A Realistic Year 4 11+ Weekly Study Plan
Build the foundations without turning Year 4 into a year of endless mock papers.
Starting in Year 4 should make 11+ preparation calmer, not more intense. The objective is to build skills and good habits before Year 5 becomes more exam-specific.
Monday — reading and vocabulary
15-20 minutes. Read an age-appropriate text. Choose three unfamiliar or interesting words, discuss their meaning in context and use each in a new sentence.
Tuesday — Maths
20 minutes. Practise one fluency area, then complete one or two reasoning problems. Ask your child to explain the method rather than only tell you the answer.
Wednesday — verbal reasoning
15-20 minutes. Teach one question type properly. Do not race through several unrelated types.
Thursday — English
20 minutes. Use a comprehension passage, inference question, grammar activity or short writing task.
Friday — normal reading
No formal 11+ session is necessary. Normal reading, discussion and vocabulary exposure are valuable preparation.
Weekend — non-verbal reasoning and review
25-35 minutes. Teach one visual/spatial question type, practise it carefully, then revisit one mistake from earlier in the week.
Three rules that matter more than the timetable
1. Teach before timing. If the method is not understood, making the question faster does not fix it.
2. Review mistakes properly. Ask what clue was missed, which method should have been used and whether the child can solve a fresh example.
3. Keep reading. Vocabulary, comprehension and general knowledge build over time and support several parts of the 11+.
Not sure what your child should work on?
Use the free Year 4 readiness assessment first. Then, if you want help turning the results into a teaching plan, bring the work to a Redbridge Tuition taster/assessment. You can also work through our Year 4 11+ skills checklist or read the full Year 4 11+ preparation guide.