11+ Exam Preparation: How Early Should You Start?

The 11+ exams plays a crucial role in entry to grammar and selective independent schools. Preparation can feel daunting for parents, particularly given the exam’s emphasis on reasoning, literacy, and numeracy skills.

Most education experts recommend starting 11+ preparation at least 9–12 months before the exam, though every child is different. Early tutoring allows pupils to build familiarity with question types, improve vocabulary and mental maths, and develop test-taking confidence. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) notes that consistent, steady preparation tends to outperform intensive last-minute revision.

Our private tutors are practiced in conducting assessments to identify learning gaps, then designing engaging, age-appropriate lessons that strengthen core skills. The goal isn’t rote memorisation but building logic, comprehension, and resilience at a comfortable pace — without pressure or burnout.

So what can parents do?

• Research your target schools - find out what exams and subjects they require and if the school is the right fit for your child

• Start early - short and consistent beats a last minute rush

• Use specialist tutors to identify weak areas and create a targeted plan of action

How can a tutor help?

• Focus on core skills - helping to build a foundation in maths, english and reasoning

• Practice makes prefect - build familiarity with the exam format through guided practice

• Simulate exam conditions - helps remove uncertainty and fear from the process

• Help review and learn - learning from mistakes rather than completing endless papers results in quicker progress

• Help maintain positivity!

If you would like to find out more, or have any questions about how private tuition can help, please do fill in the contact form and we will be in touch.