How to structure an 11 Plus study timetable.

Understanding the 11 Plus Exam

The 11 Plus exam tests English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning across 3-5 papers totalling 2.5-3 hours, with formats varying by GL Assessment (multiple choice) vs CEM Select (standardised scoring). Parents structuring a study timetable must grasp these differences to allocate time effectively. This knowledge shapes your revision schedule for grammar schools or independent entrances.

GL Assessment uses multiple choice questions throughout, making speed and accuracy key in your daily routine. CEM focuses on comprehension and essays, demanding stronger writing practice in afternoon slots. Check official GL Assessment and CEM websites for updates, noting competitive pass rates like those for 2023 Birmingham grammar schools.

Table below breaks down major exam boards to guide your weekly planner.

Use this to prioritise core subjects in your timetable, building stamina through timed morning sessions.

Core Subjects and Format

English (45-60 mins): comprehension, vocabulary, grammar (GL: 60 MCQs; CEM: 3 comprehension passages). Integrate this into your daily routine with reading exercises to boost skills. CGP 11+ books offer sample questions for practice.

Maths demands mental arithmetic and fractions, often 60 minutes with GL's 80 MCQs. Verbal Reasoning covers code-breaking and synonyms, while Non-Verbal involves patterns and rotations. Allocate evening revision for these in your study timetable.

Table outlines subjects for precise time allocation in your planner.

Focus on weak areas first in weekly targets, using past papers for mock exams to track progress.

Assessing Your Child's Starting Point

Begin with CGP 11+ Diagnostic Tests or Exam Papers Plus Level 1 papers to establish Year 5 baselines (target: 70%+ for grammar school pass). This step helps identify strengths and gaps before structuring your 11+ study timetable. Parents often overlook this, leading to unbalanced revision schedules.

Follow a simple 3-step diagnostic process for clear insights. First, have your child complete a full practice paper from Bond Assessment Papers. Then, score it using official mark schemes available from CGP resources.

Finally, create a weak area heatmap to visualise priorities, such as Maths fractions below comfortable levels or Verbal synonyms needing work. This map guides subject allocation in your weekly planner. Track progress over time to adjust the timetable.

Use the scoring table below for percentile benchmarks. It aligns with grammar school entrance test expectations across GL and CEM formats.

Diagnostic Testing

Week 1: Administer GL Format Paper 1 (English + Maths, 60 mins) from Exam Papers Plus (£8.99). Time it strictly to build exam stamina. Review answers together for immediate feedback on comprehension skills and mental arithmetic.

Follow this recommended test sequence over the first week. Day 1: CGP GL English (£6.50) for vocabulary building and reading accuracy. Day 3: Bond Non-Verbal (£7.99) to assess shape recognition and pattern spotting.

Day 5: Complete a full CEM mock via Atom Learning (£59/yr) for integrated practice. This sequence covers all 11+ subjects like Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Use results to set SMART goals in your study timetable.

Interpret scores with this table to categorise your child's level. It supports balanced scheduling with priority on weak areas while building strengths.

Setting Realistic Goals

Set SMART goals like 'Score 82%+ in GL Maths mocks by October 2025', which matches a Birmingham grammar school threshold. Use your child's baseline test to set +20% improvement targets. This approach keeps 11+ exam preparation focused and achievable.

Build a goal-setting framework with three key layers. Start with school-specific targets, such as aiming for the 75th percentile for King Edward VI. Then add subject targets like boosting Maths by targeted practice and Verbal Reasoning through daily drills.

Include monthly milestones to track progress in your study timetable. For example, Tom raised his VR from 55% to 83% in 8 months by targeting Warwick School. Review scores from practice papers each month and adjust the revision schedule.

Make goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Parents can use a weekly planner to log daily routine achievements. This builds confidence and prevents burnout in Year 5 and Year 6 students.

Determining Timetable Duration

Most successful candidates follow 9-month plans with a Year 5 Easter start. These plans build steady progress in 11+ exam preparation. They allow time for core subjects like English and Maths alongside reasoning skills.

Late starters opt for a 6-month sprint from May to December in Year 6. This requires 2.5 hours daily of focused study. It suits children with some prior exposure but demands discipline to cover the syllabus quickly.

Comfortable learners choose 9 months at 1.5 hours per day. This pace supports balanced schedules with breaks and revision. It helps avoid burnout while targeting grammar school entrance tests.

