The short answer

Most families start focused 11 plus preparation in Year 4 or early in Year 5, which is roughly 12 to 18 months before the exam. Children in Years 2 and 3 do best building strong reading, vocabulary and number skills first, so that formal 11+ work in Year 5 feels manageable rather than rushed.

That is the general pattern. The right start date for your child depends on three things: when your target schools hold their tests, what those tests include, and how secure your child's English and maths are today.

First, check your exam dates

Everything works backwards from the exam. Many grammar school tests take place in September of Year 6. Many London independent schools assess between the autumn and January of Year 6, and some use the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which is taken online. Dates and formats change, so always check each school's admissions page before you plan.

Once you know the date, count back. If the test is in September of Year 6, the summer holiday before it is not extra time. It is the final stretch.

Years 2 and 3: build the foundations

This is not the time for practice papers. It is the time for the skills that make every 11+ subject easier later:

  • Reading every day, and talking about what you read together
  • Growing vocabulary through stories, conversation and word games
  • Learning number bonds and early times tables until they are automatic
  • Enjoying puzzles, jigsaws and building toys, which quietly develop spatial thinking

A child who reads widely and is confident with number at the end of Year 3 has a real head start. If there are gaps, this is the easiest moment to close them, and one-to-one maths tutoring or English tutoring can help.

Year 4: introduce the 11+ gently

Year 4 is when many families start. The aim is familiarity, not pressure. Children can meet verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning question types for the first time, one type at a time, while English and maths keep moving forward.

By the end of Year 4 it helps if your child knows all times tables to 12 x 12, can write a short planned story, and reads with good understanding for at least 20 minutes at a time.

Year 5: structured preparation

For most children, Year 5 is the main preparation year. This is when lessons become more structured:

  • 11+ maths topics that go beyond the Year 5 curriculum, such as harder fractions, ratio and multi-step problems
  • Comprehension and creative writing practice in exam format
  • All the verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types your target schools use
  • Timed practice, starting in the spring and building towards full mock tests in the summer term

Keep an eye on balance. A child who is tired and anxious by June will not perform at their best in September.

Year 6: polish, mocks and interviews

For September tests, the early weeks of Year 6 are about polishing, not learning new topics. Mock papers, reviewing mistakes and staying calm matter most. Children applying to independent schools may also need interview preparation through the autumn.

Later in Year 6, attention turns to the KS2 SATs in May. Key Stage 2 revision then doubles as preparation for Year 7.

Key Takeaway

Start the foundations early and the exam work later. A child with strong reading, vocabulary and number skills can learn 11+ techniques in a year. A child without them spends that year catching up.

What if we are starting late?

Starting in the middle or end of Year 5 is common, and it can still work well. The key is to prioritise:

  • Find out exactly which subjects your target schools test, and ignore the rest
  • Assess your child properly so time goes on the gaps that cost the most marks
  • Focus on methods for each question type rather than endless papers
  • Protect sleep, play and downtime. Calm children think more clearly

One-to-one tuition helps most here, because nothing is spent on topics your child already knows.

Signs your child is ready to begin

Readiness is not only about age. Your child is probably ready for focused 11+ work if they read confidently on their own, know most times tables, can concentrate for 30 to 40 minutes, and are curious rather than worried when they meet something new. If two or three of these are not there yet, spend a little longer on the foundations first.

A final thought

The families who do best are rarely the ones who started earliest. They are the ones who started at the right time, kept preparation steady, and protected their child's confidence along the way. If you would like to talk through a plan for your child, get in touch, or read more about 11+ exam preparation.

Kate

About Kate

Kate is a specialist tutor with 13 years of teaching experience across the primary years. She prepares pupils for grammar and independent school entry, and teaches English, maths and reasoning from Year 2 onwards. Read more about Kate.