When to Start 11+ Preparation: A Timeline for Parents

Why this skill matters

This article will provide clear, non-alarmist guidance on when to begin 11+ preparation at different levels of readiness.

The practical focus is Year 3/4 (build a reading habit, no formal prep needed), Year 4/5 (introduce vocabulary building, reading comprehension.

The aim is not to turn home into a classroom. It is to make the next step clearer and calmer.

What strong answers usually do

A useful way to think about this topic is to keep your attention on a few concrete moves rather than a long list of vague rules.

• Year 3/4 (build a reading habit - often matters more than families expect.
• No formal prep needed) - helps create calmer, more reliable preparation.
• Year 4/5 (introduce vocabulary building - often matters more than families expect.
• Reading comprehension - works best when the routine stays simple and specific.
• Gentle exposure to exam formats) - helps create calmer, more reliable preparation.
• Year 5 (structured preparation across subjects including creative writing) - is easier to manage when it is decided before pressure rises.

If a child can recognise these ingredients in their own work, they can edit more intelligently and practise with a purpose.

A worked example

A useful way to practise this topic is to take one small example, improve it once, then improve it again. Children usually learn more from seeing a controlled revision than from being told to just try harder.

Mistakes worth fixing first

Most problems in timed writing are not mysterious. They are usually a handful of repeat mistakes that show up when the child is rushing.

• trying to fix everything at once instead of focusing on one controllable habit
• confusing effort with effectiveness
• forgetting that exam writing rewards control more than sheer quantity

A short drill to try next

Choose one short paragraph, apply the idea from this article deliberately, and then read the before-and-after versions side by side. That comparison is where the learning sticks.

If you are supporting at home, keep feedback narrow. One sharp comment children can act on beats a page of well-meant corrections.

What to remember in the exam

Children rarely need more pressure. They need clearer next steps. When the focus is small and specific, improvement becomes much easier to see.

That is usually what separates solid work from stronger work in the 11+: not magic, just choices that feel purposeful from the opening line to the final sentence.

And looking beyond the 11+, [for teens prepping university English later, TalkDrill covers IELTS and TOEFL](https://talkdrill.com) when the pathway moves from selective-school prep into adult academic English.