Preparing for the 11+ raises a lot of questions, and the answers are often spread across local authority websites, school admissions pages and conversations at the school gate. This section brings the most useful advice together in one place, written in plain English for parents and carers in England.
What you'll find here
- 11+ Dates: how the year usually runs, from registration in Year 5 to offers in Year 6.
- Exam Skills: pacing, reading questions carefully and getting comfortable with the test format.
- Study Strategies: routines, reading habits and how to get real value from practice papers.
- Emotions & Wellbeing: helping your child manage nerves and keep things in proportion.
- Parent Support: understanding scores, supporting your child at home and making sense of the admissions process.
A note on local differences
There is no single national 11+. Each area, and sometimes each grammar school, decides which test to use, which subjects it covers, when it is sat and how the results are used. Our articles explain the common picture, and we will always point you back to your local authority or chosen schools for the details that apply to you.
We will add new articles regularly. Use the search box or the category list to find what you need, and if there is a topic you would like us to cover, get in touch through the Contact page.
