11+ support thread 2026

[11plus2026]

Not sure if anyone is around yet but thought I’d open one.

Has anyone started any practice questions yet? Mine will be starting tutoring in September, she’s had an assessment to see where she’s at currently and now just enjoying the sunshine ☀️

So what would people suggest to for year 4s

Possibly we need a separate thread for the younger ones? I have a year 4 and we are in a grammar county (so not London super selectives). I am planning to sign him up for atom learning after Xmas, focusing initially on maths and NVR, and ease him in gently with this , mainly to get in the habit of doing it. By then he will hopefully be confident in his times tables. And then use atom learning in combination with some of the 10 minute test CGP books. He is at a state primary where they don't prepare at all (or have much homework at all) so will definitely need to do some at home. He is a massive bookworm so vocabulary and English comprehension are unlikely to need much work I think other than a bit of exam technique/,reading the question type practice.

Based on my experience with my older one (now at grammar) I'm not sure there's any point starting too early if they don't have the maturity to handle it.

Hi all.

We're prepping. DD is in year 5 and at the moment we're just doing 10 minute tests daily (CGP GL ones). He started with the age 9-10 to get used to them but have moved to the 10-11 age ones now.

This is second time around for us as DS1 did it 2 years ago and got into his first preference grammar. We're doing Bexley test so not super selective.

DS2 is a very different child though DSq was pretty motivated and is fairly effortlessly academic. DS2 is very bright but has suspected ADHD and really struggles with focus. Also is greater depth in reading and maths but struggles massively with writing and spelling. He really wants to do it but it's going to be a harder journey for him I think.

That sounds similar to us - younger one is probably quicker at mental maths than his brother was at his age, brilliant at reading, but has ADHD (diagnosed) and writing is illegible
Luckily our 11+ is all MCQ but we will have to have a think nearer the time about whether the grammar is going to be the right environment for him if his handwriting hasn't improved. On the other hand he is easily bored and is better if he is challenged...

His spelling is actually pretty good though oddly enough, he will be fine with the proofreading type tasks. He can be very resistant to being asked to do things though so I am really not looking forward to getting him to do the prep.

I feel like I've only just recovered from the trauma of it all the first time! It's a horrible system...

DD (Y5, Bucks) is at tutoring as we speak. She's doing an heavy-duty cramming-hugely-expensive-type group that her sister did three years ago and it sent us all insane with hours of homework and testing each week.

Even more insane to do it twice? Probably, but it worked first time, and I'm really conscious of needing to offer DD2 the same opportunities. I'm hoping I can be a bit more selective with the homework with the benefit of second time around, but I know the anxiety will be kicking in by Easter.

Been through 11+ last year, somehow survived!

general advice I would give:
identify target schools
go to all the open days (take child if possible)
get a feel for the fit / culture/ your own needs

once you know the schools, go on the websites and get all the entry details, test formats

some will be a mix of computer tests and written, some are multiple choice etc

once you establish the different formats, gently begin to prep your child with the relevant materials eg atom, cgp books, even show them some practice questions from sample papers.

use this to identify gaps and focus on them yourself or engage a tutor with experience of your target schools.

starting early is good in a way, you can get into a consistent rhythm of little and often

for particular schools if you know people at them or who have been through the same process, try and lean on them of help

i am only familiar with Sw London schools

hope that helps and best of luck!!

Checking in. DD (unless she changes her mind) will be sitting for our local girls' grammar next September. Her two older brothers are at the local boys' grammar and I'm not sure I'm up for all this again 😬

I made a 2027 thread for anyone else with current year 4s, in case anyone wants to join me there...

Anyone else target school using FSCE 11+

i was going to do a little work with dd as I had with ds (so going through papers and picking weak areas) but realised it isn’t GL like it was for ds.

I don’t know if I like the FSCE format…and after reading some other posts it appears it is supposed to be harder to tutor for? Not sure, because any exam practice would help in my opinion.

Reading Boys School own this exam board. This year they switched out creative writing for creativity. (Don’t know about the papers they provide for other schools). Their questions are supposed to be based on critical thinking rather than rote learning. Any subject is game, for RBS in particular, it’s to access the children who haven’t been heavily tutored since year 1 and have the intellectual ability to succeed at the school.

It’s a shame this wasn’t their exam criteria last year as my child would have been ‘of the standard’, as this is what he thrives in!

The format of their paper is horrible though (from the familiarisation ones on their website).

Joining for next year’s cohort. DD is in year 5 just started tutoring in group sessions.. Have been doing bond books for a while. Still undecided as to whether to do the local comp (outstanding and 5 minute walk) or grammar (40 minute drive each way every day) but will do the 11+ to keep all options open

We’ve just started for my eldest. We’re using Atom Learning and that’s it, plus past papers from different providers after Easter. I’m hoping it’s enough.
A little less than a year until the exam. Scary!

That sounds like a good start!

Between now and Easter, would also get familiar with the exam formats of the specific schools you are sitting for so you can adapt the materials you use beyond Atom if necessary. Atom is great for general preparation.

The schools usually have sample papers online, and worth looking at so you and they know what to expect

Are we still active here? :) Year 5 twins for the Kent and Shepway tests here.

is Atom the best online resource then?

What else should I get now?

Welcome @OpheliaABC! I heard Atom can be a good start but the Kent and Shepway use pencil and paper so would use CGP and Bond as well. Say start from Ages 9-10 and see how things go?

Joining! Twin girls in Year 5 thinking of Gloucester grammars. Weekly tutor and some light revision at the moment but will ramp up in January with some practise papers. Interested to hear from other twin parents - one of mine is much more academic and likely to get in. How do you manage it?!

Hello. I have twins in Year 5 who are now prepping for 11+. My DS is pacing quite a bit ahead of my DD. I noticed my DD becoming a bit demoralised before half term I think because of this. I'm now being more specific in how I encourage her. Focusing on her own development and improvement over time, (not in comparison to DS). Praising her when she masters a new bit of maths etc. Acknowledging how hard she is working. Also I avoid where possible sharing their scores with the other one. They both have a shorter but separate session with a tutor, so they aren't being compared directly by their tutor either. I know competition can often be a healthy thing but right now the above feels right for them.

Nearer the time of the test I'll have to think about managing the situation where they potentially get different outcomes.

I don't have all the answers to the twin 11+ thing yet though, so any suggestions / thoughts welcome by me too.

this resonates with me, my children aren’t twins but my son has just started y7 grammar and my daughter is in y5. She is whizzing through VR, NVR and English but the maths is inconsistent. She also is feeling demoralised and probably some of the pressure due to her brother getting through.

Her tutor keeps reassuring me that we have plenty of time and we should know by February what the likelihood of her obtaining a qualifying score will be, if she sits the exam.

We’ve just started the preparation. At the moment, we’re using Atom Learning for about 15- 20 minutes a day, five days a week. Based on other people’s experiences, would this be enough? There’s still quite a lot of time before the exam.

I think it depends on the exam format of the schools you are applying to.

If there is a written English paper then you will probably need some practice materials to build up to that.

What formats are you looking at for your target schools?

It’s a mix of paper-based English and Maths tests, 60 minutes each, as well as CAM computer-based tests.

Indeed, will do, thank you!