11+ exam prep: how to support your child without the stress
If the mention of the 11+ makes your stomach flip, you are in good company. Prep matters, but how you prep matters more.
Start early, but gently
Most families begin light preparation around Year 4 or early Year 5, focusing on building core skills like reading comprehension, reasoning and times tables rather than exam-style drilling. Save the intense practice papers for closer to the exam.
Little and often beats long and infrequent
Twenty to thirty minutes, 4 to 5 times a week, is far more effective than a 3-hour cramming session on a Sunday. It keeps skills fresh without burning your child or you out.
Start practice papers untimed to build confidence, then gradually introduce timed conditions closer to the exam so the format itself does not feel like a shock on the day.
- Verbal reasoning: word patterns, comprehension, vocabulary
- Non-verbal reasoning: shapes, sequences, spatial awareness
- Maths: arithmetic fluency plus problem-solving
- English: comprehension, grammar, and creative writing under time pressure
The bit that makes the biggest difference
Protecting your child's confidence and love of learning is so important. Praise effort, not just correct answers. Talk about mistakes as useful information, not failures. Build in proper downtime.
A child who has had a bike ride and a laugh that afternoon often absorbs more the next day than one who has been at a desk for hours straight.