11 Plus Preparation
The 5 steps to 11 Plus success
Step 1: 11 Plus Tuition
Securing a specialist tutor sets the foundation for every part of your child’s journey. A dedicated 11 Plus tutor provides personalised support that focuses on your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses, offering targeted teaching across all 11 Plus Subjects: English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. With expert knowledge of the test format, timing and techniques, a tutor helps your child become familiar with the types of questions they will face, reducing anxiety and building genuine confidence.
With regular sessions, children build familiarity and confidence, so the exam becomes something they are ready to face rather than something to fear. By starting with high-quality one-to-one tuition, you turn 11 Plus Preparation from a daunting challenge into a structured, well-guided process that gives your child the best possible start on the path to success.
Step 2: 11 Plus Revision
After establishing support with a tutor, the second step is building a consistent and child-friendly revision routine. This stage focuses on helping your child revisit what they’ve learned, strengthen key skills and develop steady study habits without any pressure. Revision at this point should feel manageable and encouraging, giving your child time to grow more familiar with English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning in a calm, structured way.
Rather than pushing for perfection, the aim is to create regular moments of practice that boost confidence and understanding bit by bit. By keeping revision positive and gradual, you help your child feel in control of their learning, making the next steps in the preparation process much easier to handle. Start early and don’t get caught out!
Step 3: 11 Plus Exam Questions
With revision well underway, the third step is introducing exam-style questions. This stage helps bridge the gap between general practice and the types of tasks your child will face in the assessment. By working through structured 11 Plus exam questions, they begin to recognise how different topics are tested, how questions are worded and what level of reasoning is expected. An essential part of 11 Plus Preparation is familiarising your child with the style of questions frequently asked on the 11 Plus Exam.
This isn’t about strict timing or perfect accuracy, but about developing familiarity and building the ability to apply knowledge in a focused way. Exam-style questions also make it easier to spot which areas your child feels confident with and which topics may need more attention. Adding this step to their routine makes preparation more targeted and purposeful, giving your child a stronger understanding of the skills they are developing and what those skills look like in practice.
Step 4: 11 Plus Exam Papers
Once your child is confident handling individual exam-style questions, the fourth step is to progress to full 11 Plus exam papers. This stage brings everything together by allowing your child to experience the structure, length and flow of a complete paper. Using 11 Plus papers, including past papers or GL-style exam papers, helps them become comfortable with seeing a range of question types in one place and managing the steady progression from start to finish.
The aim here is not to create pressure but to help your child understand what a full assessment looks and feels like, making the real exam far less unfamiliar. Completing whole papers also highlights patterns in performance, showing which topics are secure and which areas may still need attention. By incorporating full exam papers at this stage, preparation becomes more realistic and well-rounded, giving your child a strong foundation before moving on to mock exams, and eventually, the real thing.
Step 5: 11 Plus Mock Exams
In the final stage of your five-step preparation plan, your child takes part in mock exams, a crucial bridge to the real test day. These mock exams replicate the full format, timing and structure of the actual 11 Plus assessment, allowing your child to practise all the skills and techniques they’ve developed in the previous steps. Sitting a mock exam gives them experience of working through a complete paper under realistic conditions, and helps them manage focus, stamina and mindset during a full session. After the exam, it’s also a valuable chance to review what went well, identify final areas that need polish and solidify their readiness. In short, mock exams turn all their preparation into one final rehearsal, ensuring they walk into the real 11 Plus with calm confidence and clarity about what to expect.
11 Plus Preparation FAQs
When should my child start preparing for the 11 Plus?
Most families begin light preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5. Starting early allows your child to build skills gradually, grow familiar with the exam content and avoid last-minute pressure.
Do we need a tutor for 11 Plus preparation?
A tutor isn’t essential, but many parents find that one-to-one support provides structure, helps identify strengths and weaknesses and makes the preparation journey clearer and more confident for their child.
How often should my child revise for the 11 Plus?
Little and often works best. Short, regular sessions help children revisit what they’ve learned, stay consistent and build good study habits without feeling overwhelmed.
What’s the difference between exam questions and exam papers?
Exam-style questions help children practise individual skills and become familiar with how topics are tested. Full exam papers bring everything together, showing them what a complete assessment looks like from start to finish.
Why are mock exams important?
Mock exams replicate real test conditions, giving children a chance to experience the timing, structure and atmosphere of the actual 11 Plus. This helps reduce nerves and boosts confidence for the real day.
How can I support my child throughout the 11 Plus preparation process?
The best support comes from a parent or guardian creating a calm routine, encouraging steady progress and staying positive. Checking in regularly, celebrating small improvements and keeping the workload manageable all help your child feel confident and motivated at each stage.