United Kingdom · Entrance testPut in your child's test date and the planner spreads the lessons, from letter codes and synonyms to fractions and comprehension, over the weeks you have left. These English areas tested in September 2026, so the plan can run through the summer holidays and end just before test day. Save your area's free familiarisation paper for a timed run on an answer sheet near the end.
Pick the date of your test and how long you can study each day. You’ll get a plan that takes you right up to the test.
How to prepare for the 11 plus
- Find out which test your area uses, and register in Year 5. In the seven English areas covered here, registration for the 2026 tests closed in June.
- Download your area's free familiarisation papers. They show the real question types and the answer sheet.
- Practise little and often on the subjects your area tests. Essex and Northern Ireland test only English and maths.
- Do at least one timed paper on an answer sheet. Buckinghamshire’s practice test and the West Midlands papers both use separate answer sheets.
- Check the test day rules. Birmingham allows two HB pencils, an eraser and a sharpener, and both Birmingham and the CSSE in Essex ban calculators.
How much practice does a child need?
Less than you might think. The CSSE in Essex says children only need a limited amount of practice to get used to the question types and timing. It also says shop-bought practice books are at a similar level but not in the same format as the real papers, so use them for skills and the official papers for format.
When should 11 plus preparation start?
None of the test setters gives a starting year. Work back from the dates instead: in these areas, registration for the 2026 tests closed in June of Year 5 and the tests were in September of Year 6. Warwickshire's free Pupil Premium practice is open to children from Year 3.