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#How to prepare for the 11+ at home #11+ summer revision tips #11+ reading list #Atom Learning for 11+ #11+ prep Year 4
Preparing for the 11+: A Guide for Parents with a Timeline: Year 4, 5 & 6
If you're thinking about the 11+ (and quietly wondering if you’ve started “too late” or “too early” or whether to ignore the whole thing altogether), you're not alone. It’s a process that can feel mysterious and alarming, and not the kind of pressure you would want to put on a child so early— but it really doesn’t have to be.
Before diving into 11+ preparation, it helps to pause and ask: What is this journey actually for? Learning is a privilege, not a chore. Studying opens up the mind. Reading lets you live a thousand lives, all from one little seat at the table. If at any point you feel that you are achieving the opposite of these goals, I suggest you take a step back and let your child develop at their own pace. A so-called top school won’t guarantee success — and universities like Oxbridge are (rightly) working hard to level the playing field for state-educated students.
The goal of the 11+ is really about helping your child discover what they’re capable of, stretching them gently, and building the kind of confidence that lasts far beyond any entrance exam. At its best, 11+ preparation develops core skills: confidence with punctuation, spelling and grammar; a high level of reading fluency; and a solid work ethic that lays the groundwork for GCSEs, A-Levels, and — most importantly — independent learning. With a bit of planning, some steady habits, and lots of reading, your child can move through the process with clarity, calm, and develop pure joy of learning.
This isn’t a checklist of everything you must do. It’s just a thoughtful outline of what tends to help — based on experience, trial and error, and many honest conversations with parents along the way.
Year 4: Quietly Setting the Groundwork
There’s no rush here. Year 4 is a good time to begin gently introducing the kinds of skills that the 11+ involves — without it feeling like “prep” just yet.
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Keep things light: one or two short sessions a week looking at comprehension, creative writing reasoning puzzles, or spelling patterns is plenty.
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Start building vocabulary naturally — through reading, conversation, noticing interesting words in books, and playing games in the morning on the way to school with vocabulary cards.
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A platform like Atom Learning can be a fun introduction to the kinds of questions your child might encounter — in small doses, and without pressure.
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Most importantly, keep reading widely and often. Books are still the best preparation for everything.
Reading list ideas:
- Percy Jackson series – Rick Riordan
- Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling
- Michael Morpurgo
- Ronald Dahl
Year 5: Building Rhythm and Structure
Year 5 is usually when most families begin a more consistent routine. By now, your child might be ready to focus a bit more — and might even enjoy the sense of progress.
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A weekly rhythm works well: many families do two focused sessions per week — one on Maths/Non-Verbal Reasoning, one on English/Verbal Reasoning.
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Vocabulary starts to matter more, especially for creative writing and comprehension. It can help to build a word journal or use a structured list of high-frequency 11+ words.
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Use Atom Learning a little more regularly — perhaps 15–30 minutes a few times a week. It’s great for identifying strengths and areas to revisit.
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Mock papers (every now and then, not weekly marathons) can be useful from late Year 5 onwards.
This is also a good time to check in emotionally — are they enjoying it? Feeling overwhelmed? Still reading books for fun? Those are the things that matter just as much.
Reading List ideas:
- The Hunger Games series – Suzanne Collins
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Inkheart – Cornelia Funke
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The Girl Who Walked on Air – Emma Carroll
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A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
Summer After Year 5: The Secret Weapon
The summer holidays are a great time for low-pressure consolidation — especially if you’ve had a busy term or a late start.
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Short, regular bursts of revision (rather than long, overwhelming sessions) can really help things click.
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Make timed practice a gentle habit — one paper every few days, or just a few questions at a time.
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Continue reading (always!). Audiobooks, story podcasts, or poetry anthologies can be good ways to keep variety.
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Atom Learning can be particularly helpful here — use it to revisit weaker areas, practise under time limits, or explore topics independently.
And don’t worry — you can absolutely take a holiday. This isn’t about cramming every day. Just keeping a light rhythm going is more than enough.
Reading List ideas:
✨ Year 6: Fine-Tuning and Finding Confidence ✨
By Year 6, your child probably knows the material. This term is mostly about building confidence, getting used to exam timing, and — if relevant — preparing for interviews.
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Revision should feel familiar by now, not frantic. Keep sessions regular and focused, but don’t overdo it.
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If your child is applying to schools with interviews, start practising light conversation: talking about books they’ve read, what they enjoy learning, or a time they solved a problem. It doesn’t have to be formal — just natural and reflective.
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Atom Learning (or whatever platform you’ve been using - BOFA, Shofield and Sims, Galore Park) can help maintain skills with minimal friction.
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Focus on sleep, calm routines, and keeping perspective.
Final Thoughts
If you're feeling unsure, you're not alone. The 11+ is a strange mix of logic puzzles, essay writing, and timing — but with the right support and plenty of perspective, children can go into it feeling capable and calm.
You don’t need to do everything. You just need to keep showing up, encouraging curiosity, and trusting that slow, steady progress really does work.
And if all else fails? A good book and a hot chocolate still count as prep in my book!
Noelle Bridger - Online Private Tutor
Fully insured, DBS Checked
Fully insured, DBS Checked