"When should we start?" is the first question almost every 11+ parent asks. The honest answer is: there's no single right time, but there is a sensible window. Most independent tutors and 11+ specialists recommend beginning 12–18 months before the exam — typically in the spring or summer of Year 4, or early Year 5 at the latest.
Why not earlier?
Starting in Year 3 sounds responsible, but children are still developing core literacy and number sense at that age. Pushing reasoning-heavy practice too soon can dent confidence without measurable gains. Time spent reading widely and playing maths puzzles serves them better than formal mock papers.
Why not later?
Leaving practice until July of Year 6 is genuinely risky. Vocabulary, in particular, takes months of exposure to build — and the 11+ rewards readers, not crammers. Practice now if you'd like to gauge where your child currently sits.
A sensible 12-month plan
- Months 1–3: Build a reading habit. Mix fiction and quality non-fiction.
- Months 4–6: Introduce timed practice in short bursts (15–20 minutes).
- Months 7–9: Cycle through full mock papers, one a week.
- Months 10–12: Refine weak areas, simulate exam conditions.