How to prepare for the 11+ at home, without a tutor

It can feel as if every other family has an 11+ tutor. But plenty of children prepare successfully at home, with a parent organising the plan and a handful of good resources. This guide shows you how — even if you've never seen an 11+ paper yourself.

Step 1: Know exactly what you're preparing for

Before you buy anything, find out which test your child will sit and what it covers. Your target schools' admissions pages will tell you the provider, the subjects, the date and how to register. The format decides everything else — read our GL vs CEM vs Kent vs ISEB guide.

Step 2: Get a baseline

Have your child try a short, untimed set of questions in each subject. Don't worry about the score — you're looking for gaps. Which question types are unfamiliar? Is vocabulary a weakness? Are mistakes careless or conceptual?

Step 3: Set a realistic routine

Consistency beats intensity. For a Year 5 child about a year from the exam, a sustainable week might look like this:

Plus 20 minutes of reading for pleasure most days. In the final months, swap one session a week for a timed mock exam.

Step 4: Choose a few good resources — not dozens

• Books to read — a steady supply of challenging fiction, including classics, plus quality non-fiction.
• Format-matched practice — material that mirrors your child's test.
• A vocabulary system — ideally one with spaced repetition, so words are reviewed at the right time.
• Timed mock papers for the final months.
• A way to track mistakes — a notebook works; an app that does it automatically is easier.

Elevenplus FC covers the English and verbal reasoning side of this list in one app — vocabulary with spaced repetition, comprehension, SPAG, verbal reasoning, writing feedback, mock exams and automatic mistake tracking — so you can focus your energy on maths and reading.

Step 5: Teach technique, then practise

The biggest advantage a tutor brings is explaining how to approach each question type. You can do this too:

• Work through a few questions of one type together, thinking aloud.
• Ask your child to explain their reasoning back to you.
• Only then set independent practice.

Our guides to verbal reasoning question types, comprehension techniques and SPAG mistakes give you the methods.

Step 6: Review mistakes properly

This is where most home preparation falls down. Doing more questions without reviewing the wrong ones just repeats the same errors. After every session:

1. Look at each wrong answer.
2. Decide why it was wrong: didn't know, misread the question, rushed, or ran out of time.
3. Fix the cause — learn the word, practise the rule, slow down.
4. Revisit that topic later in the week.

Step 7: Keep your child motivated

• Keep sessions short and end on a success.
• Praise effort and progress, not just scores.
• Make it visible — a streak, a chart, a daily goal.
• Protect downtime. Clubs, friends and play matter, and a rested brain learns more.
• Watch for stress. If your child is anxious, ease off. The 11+ is one route among many.

When extra help makes sense

Home preparation works for many families, but a tutor or group class can help if your child has a specific gap you can't close, if homework battles are damaging your relationship, or if they'd benefit from practising in a group. Even then, daily home practice is what makes the sessions count.

Frequently asked questions