When should I start tutoring for the 11 plus exam?

While there are no fixed rules about when you should start 11 plus tuition (after all, every child is different), I'd suggest that an average child needs between one and two years' worth of tutoring; that is, starting when your child is in year 4 or year 5. Any earlier than year 4 then the returns you get out of tutoring run the risk of being wasted, e.g., a child might not have the necessary cognitive skills to get value out of tutoring and the amount they end up learning might not be proportional to your investment of time and money.

Whether you start in year 4 or year 5, from there onwards, the most important thing is consistent practice rather than the exact start time. Like most skills in life, 11 plus skills are honed by regular, repetitive practise.

That said, one thing that may influence when you start is how many exams your child is sitting. In some areas there will be only one exam your child could realistically sit; in which case, starting at the beginning of year 5 could give your child ample time to learn the necessary 11 plus skills and knowledge.

However, your child could conceivably sit three 11 plus exams if they are based in Bexley, Bromley or Kent. This is because Bexley uses the CEM exam, neighbouring Kent uses the GL exam and the Bromley grammar schools (St Olave's and Newstead Wood) use their in-house exams. While there is overlap between these three exams, there are also differences and these differences mean more time required for preparation. For example, GL verbal reasoning is completely different to CEM verbal reasoning and, if sitting the GL as well as CEM exam, your child would need to learn twenty-or-so types of verbal reasoning. Conversely, the CEM verbal reasoning exam is more vocabulary-intensive and so your child would need more in-depth learning of cloze, synonyms, antonyms etc.

If, therefore, your child is sitting more than one exam, it may be necessary - in order to allow enough time to tutor each area the respective exams - to start at the beginning of year 4.

11 Plus Prep School tutors both year 4 and year 5 pupils, so we are sure to be able to help your child whenever they are ready to start.