Advanced pupils thrive on 12-month plans with just 1 hour daily. Early starts in Year 5 autumn build mastery levels gradually. Experts recommend adjusting based on initial assessments and weak areas.

Typical 6-12 Month Plans

6-Month Sprint: May to December in Year 6 uses 2.5 hours daily, with 80% on practice papers. This intense phase prioritises speed practice and exam technique. It includes weekend mocks to build stamina.

Real example: Sarah's 9-month plan took her from basic skills to passing Colchester Royal Grammar. She rotated subject allocation daily: morning Maths practice, afternoon English study, evening reasoning. Weekly reviews adapted her timetable for weak areas like shape recognition.

For all plans, include break times and downtime using Pomodoro technique. Track with a study planner or digital calendar. Parent supervision ensures habit formation and motivation strategies.

Daily and Weekly Structure

Optimal structure: 1.5hrs weekdays (4:15-5:45pm) + 3hrs weekends, rotating subjects daily per spaced repetition research (Ebbinghaus curve).

This approach builds retention techniques through regular review cycles. Children aged 10 in Year 5 or Year 6 benefit from short, focused sessions. It prevents overload while covering core subjects like Maths and English.

Use a study timetable to assign slots for Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Rotate priority subjects weekly to target weak areas. Include time for practice papers and active recall with flashcards.

Set up Google Calendar for reminders. Create events for each session, colour-code by subject, and add recurring weekly patterns. Enable notifications 10 minutes before start times to build habit formation.

Apply the Pomodoro technique with 25min study and 5min breaks. This matches child stamina for 11+ exam preparation. Adjust for tuition classes or mock exams on weekends.

Optimal Study Hours

Year 5: 7.5hrs/week (1hr/day + 2.5hrs Sat), Year 6: 12hrs/week maximum per British Psychological Society guidelines.

Research suggests children maintain focus in 90min max blocks before fatigue sets in. Split sessions with Pomodoro for better accuracy in mental arithmetic or pattern spotting. Prioritise core subjects like comprehension skills and shape recognition.

For term time, allocate 1hr daily after school plus weekend study. Holidays allow more time for past papers and speed practice. Track progress with a weekly planner to adapt the revision schedule.

Example Pomodoro: 4x25min Maths, followed by 15min break with outdoor activity. Apps like Forest help maintain focus during self-study. Parents can supervise to ensure balanced schedule with sleep and meal breaks.

Subject Allocation and Balance

Allocate 35% Maths, 30% English, 20% Verbal, 15% Non-Verbal based on GL Assessment weightings and weak area diagnostics. This split ensures core subjects get priority in your 11+ study timetable. Adjust based on practice test results to target weak spots.

Use a subject priority calculator for fine-tuning. If a child's Maths score falls below target, add 10% more time to that subject by reducing from stronger areas. This keeps the revision schedule balanced yet responsive.

Here is a sample rotation matrix for Weeks 1-4, focusing on Mon-Thu to build a strong weekly planner.

Recent analysis of 2023 passmarks highlights Maths as the primary discriminator in GL and CEM exams. Track progress weekly with mock exams to adapt this structure. Include break times and downtime for stamina building.

Maths, English, Verbal/Non-Verbal

Maths (25min daily): mental arithmetic + fractions using CGP Targeted Practice Workbook. Split into Numbers and Geometry blocks for focused drills. Pair with Schofield & Sims books for worksheets.

English (20min daily): comprehension and SPaG exercises from Bond Papers. Build vocabulary with daily reading and spelling lists. Target comprehension skills through short passages.

For Verbal Reasoning (VR), allocate 15min to synonyms and logic puzzles using Bond Papers. Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) gets 15min on patterns and shapes with dedicated question banks. Rotate daily to maintain engagement.

• Weekly target: 150 questions per subject across all areas.
• Resource mapping: CGP for Maths, Bond for VR/NVR, Schofield & Sims for extension work.
• Track with a mistake journal for error analysis and improvement plans.

Incorporate spaced repetition and active recall in evening revision slots. Review cross-subject links, like Maths patterns in NVR. Adjust for weekend study to cover past papers and mock exams.

Incorporating Breaks and Rest

Schedule 10min breaks hourly plus 8hrs sleep nightly (9pm-5am), reducing error rates 23% per Cambridge University sleep studies. This structure supports child circadian rhythms, which peak focus in mornings for year 5 and 6 pupils preparing for 11+ exams. Short rests prevent fatigue during intensive Maths practice or Verbal Reasoning sessions.

