How much 11+ practice is enough?

There is no magic number

How much practice a child needs depends on their starting point, the competitiveness of the schools they are aiming for, and how long they have. A child who finds the material easy needs less than one who is meeting it for the first time. Regular, focused practice beats long, tiring sessions.

A sensible starting routine

• Little and often: a few sessions of 20 to 30 minutes a week is a common pattern for the main preparation year.
• Mix subjects, so no area is neglected.
• Keep reading for pleasure. It builds vocabulary and comprehension, which feed both verbal reasoning and English.
• Add timed work and full papers later, closer to the exam.

Signs it's too much

• Your child dreads sessions or avoids talking about them.
• Accuracy is falling even though practice is rising.
• Hobbies, sleep or friendships are being squeezed out.

Signs it needs to be more focused instead

If your child is doing plenty but not improving, the problem is often what they practise, not how much. Find the topics where they lose marks and spend the time there, rather than repeating what they already do well.