How to Get the Most from 11+ Practice Papers

Why practice papers matter

Sitting a full paper is the closest your child gets to the real exam before the day itself. It builds stamina, timing and confidence, but only if each paper is followed by a proper review.

A simple four-step routine

1. Sit it properly. Kitchen table, pencil, timer, no help. Treat it like the real thing.
2. Mark it straight away. Use the written solutions while the questions are still fresh.
3. Sort the mistakes. Was it a silly slip or something they didn't know how to do?
4. Fix one topic. Pick the biggest gap and practise just that before the next paper.

Silly slips or real gaps?

The two need different fixes:

• Silly slips (misreading, missing units, copying a number wrong) improve with checking habits.
• Real gaps (a method they haven't learned) need teaching and short, focused practice.

One paper reviewed carefully is worth more than three papers rushed.

How often?

Start with one paper every two weeks, then move to one a week in the final month. Leave time between papers to fix what each one shows.

Where to find papers

Our printed practice papers come with full written solutions. See Exam papers for single papers and bundles.