Good 11+ preparation comes from secure skills, steady habits and the confidence to use them on the day, rather than hours of revision every evening. These ten tips work whichever test your area uses.
1. Secure the basics first
Times tables, number bonds, fractions, spelling, punctuation and grammar sit underneath most questions. Gaps here slow everything else down, so fix them before moving on to harder material.
2. Read every day
Daily reading builds vocabulary and comprehension, which matter in English and in verbal reasoning. Talk about what your child has read so they practise explaining their thinking.
3. Ask how, not just what
When your child gets an answer, right or wrong, ask how they got there. Explaining their method shows you where the understanding is solid and where it is shaky.
4. Practise multi-step problems
Many 11+ maths questions need two or three steps. Encourage your child to write each step down rather than trying to hold it all in their head.
5. Short, regular practice before timed work
Accuracy comes first. Once your child is getting questions right consistently, start adding gentle time limits.
6. Review mistakes
Look for patterns. Is it a topic they don't know, a misread question or a careless slip? Each needs a different fix.
7. Teach exam technique
Underlining key words, checking units, ruling out wrong options in multiple choice and filling in an answer sheet neatly are all skills that improve with practice.
8. Praise effort, not just results
Notice persistence and careful work. Avoid comparing your child with siblings, friends or classmates.
9. Use everyday life
Shopping, cooking, timetables and board games are full of maths and vocabulary. Learning that does not feel like homework still counts.
10. Keep it in perspective
The 11+ matters, but it is one test on one day. Children perform best when they feel supported rather than pressured, and there are good schools and happy futures whatever the result.
