Most 11+ marks are won (or lost) in the weeks of ordinary practice — not on exam morning. These six habits are the ones we see make the biggest difference: short daily sessions, honest error review, smart time use, timed full papers, daily reading, and automatic times tables. Use them alongside a longer preparation strategy; this page is the practical checklist you can stick on the fridge.
1. Little and often beats cramming
Twenty focused minutes a day will usually do more than two hours on a Sunday. Short sessions keep attention sharp, make it easier to keep going for months, and give the brain repeated chances to consolidate what was practised.
What this looks like in practice:
- Aim for 4–6 short sessions a week, not a weekend marathon.
- Protect rest days — fatigue looks like “not getting it” when the real problem is overload.
- If a day is busy, do ten minutes rather than skipping entirely. Consistency compounds.
Cramming can feel productive because the session is long. It rarely sticks as well as a steady routine — and it raises stress just when you want calm. For a full weekly schedule by phase, see the study schedule in our preparation strategy.
2. When you get something wrong, write down why
Marking a paper and noting the right answer is only half the job. The useful question is: why was it wrong?
Most mistakes fall into two buckets — and they need completely different fixes:
| Type of mistake | What it looks like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Topic gap | Didn't know the method, vocabulary, or question type | Re-teach the topic; practise similar questions until it sticks |
| Silly slip | Misread the question, copied a number wrong, rushed the last step | Slow the check; re-read the question; build a “check before move on” habit |
Parents are often surprised how many lost marks are slips, not knowledge gaps. Treating every wrong answer as “need more tutoring” wastes time; treating every slip as “they're fine” leaves easy marks on the table. Keep a simple error log: question type, right answer, and one line on why.
3. Don't get stuck — move on and come back
Marks lost to running out of time are some of the easiest to win back. On a timed paper, a hard question that eats five minutes can cost two or three easier ones later.
Teach this rule early and practise it in mocks:
- If a question is taking too long, mark it (star, circle, or flag).
- Move on and collect the marks you can reach.
- Come back at the end with remaining time.
This feels unnatural at first — children often want to “finish” a question before leaving it. Timed practice is how the habit becomes automatic. On multiple-choice papers that do not deduct for wrong answers, never leave a blank: an educated guess beats an empty box.
4. Do a full paper with a timer every couple of weeks
Working one question at a time builds skill. Sitting a full paper under timed conditions builds exam-day stamina: pacing, composure, and the “move on” habit above.
A practical rhythm:
- In the months before the exam, aim for a timed full paper every 1–2 weeks.
- In the final 8–12 weeks, increase frequency — still with proper review between papers (see habit 2).
- Use a real timer, a quiet desk, and no mid-paper help. Exam day should not be the first time they feel that pressure.
Review the paper the next day when emotions have cooled — marking immediately after a tough mock is rarely the most useful conversation. More detail: mock exams in the preparation strategy.
Practise these habits on KidSmart
Short daily sessions, error review, and timed mocks in one place — with a parent view of progress. See the 11 plus app · Start free trial
5. Read for 20 minutes a day — anything they enjoy
Daily reading is one of the highest-leverage habits for the English paper and for vocabulary across verbal reasoning. It does not have to be “11+ books”. Fiction, non-fiction, magazines, graphic novels — enjoyment keeps the habit alive.
Why it works:
- Comprehension speed and stamina improve without feeling like another worksheet.
- Vocabulary grows in context, which sticks better than word lists alone.
- It is low-conflict: many children will read for pleasure when “revision” would spark a battle.
Twenty minutes after school or before bed is enough. Parents can model it by reading nearby — shared quiet time beats drilling at 8pm.
6. Know your times tables so you don't have to think
Automatic times tables buy time on almost every maths question — fractions, percentages, area, multi-step word problems. If a child is still counting on fingers or hesitating on 7×8, every paper costs them minutes and mental energy.
How to get there:
- Short daily drills (even 5 minutes) beat occasional long sessions.
- Mix order and include division facts once multiplication is solid.
- Keep it light — games and quick-fire questions work better than shame.
The goal is fluency under mild time pressure, not perfection on a calm evening with a times-table chart in view.
How to use this guide as a family
Pick two habits to tighten this week rather than overhauling everything at once. A simple start:
- Lock in a daily short practice slot (habit 1) plus 20 minutes of reading (habit 5).
- After the next practice set or mock, spend ten minutes on an error log (habit 2).
- Schedule the next timed full paper on the calendar (habit 4) and practise moving on when stuck (habit 3).
- If maths is slow, add a times-tables micro-drill to the start of maths sessions (habit 6).
If stress is rising at home, pair these habits with a calmer approach to pressure — see supporting your child through the 11+.
Frequently asked questions
How long should daily 11+ practice be?
For most Year 5 children, 20–40 minutes of focused work is enough on a school night. Quality and consistency matter more than marathon sessions. Increase volume carefully in the final months, and keep rest days.
Should we review mistakes the same day as a mock?
Light marking the same day is fine; a deep “why was this wrong?” review often works better the next day, when your child is less tired and defensive. Never skip the review — an unmarked paper teaches little.
How often should we sit a full timed paper?
Every couple of weeks is a good baseline once topic work is underway. In the final 8–12 weeks before the exam, many families move to more frequent mocks, always with gap-focused practice in between.
Does reading for pleasure really help the 11+?
Yes. Regular reading strengthens comprehension, vocabulary, and stamina for the English paper and helps verbal reasoning. Enjoyable books beat forced “exam reading” that children resist.