The final week is for fine tuning and morale, not for hard testing. By this point the preparation is done, and the job changes from building to protecting.
The summer mattered more
Be clear about where the work actually happened. The six weeks of the summer holiday, with the test in September, are far more important than the last seven days.
That is the week to have used for full timed papers and topic repair. If you did, the final week is a light touch. If you did not, the final week cannot replace it, and trying will do more harm than good.
What to revise
Short, confidence-building, memory work. Things with right answers a child can feel good about getting.
- Maths formulas. Area, perimeter, volume, averages. Recall, not problem solving.
- Word definitions from their word book.
- Synonyms and antonyms. Pairs, quickly, out loud.
- The answer sheet. A line through the box, rub out rather than cross out.
- Timings. Remind them sections are separate and cannot be revisited.
Notice what is missing: anything new. A topic first met in the final week will not be there under pressure and will dent their confidence on the way through.
Why heavy testing backfires
This is the one I would most want a parent to take seriously.
A bad score three days before the test can do real damage. It arrives too late to fix anything and early enough to be carried into the exam room, and a child who walks in believing they are going to do badly usually does.
So light tests only, if any. Short sets they will mostly get right. The aim in the last week is a child who believes they are ready, because belief is worth marks and anxiety costs them.
The last two days
Stop entirely.
A day or two before, take it easy. Rest, breaks, a hobby, something that takes their mind off it completely. A rested child performs better than a crammed one, and by this stage nothing added will survive the night anyway.
See our guide to managing pressure.
The morning itself
- Normal breakfast, normal routine. Not a special one.
- Two sharpened HB pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, in a clear case. No ruler, calculator, protractor or watch.
- Leave early. Check where the test centre is; it may not be their school.
- Say nothing about outcomes in the car.
- Remind them of one thing only: if a question is hard, move on. Sections are timed separately.
See our guide to exam day.
See where your child stands today
Timed sections in the GL Assessment format, marked instantly, with a topic-by-topic breakdown. No sign-up to start.
Protect the morale, do not test it
The week before the 11 plus is a vital week in terms of strategy, but I do believe the summer holidays, the six weeks prior to the actual test, are more important than that last week. From tutoring a lot of students over a lot of years, by the final week the bulk of the work should already be done.
So in that week we tell students to do some fine tuning. Go over keywords, synonyms, definitions, formulas for maths again. Less emphasis on stringent tests. Light tests only, because sometimes a bad score in the week of the test causes discouragement, or a bit of anxiety when the test actually arrives.
The point is to keep morale and motivation very high so they can do the best possible test. And then definitely, a day or two before, take it easy. Relax the mind, take some breaks, do a hobby of some sort to take their mind off the test. They perform much better that way.
Mushtaque Ahmed, Founder of GrammarPath and Bright Mentors
Frequently asked questions
What should my child do the week before the 11+?
Light revision that builds confidence: maths formulas, word definitions, synonyms and antonyms, and the answer sheet routine. Nothing new, and no heavy testing, because the aim in the last week is morale rather than progress.
Should my child do a mock test the week before?
Only a light one, if any. A bad score three days before arrives too late to fix anything and early enough to be carried into the exam room, and a child who walks in expecting to do badly usually does.
Is the final week important for the 11+?
Less than the six weeks of the summer holiday before it, which is when full papers and topic repair belong. If that time was used well the final week is a light touch, and if it was not, the final week cannot replace it.
What should we do the day before the test?
Stop entirely. Rest, take breaks, do a hobby, something that takes their mind off it. A rested child performs better than a crammed one, and anything added at that stage will not survive the night.
What should my child take to the 11+?
Two sharpened HB pencils, an eraser and a sharpener in a clear pencil case. No ruler, calculator, protractor, watch or phone. A clock is provided in the room.