How to Prepare Your Child for Their 11 Plus Exams

MME Team 12 March 2026

Many parents of primary school age children ask how to prepare your child for their 11 Plus exams. After you have done the main admin tasks of submitting applications in time for admissions deadlines and ensuring that you have a handle on key dates for tests for the relevant school/consortium, it will be time to start preparation. We’ve compiled a list of revision tips for parents who want to know how they can best prepare their children for their entrance tests which you can check out below.

11 Plus Helpline: 020 4634 9455

Tip 1: Get Informed

Not every 11 Plus exam will have the same questions, or even the same topics. In general, entrance exams tend to assess maths and English (which are taught in school) and verbal and non-verbal reasoning (which are not part of the national curriculum). The school applications process can be confusing, and this aspect can catch people out. Don’t assume that the first resources you find online will be relevant to your 11 Plus school or you may waste time and money on resources that won’t help your child’s chances in their real test. Additionally, it is always a good idea to make sure you understand the 11 Plus process in general. You can find some great information online for schools and how they fit into consortiums for the 11 Plus.

Tip 2: Find an Explanation of the Content

Finding revision guides and content explanations can be tricky. If your child is struggling with a certain topic, you can find free 11 Plus revision resources online. However, it is often easier to work through a revision guide to ensure everything is covered and avoid unwelcome surprises on the day. You can buy paper revision guides that are printed out and delivered to your house. This makes them perfect for working through with your child at home, or using them as a basis for tuition sessions.

Tip 3: Take Mock Exams

Some 11 Plus test setters run a mock exam; you child can attend a practice assessment to familiarise themselves with the setup and exam paper layout. This can be great for increasing their confidence for the real thing. However, schools that have this only run this once, if at all. The best way to ensure that your child is comfortable with this new formal examination setting is to practice, practice, practice. You can find sample papers and past papers online, print them out, and set up a fake exam hall at home. This will improve exam technique (methods such as not spending too much time on one question, and writing an educated guess when they are not sure) and take some of the exam stress out of the real thing.

You can buy professionally-printed practice papers for the 11 Plus. Past papers are likely to be used by lots of the children also taking the test, so more resources can mean your child is exposed to a wider variety of questions. A lot of what the entrance exams assess is your child’s ability to work things out when they are unfamiliar with them. With plentiful practice papers, they will be accustomed to trying to work out new problems.

Tip 4: Make Use of Bundle Discounts

As with lots of products, you can save money buy purchasing as part of a bundle and therefore receiving a discount. You can find expert, full 11 Plus bundles online, which contain revision guides and exam papers. The best ones are printed out for you, saving you time and money trying to print at home to simulate the real exam experience. The real paper helps practice papers feel more authentic, and the physical revision guides mean they can work through it on their own without the supervision they might need online. There’s no subscription fee that you need to worry about accidentally charging you 6 months from now, and you can get them delivered to your door – a necessity when you are a busy parent.

Tip 5: Ensure Materials are School-Specific

As discussed in Tip 1, not all revision resources will be relevant to your school. You might purchase a full 11 Plus revision pack but waste money on materials that aren’t of any use. We recommend an 11 Plus essentials pack that is specific to your school/consortium. Good providers like Pass 11 Plus sell bespoke revision guide and exam paper packs for every grammar school in the UK, meaning there is definitely one perfect for your child. All resources are printed out and delivered to you at a competitive price.

11 Plus Admissions Helpline: 020 4634 9455

Conclusion

Knowing how to prepare your child for their 11 Plus exams can take a lot of stress out of secondary school applications. With bundle discounts on 11 Plus revision and papers you can rest assured that your child is using top-quality and completely relevant resources. Whether you are helping your child revise at home, or paying for tuition, having the right physical resources makes a huge difference. If you are unsure on anything about the 11 Plus process, you can call the helpline number above to speak to a dedicated support team.