Academy11+

Year 4 · Ages 8 to 9

11+ preparation in Year 4: what to do and when

Year 4 is for foundations, not past papers. A daily reading habit, quick times tables and a growing vocabulary will help more now than any amount of test practice.

Here is a calm, term-by-term plan, how much to do, and how to find out whether the 11+ suits your child.

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Where you are in the 11+ journey

  1. This year

    Year 4

    Ages 8 to 9

    Foundations: reading, times tables and vocabulary.

  2. Year 5

    Ages 9 to 10

    Learn the question types and build speed. Test registration usually opens in spring or early summer.

  3. The test

    September, Year 6

    Most 11+ tests are sat at the start of Year 6.

  4. Applications

    31 October, Year 6

    Secondary school applications close. You apply through your local council.

  5. Offers

    1 March, Year 6

    National Offer Day (the next working day if 1 March falls at a weekend).

These are the usual dates in England. Each test sets its own registration, test and results dates, so check your area’s 11+ page or the guide to your test. Northern Ireland has its own timetable: see the 11+ in Northern Ireland.

Your Year 4 plan, term by term

  1. Autumn term

    September to December

    Build a reading habit

    • Read most days, together or alone: stories, non-fiction and the odd book that is a little above their comfortable level.
    • Talk about new words as you meet them, and keep a word jar or notebook of favourites.
    • Practise times tables little and often, aiming for quick recall up to 12×12.
    • Find out whether your area has grammar schools and which test they use.

  2. Spring term

    January to April

    Fluency and curiosity

    • Add short mental maths warm-ups: times tables, number bonds, doubling and halving.
    • Play word games: synonyms, opposites, rhymes and spelling challenges.
    • Try puzzles that build spatial thinking, such as jigsaws, tangrams and construction toys. They are a playful lead-in to non-verbal reasoning.
    • If you’d like a picture of strengths and gaps, try a gentle starting assessment. Treat it as a guide, not a result.

  3. Summer term

    April to July

    Look ahead, gently

    • Children in England take the multiplication tables check in the summer term of Year 4, so times tables practice does double duty.
    • Show your child one or two verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types as untimed puzzles.
    • Read about local schools. Some families go to open events a year early to get a feel for them.
    • Decide how you’ll prepare in Year 5 (at home, with a tutor, or a mix) and keep the summer holiday light: reading, games and days out.

How much practice?

There is no right number of hours, and every child is different. As a starting point that many families find manageable:

Reading
most days, for pleasure. This matters more than anything else this year.
Short practice
two or three sessions a week of 10 to 15 minutes: times tables, word games or a few puzzles.
Timed papers
not needed yet. Untimed puzzles are plenty.

If practice starts causing tears or dread, ease off. At this age, confidence and curiosity matter more than coverage.

What Academy11+ gives you in Year 4

  • Starting assessment

    Free

    A free check of about 20 minutes across Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Questions adapt as your child answers, and it suggests the topics to work on first. It can be taken again after 8 weeks.

    How it works

  • Today’s 15 minutes

    Turn the assessment into a weekly study plan, and your child sees the most useful short tasks for that day. Ideal for little-and-often practice.

    See the study plan

  • Mental Maths and English Sprint

    Free to try

    Quick-fire rounds for times tables, number facts and words. Every child gets a daily warm-up free, and you can try the 60-second Mental Maths game without signing in.

    Try the Mental Maths game

  • Printable worksheets

    Free

    Free worksheets for Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mental Maths and English at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with answers explained.

    Browse worksheets

  • Free 11+ questions

    Free

    Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mental maths questions with answers and explanations, no account needed.

    Try free questions

  • Story writing feedback

    Your child types a story or photographs handwritten pages and gets detailed feedback within minutes. A timed exam-conditions mode helps with planning and writing to time.

    About story writing

  • Your area’s 11+

    Free

    Which test your area uses, the grammar schools, and the key dates for registration, the test and results.

    Find your area

Common questions about the 11+ in Year 4

Is Year 4 too early to start preparing for the 11+?
Not if preparation means reading widely, learning times tables and building vocabulary. These help at school whatever you decide about the 11+. Formal practice papers and timed tests are not needed in Year 4.
Should my Year 4 child be doing 11+ practice papers?
Usually not yet. A few untimed puzzle-style questions are fine if your child enjoys them, but full papers are better saved for Year 5 and Year 6, once the question types have been learnt.
What should my child be secure in by the end of Year 4?
The national curriculum expects quick recall of times tables up to 12×12 by the end of Year 4. Alongside that, fluent reading, confident spelling of common words and a growing vocabulary give a strong base for Year 5.
When do we need to register for the 11+?
Not in Year 4. Registration for most tests usually opens in the spring or early summer of Year 5, and each test sets its own deadline. Your area’s 11+ page lists the dates for the tests used there.
How do I know whether the 11+ is right for my child?
Think about whether they enjoy reading and puzzles, what their teacher says, the schools and journeys involved, and how they cope with challenge. A starting assessment can add one piece of the picture, but it is a guide rather than a verdict.
Do we need a tutor in Year 4?
It is a family choice, not a requirement. Many children prepare at home with reading, short practice and free resources. If you do use a tutor, Year 4 is usually about habits and confidence rather than exam practice.

Make Year 4 count, calmly

Start with the free assessment, then follow a short daily plan built around your child. Upgrade only if and when it helps.

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