, yet it is the foundation everything else is built on.

Test dates do vary, and a few areas are reported to be moving their test earlier, into the summer term of Year 5. Check with your council or chosen school as soon as you start thinking seriously about grammar or selective schools, because that one date shapes the whole plan.

A timeline that works for many families

Every child is different, so treat this as a rough guide rather than a schedule to follow to the letter.

Year 4: read widely together, play word and number games, and secure times tables. Find out which test your area uses.
Autumn of Year 5: try one or two untimed practice papers to see what the questions look like. Note any topics your child has not met yet.
Spring of Year 5: start a short weekly routine. Work on the question types that feel unfamiliar, especially in verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which are not usually taught in school.
Summer of Year 5: introduce timing gently. Begin full mock papers every couple of weeks and review mistakes carefully.
Late summer: keep things ticking over with lighter practice, plenty of rest and a couple of final mocks under test-like conditions.

Registration often happens in the late spring or early summer of Year 5, well before the test itself. Missing the registration window can mean missing the test, so put the dates in your diary early.

Why starting very early can backfire

It is tempting to think that more years of practice must be better. In reality, starting intensive work in Year 3 or early Year 4 often leads to boredom, frustration or a child who feels the 11+ has taken over their life.

Much of the maths and English in 11+ tests draws on topics taught in Year 5 and Year 6. A younger child may simply not have met long division or certain fraction work yet, and drilling it too soon can knock their confidence.

Children also mature quickly between eight and ten. A question type that seems baffling in Year 4 can feel straightforward a year later with no extra effort at all.

Start by finding out about your test

Before buying anything or booking anything, find out what your area or school actually tests. Some tests include verbal and non-verbal reasoning; others focus on English and maths. Some use multiple-choice answer sheets, others want written answers, and a few include a writing task.

Your council’s admissions pages and each school’s website are the best places to look. Formats and providers sometimes change, so check with your council or school each year rather than relying on what an older sibling sat.

Once you know the format, you can choose practice that matches it. NITU’s free samples are one way to see what different formats look like before deciding how to prepare.

Building a weekly routine

Little and often beats long weekend sessions. Twenty to forty minutes, three or four times a week, is plenty for most children in the early months.

Keep sessions short enough that your child finishes wanting a little more, not less.
Mix subjects so no single area feels like a grind.
Spend as much time talking through mistakes as doing new questions.
Protect free time, sport, friends and sleep. A rested child performs better than a drilled one.
Build reading into the day for pleasure, not as a task to tick off.

As the test gets closer, sessions can grow a little and include timed practice, but there is rarely any need for hours of work each day.

Adjusting the pace to your child

Some children love puzzles and race ahead; others need more time to build confidence. Watch how your child responds rather than comparing them with classmates.

If practice regularly ends in tears, ease off for a week or two. If a particular topic keeps causing trouble, go back to basics with that topic before returning to mixed papers.

It is also worth asking honestly whether a selective school suits your child. Preparation should help them show what they can do, not stretch them into something they are not. Whatever the outcome, the reading, reasoning and maths skills they build will serve them well at any secondary school.

Questions parents ask

Is Year 6 too late to start preparing?

If the test is in September of Year 6, starting then leaves very little time. A child with strong reading and maths can still benefit from a few weeks of familiarisation with the question types, but earlier, lighter practice is usually kinder.

How many hours a week should my child practise?

In the early stages, around one to two hours a week spread over several short sessions is plenty for most children. This can grow a little in the final months, but rest matters too.

Do we need a tutor?

Many children prepare successfully at home with good practice materials and a parent to talk through mistakes. A tutor can help with motivation or a specific weak area, but it is not essential.

When is registration for the 11+?

It varies by area and changes from year to year, but it is often in the late spring or early summer of Year 5. Check with your council or school for this year’s dates.

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.