April 22, 2026
If you’re the parent of a primary school child with grammar school ambitions, chances are you’ve already heard other parents talking about 11+ preparation — and wondered whether your child is already behind.
The truth is, there is no single “right” time to start. Every child is different. But there are clear patterns in what works, what doesn’t, and when structured support tends to make the biggest difference.
In this guide, we break down exactly what 11+ preparation looks like year by year — from Year 3 all the way through to exam day — so you can make a confident, informed decision for your child.
Before we dive into timing, it helps to understand what your child is actually preparing for.
The 11+ is a selective entrance exam taken by children in Year 6 (aged 10–11) for admission to grammar schools and some independent schools across the UK. It typically tests four core areas:
– English — reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary
– Maths — arithmetic, reasoning, and problem-solving
– Verbal Reasoning — language-based logic and pattern recognition
– Non-Verbal Reasoning — shape and spatial pattern recognition
The exact format varies depending on your region and the exam board used — the two most common are GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring). Some independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Always check which format your target school uses, as this should shape how your child prepares.
The 11+ is sat in September or October of Year 6 — which is earlier than many parents realise. This means preparation effectively needs to be complete by the summer before Year 6, leaving very little room for last-minute cramming.
Unlike revision for school SATs, which build on what children already know from the curriculum, the 11+ — particularly the verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections — introduces entirely new question types that are not taught in school. These skills take time to develop. They cannot be absorbed in a few weeks.
Starting too late is one of the most common and most costly mistakes parents make.
Should you start formal 11+ prep in Year 3?
Not necessarily — but this is absolutely the right time to build the foundations that will make preparation easier later.
At this stage, focus on:
– Reading daily — Wide, varied reading is the single most powerful thing you can do for your child’s English, vocabulary, and comprehension. Encourage your child to read fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, and poetry. The broader, the better.
– Times tables — A solid grasp of all times tables up to 12×12 is essential for 11+ Maths. Building this habit early removes a major barrier later.
– Mental arithmetic — Quick, confident mental maths — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — forms the backbone of the Maths paper.
– Curiosity and a love of learning — Children who enjoy reading and find Maths interesting will approach 11+ preparation with a much more positive mindset.
Tutor support in Year 3: Optional, but beneficial for children who are already showing strong academic potential or who have specific gaps in core skills. A light-touch approach — perhaps one session a fortnight — can help build strong habits early.
This is when most families with serious grammar school ambitions begin structured preparation — and for good reason.
Year 4 gives your child two full years before the exam. That is enough time to build genuine understanding rather than surface-level familiarity, and to approach the exam with real confidence rather than anxiety.
In Year 4, preparation should focus on:
– Introducing Verbal Reasoning — Begin with the most common VR question types: finding words within words, letter series, number codes, and analogies. At this stage, the goal is familiarity — not speed.
– Introducing Non-Verbal Reasoning — Start with the basics: identifying patterns in shapes, rotations, reflections, and sequences. Again, exposure and understanding matter more than timed practice at this point.
– Strengthening core Maths — Work through the Year 4 and Year 5 Maths curriculum: fractions, decimals, percentages, area and perimeter, and word problems.
– Expanding vocabulary — Encourage a “word of the day” habit. Strong vocabulary is one of the clearest differentiators between children who perform well in the English and VR papers and those who struggle.
Tutor support in Year 4: Highly recommended. A specialist 11+ tutor working with your child once a week in Year 4 puts them in an excellent position heading into Year 5.
Year 5 is the most important year for 11+ preparation. This is when structured, regular work needs to be firmly in place — and when the vast majority of the exam content should be covered.
By the end of Year 5, your child should:
– Be familiar with all major VR and NVR question types
– Have covered the full 11+ Maths curriculum including topics that go slightly beyond the school curriculum
– Have practised reading comprehension and extended writing regularly
– Have completed at least a handful of full practice papers under timed conditions
Year 5 preparation should include:
September to December — Consolidation and Breadth
Continue working through VR and NVR question types methodically. Introduce any remaining Maths topics. Keep reading widely and practising vocabulary.
January to April — Timed Practice
Begin introducing timed sections and then full timed papers. This is a critical step that many parents underestimate. Exam technique — knowing when to move on, how to check answers, how to manage nerves — is a skill in itself that takes practice.
