Ask any parent whose child has sat the 11+ and they'll tell you: the children who perform best on the day are the ones who've done it before.
The familiarity effect
Sitting in exam conditions — timed, silent, on unfamiliar paper — is a skill in itself. Children who've only ever practised at home at their own pace are unprepared for the atmosphere of the real thing. The format, the answer sheets, the time pressure — all of it feels alien the first time.
What a good mock reveals
A well-run mock exam gives you three things textbooks can't:
- Accurate timing data — where is your child losing minutes?
- Pressure performance — do they freeze, rush, or stay composed?
- Topic gaps under stress — topics that feel solid at home often crumble under timed conditions.
Feedback is the real product
The mark sheet is not the point. The debrief is. A detailed feedback report showing which question types cost marks — and why — is worth more than ten untimed worksheets.
How many mocks is enough?
We recommend a minimum of four full papers before the real exam:
- First mock — familiarises with format and timing
- Second mock — builds rhythm and reduces anxiety
- Third and fourth — builds genuine confidence and reveals remaining gaps
When to start
The first mock should ideally be sat in the spring or early summer of Year 5 — not to measure readiness, but to establish a baseline. Waiting until the autumn of Year 6 is too late to act on what you find.
Our GL and CEM mock exam sessions run throughout the year, with full written feedback reports included.