Test prep & study skillsAges 9–116 min read
By Kaitlyn Carter ·
How to Prepare for the 11+ With Online Tutoring
A calm 11+ plan for UK parents: how the test varies by area, the Kent Test timeline, when to start, and how online tutoring can help in Year 5.
Start by finding out exactly which 11+ test your area uses, then build a calm, steady plan across Year 5 that covers English, maths and reasoning. Online tutoring helps most when it targets your child's weak spots and teaches exam technique, alongside short practice at home.
The 11+ is different in each area, so check your local authority or grammar school first. In Kent, registration runs in June, the test is in early September of Year 6 and results arrive in mid-October. Use the free GL Assessment familiarisation papers early, add targeted tutoring in Year 5, and save full timed papers for the final weeks.
How the 11+ works where you live
There is no single national 11+. Each grammar school area or consortium sets its own test, timings and pass threshold. Some areas test English and maths only, while others add verbal and non-verbal reasoning or a writing task.
GL Assessment says its 11+ tests are used by the majority of grammar schools in the UK, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths. It also notes that the mix of topics, timings and question counts in a local test may differ from its general practice materials. Your first job is to find your own area's details on the local council or school website.
The Kent Test as an example
Kent is one of the largest selective areas. According to this Kent Test guide, the test is supplied by GL Assessment, sat in one morning and multiple-choice. It has an English and maths paper, a verbal and non-verbal reasoning paper, and a short writing task that is only looked at if a child's case goes to a headteacher assessment panel.
The Kent Test timeline, month by month
Kent County Council sets the dates each year. The round for entry in September 2027 ran on this timetable, which gives you a good guide to the rhythm of future years.
| Stage | 2026 round (entry Sept 2027) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | Monday 1 June 2026 | Register in the summer term of Year 5 |
| Registration closes | Wednesday 1 July 2026 | Request any special arrangements by this date |
| Test day (Kent primaries) | Thursday 10 September 2026 | Sat at your child's school in the first weeks of Year 6 |
| Test day (non-Kent primaries) | Saturday 12 or Sunday 13 September 2026 | Sat at a test centre |
| Results to parents | Thursday 15 October 2026 | Review results before choosing schools |
| Secondary application deadline | Saturday 31 October 2026 | Submit your Common Application Form |
| National offer day | Monday 1 March 2027 | Receive your school offer |
The previous year followed the same pattern, with registration from 2 June to 1 July 2025 and the test on 11 September 2025, as shown on Kent County Council's Kent Test page. Always check the council's admissions pages for the current year's dates.
A live class on this12-Essay Writing Workshop: Academic and Test PrepAges 11–14When to start preparing
Because the test falls so early in Year 6, most of the real work happens in Year 5. A relaxed timeline might look like this:
- Late Year 4 or start of Year 5: try a few untimed familiarisation questions to see how your child reacts to the question types.
- Autumn and spring of Year 5: build core skills. Strengthen times tables, fractions and word problems, and widen vocabulary through daily reading.
- Summer term of Year 5: register for the test, then start mixed practice on reasoning question types.
- Summer holiday: a small number of timed papers, with plenty of rest and fun in between.
- Final week: light review only, good sleep and a clear plan for test morning.
GL Assessment offers about 10 hours of free familiarisation materials covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, maths and verbal skills. They are designed to make the multiple-choice layout and question styles feel familiar, which is especially helpful for reasoning.
What online 11+ tutoring can do well
A good tutor spots exactly where marks are being lost and fixes those gaps. Online sessions make that easier to fit around school and clubs, with no travel.
- Targeted gaps: one-to-one sessions can focus on the two or three topics that trip your child up.
- Reasoning skills: verbal and non-verbal reasoning are rarely taught at school, so a tutor can explain the patterns behind each question type.
- Exam technique: pacing, skipping and returning to hard questions, and checking answers on a multiple-choice sheet.
- Small groups: group classes let children hear how others think through a problem and keep practice sociable.
- Shared screens: tutors can annotate questions live, which works well for maths and non-verbal shapes.
When you speak to a tutor, ask which test your area uses and how they adapt to it, how they track progress, and what practice they expect between sessions. Undoschool lists live test prep classes and 1-on-1 tutoring from independent teachers, and you can try a first session before committing.
A simple weekly plan for Year 5
Short, regular practice beats long weekend marathons. Here is a balanced week that leaves room for being ten:
- One tutoring session of 45 to 60 minutes, focused on a weak area.
- Two or three short home sessions of 20 to 30 minutes on mixed questions.
- Daily reading for pleasure, plus a "word of the day" to build vocabulary.
- One fun maths game or puzzle to keep number skills sharp.
- At least one day a week with no 11+ work at all.
For help turning this into a calendar your child can follow, see our guide on how to make a study plan for a big test.
What to watch for
- Wrong test materials: practising for a different area's format wastes time. Match materials to your local test.
- Too many timed papers too soon: early timed papers can knock confidence. Build skills first.
- Burnout: tiredness, tears or dread before sessions mean it is time to scale back.
- Missed deadlines: registration windows are short. Put the dates in your diary the moment they are published.
- Anxiety: if worry about the test affects your child's sleep, appetite or mood for more than a couple of weeks, talk to your GP or school.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a tutor to pass the 11+?
Not always. Some children prepare well with familiarisation papers and parent support. A tutor helps most when your child has clear gaps, finds reasoning questions confusing, or works better with someone outside the family.
Is online 11+ tutoring as good as face-to-face?
For many children it works well, since the tests are mostly multiple-choice questions that are easy to share on screen. If your child struggles to focus on video, try a trial session first or keep sessions short.
How many practice papers should my child do?
Quality matters more than number. Use papers to find gaps, then work on those topics. Save most full timed papers for the final weeks before the test.
What happens if my child does not pass the Kent Test?
Children can still apply to non-selective schools, and some cases go to a headteacher assessment panel. Check Kent County Council's admissions guidance for the review and appeal options in your year.
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