You do not need a complicated assessment package to answer the most useful early 11+ question: “What should we work on next?”
A good home diagnostic is not trying to predict a grammar-school place. It is trying to reveal patterns across skills, timing and mistakes so the next month of revision is better targeted.
Step 1: identify the likely exam format
Check the target school, region and current admissions information first. The UK 11+ is not one universal paper, so your diagnostic should broadly reflect the subjects and style your child is likely to encounter.
If you are still deciding between schools, use a broad four-subject diagnostic first.
Step 2: choose a mixed paper at a sensible level
Pick a paper challenging enough to expose gaps but not so advanced that almost everything is unfamiliar. If your child is early in Year 5, an extreme paper tells you little beyond “this is currently too hard”.
If there is no suitable paper in the house, start with a free one pitched at your child's current stage. free 11+ practice papers
Step 3: create quiet but not theatrical conditions
Use a table, pencil, clock and any answer sheet required for the practice format. Remove obvious distractions.
You do not need to turn the dining room into an examination hall. The child should understand that this is a baseline, not a verdict.
Step 4: record timing information
Note whether the child finishes, where they slow down and which sections are left incomplete. Avoid interrupting to coach during the diagnostic, or the result will reflect adult support rather than independent performance.
Step 5: mark by skill
Do not stop at the total score. Record English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning separately, then break recurring errors into topics.
For example:
Maths: fractions 3/6, geometry 5/5, word problems 2/6.
That immediately tells you more than “Maths 67%”.
Step 6: classify mistakes
- Did not know — teach the skill.
- Misread/process error — practise a routine.
- Time — build fluency and pacing.
A weak total score caused by incomplete sections needs a different intervention from the same score caused by knowledge gaps.
Step 7: choose only three priorities
A diagnostic can produce a frightening list. Resist fixing everything at once.
Choose one major foundation weakness, one second subject priority and one exam-technique issue. Work on those for two to three weeks, then recheck.
Step 8: tell the child what went well too
A baseline should identify strengths that can be maintained efficiently. Tell the child which areas looked secure and where improvement is already within reach.
“Your geometry is strong; fractions and timing are our next jobs” is clearer than “you got 62%”.
Start with a free mixed mock
Use an EduArchives timed mock as the diagnostic, then follow the mistakes into the worksheet and revision libraries.
Frequently asked questions
Should a diagnostic be timed?
If the child is familiar enough with the material, timing reveals useful information. Very early learners may benefit from an untimed skill baseline first.
How often should we repeat the diagnostic?
Not every week. Give targeted practice time to work before re-testing with a comparable paper.
Can a diagnostic predict whether my child will pass?
No home practice paper can guarantee an admissions outcome. Use it to plan learning, not to label the child.