When should you start preparing for the 11+?

It is one of the most common questions I get from parents in Milton Keynes. The answer depends on your child, but here is what I have found works well after years of supporting families through the process.

Most children benefit from starting preparation around Year 4, so roughly 12 to 18 months before the exam. It is about giving them enough time to get comfortable with the style of questions, especially Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, which most children have never seen before in school.

Starting too late is the biggest mistake I see. Families sometimes come to me in Year 5 with only a few months to go and while we can absolutely still make progress, it puts unnecessary pressure on the child. The 11+ rewards familiarity and calm, not panic.

Here is a rough guide to what each stage looks like:

Year 4: Introduction to the format, building confidence, identifying strengths and gaps with no pressure.

Early Year 5: Regular practice, working through past papers, building stamina for timed conditions.

Late Year 5: Focused exam technique, working under timed conditions, addressing any remaining weak spots.

If your child is already in Year 5 and you have not started yet, do not panic. Get in touch, and we will figure out the best plan for where they are right now.

📞 07523 434161 tom@tomsandersontutoring.com