Use the Pomodoro technique with 25 minutes focused study followed by 5-minute breaks. Alternate subjects like English study and Non-Verbal Reasoning to maintain engagement in your 11+ study timetable. This builds stamina for timed tests in grammar school entrance exams.

Plan weekly light days, such as Wednesdays with just 45 minutes revision, and a full monthly rest day. Include 20min outdoor breaks in the garden for fresh air, aiding concentration during afternoon slots. Track progress with a simple journal to adjust your revision schedule.

Prioritise sleep using apps like Sleep Cycle for gentle wake-ups aligned with natural cycles. Combine with healthy habits such as hydration and light exercise to boost retention in practice papers. Parents can supervise to ensure the daily routine sticks, fostering discipline for 11+ success.

Practice Tests and Review

Complete 1 full mock weekly using Exam Papers Plus GL Pack plus error analysis every Friday with mistake journals. This builds exam stamina and highlights weak areas in your 11+ study timetable. Schedule these sessions consistently to mimic real test conditions.

Follow a structured mock exam calendar to ramp up intensity. In months 1-3, do one test per week. Increase to two per week from months 4-6, then add timed conditions from month 7 onward.

After each test, dive into a clear review process. Mark papers with answer keys, log errors by type such as mental arithmetic or pattern spotting, and re-do weak questions immediately. This targeted approach strengthens retention through active recall.

Track progress with a simple improvement graph template. Plot scores over time for subjects like Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Use it weekly to adjust your revision schedule and celebrate gains in accuracy and speed.

Mock Exam Calendar

Structure your practice tests across the preparation year for steady progression. Months 1-3 focus on one full mock weekly to familiarise your child with the format. Keep sessions untimed initially to build confidence.

From months 4-6, increase to two mocks per week to enhance speed practice. Allocate one for English study and comprehension skills, the other for Maths practice and shape recognition. This balances subject allocation in your weekly planner.

Enter month 7 with timed conditions for all tests to simulate exam day prep. Aim for full papers under strict time limits, including consortium exams or CEM formats. Review immediately to log errors and plan next steps.

Review Process

Start review by marking with answer keys right after the test. Compare answers against the marking scheme for multiple choice and written sections. Note any silly mistakes in pencil grip or clock management.

1. 1Log errors by type in your mistake journal, such as vocabulary building gaps or coding decoding issues.
2. 2Re-do weak questions that day using focused drills.
3. 3Schedule spaced repetition for persistent errors in your monthly plan.

Integrate this into Friday evenings for error analysis. Discuss patterns with your child, like recurring Non-Verbal Reasoning errors. Adjust the study timetable to prioritise these in morning sessions.

Track Improvement Graph Template

Create a progress tracking graph using a printable template or digital calendar. List dates on the x-axis and scores on the y-axis for each core subject. Colour-code lines for Maths practice, English study, and reasoning papers.

Update after every mock to visualise trends in target scores. Spot plateaus in weak areas and tweak your revision schedule accordingly. This motivates through visible improvement in accuracy.

Share the graph during family support meetings. Set SMART goals based on it, like boosting Verbal Reasoning by focusing on flashcards. Use it for performance review to prevent burnout and maintain discipline.

Tracking Progress and Adjustments

Use a Google Sheets tracker to record weekly mock scores, adjusting time allocation if there is less than 5% monthly improvement with a target of +3% per month. This method keeps your 11 plus study timetable flexible and effective. Parents can share the sheet for quick reviews during exam preparation.

Regular progress tracking helps spot patterns in performance across subjects like Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Log scores from practice papers and mock exams to measure gains in speed and accuracy. Adjust your revision schedule based on these insights for better time management.

Set up review triggers to prompt changes, such as stagnant Maths scores for two weeks meaning a swap to new resources. Include weak areas like mental arithmetic or pattern spotting in your log. This ensures your weekly planner supports steady improvement toward grammar school entrance tests.

Real example: Emma increased VR scores by switching to Atom Learning adaptive tests, which cost £59 per month. Her parent noted better stamina after reallocating afternoon slots to VR drills. Such tweaks build confidence and reduce stress in year 5 or 6 routines.

Copy this 5-column tracker template into Google Sheets for easy updates. Use colour coding for scores below targets to highlight priorities. Review weekly during family support sessions to celebrate small wins with a reward system.