May to July — Mock Exams and Weak Areas
Use mock papers and mock exams to simulate real exam conditions. Review every paper carefully — not just to correct wrong answers, but to understand why mistakes were made. Focus remaining revision on the weakest areas.
Tutor support in Year 5: Essential. Two sessions per week in the summer term of Year 5 is ideal for children who are targeting highly competitive grammar schools.
The 11+ exam is sat in September or October of Year 6 — in the first weeks of the new school year.
This means that by the time your child starts Year 6, preparation should be largely complete. Year 6 is about refinement, confidence-building, and managing exam nerves — not covering new content.
In the weeks before the exam:
– Practise full papers under timed exam conditions— ideally once or twice a week
– Review mistakes carefully and revisit any remaining weak spots
– Simulate exam day — same time of morning, same conditions, including the pressure of the clock
– Look after your child’s wellbeing — sleep, nutrition, and manageable stress levels all directly affect performance on exam day
– Stay positive — your child’s confidence matters enormously. Celebrate progress, not just correct answers
Tutor support in Year 6 (pre-exam): Focus sessions on exam technique, time management, and targeted revision of weak areas. This is not the time to introduce new question types.
After the exam: Results are usually released in **October or November**. If your child is offered a place, congratulations — the hard work paid off. If not, remember that grammar school is one path among many excellent options, and your child’s effort and growth during preparation will serve them well whatever comes next.
Don’t panic. Starting later is absolutely not the end of the road — but it does mean you need to be more strategic.
Starting in Year 5: You still have time for a thorough and effective preparation programme. Focus on the highest-priority areas first — typically VR, NVR, and any Maths topics your child hasn’t covered yet. Move to timed practice as soon as the foundations are in place.
Starting in Year 6: This requires an intensive, focused approach. Work with a specialist 11+ tutor who can quickly assess your child’s current level, identify the most impactful areas to focus on, and build exam confidence rapidly. It’s a tighter timeline, but with the right support, significant progress is absolutely possible.
Year Group | Age | Focus |
Year 3 | 7–8 | Reading, times tables, mental maths, love of learning |
Year 4 | 8–9 | Introduce VR & NVR, strengthen Maths and vocabulary |
Year 5 | 9–10 | Full curriculum coverage, timed papers, mock exams |
Year 6 | 10–11 | Refinement, exam technique, confidence, wellbeing |
Starting too late. As outlined above, leaving preparation to the final few months significantly increases pressure on your child and reduces the time available to develop genuine understanding.
Over-preparing too early. Starting formal exam papers in Year 3 is rarely beneficial and can lead to burnout. Foundations first — exam practice later.
Focusing only on practice papers. Papers are essential, but they are not a substitute for understanding. A child who can recite answers without understanding the method will struggle when unfamiliar question types appear.
Neglecting wellbeing. The 11+ is stressful for children. Regular breaks, physical activity, and a calm, supportive home environment are just as important as the revision itself.
Comparing your child to others. Every child’s journey is different. Focus on your child’s individual progress, not what other families are doing.
At Your Personal Tutor, our specialist 11+ tutors work with children from Year 4 onwards, building a personalised preparation programme tailored to your child’s current level, target school, and the specific exam format they will sit.
We cover all four areas of the 11+:
– ✅ Verbal Reasoning
– ✅ Non-Verbal Reasoning
– ✅ Maths
– ✅ English
Whether you’re starting early in Year 4 or need intensive support in Year 5 or 6, we’ll create a clear, structured plan that gives your child the best possible chance on exam day — without unnecessary stress.
Book a free consultation today and let’s map out the right 11+ preparation journey for your child.
The format varies by region and school. The most common exam boards are GL Assessment and CEM. Always check which format your target grammar school uses.
Many children benefit greatly from specialist support, particularly for the VR and NVR sections which are not taught in primary schools. A tutor provides structured guidance, targeted practice, and regular feedback that is difficult to replicate at home alone.
This varies by child, but as a general guide: children starting in Year 4 should aim for around 1–2 hours of structured preparation per week, building to 3–4 hours per week in the final months before the exam.
The 11+ is competitive and not every child who prepares will pass — and that is absolutely okay. The skills developed during preparation — focus, resilience, time management, and subject knowledge — will benefit your child throughout their education, whatever path they take.
Looking for more advice on 11+ preparation? Visit our 11+ subject page or get in touch with our team — we’re here to help.
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