Short answer: an effective eight-week 11+ plan moves from diagnosis to targeted practice, then timed application and a calmer final week. It should become more specific as you learn—not simply more intense.
The best plan is not the one with the most hours. It is the one your family can follow, review and adapt. Start with the time genuinely available around school, sleep and other commitments, then give every session a single job.
Before week one: choose the evidence
Gather one recent piece of evidence for each relevant area: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This could be a school assessment, a short diagnostic set or a carefully reviewed practice paper. Do not combine scores from unrelated papers as though they are directly comparable.
- Record the paper, date, raw mark and time taken.
- Label missed questions by topic and error type.
- Choose the two patterns costing the most marks.
- Check the official format for the relevant school or consortium.
Weeks 1–2: repair the foundations
Use short, untimed sets to rebuild the highest-impact gaps. A useful session might contain five minutes of recall, fifteen minutes reviewing one method and ten minutes of carefully checked practice.
Finish by asking the child to explain the method in plain language. If the explanation is unclear, repeat the concept with different examples before increasing speed.
Weeks 3–4: build accurate repetition
Keep the focus narrow, but mix familiar questions with the repaired skill. Introduce small time limits only after the method is secure. Review every error while the reasoning is still fresh.
- Two targeted sessions on the main weakness.
- One mixed session to practise choosing the right method.
- One short review of vocabulary, facts or patterns that need regular recall.
Weeks 5–6: apply skills under realistic pressure
Move towards timed sections and exam-style transitions. The goal is not constant full papers. It is to learn what happens when knowledge, timing and concentration interact.
After each timed set, separate errors into knowledge, process, reading and timing. This prevents a rushed answer from being treated as a missing concept—or a genuine gap from being dismissed as carelessness.
Week 7: rehearse and refine
Use one realistic paper or matched set under appropriate conditions, then allow recovery time before reviewing it. Choose only the final small gaps that can be improved safely. Avoid introducing a completely new system at this stage.
Week 8: reduce uncertainty, not sleep
Keep practice light and familiar. Confirm practical arrangements, materials, travel and the expected test-day routine using official information. Protect normal meals, movement, downtime and sleep.
A sustainable weekly rhythm
- Session 1: learn or repair one method.
- Session 2: practise that method accurately.
- Session 3: apply it in a mixed or timed set.
- Review: record one improvement, one error pattern and one next step.
Build the plan around your real week
Use the free ReviseRight weekly planner to turn your available days, session length and main priority into a simple outline. No account or personal information is required.
For concise subject reminders, an exam-day guide and 50 adult-supervised practice prompts, view the ReviseRight 11+ Revision Toolkit.
ReviseRight is an independent educational resource. Plans should be adapted to the child, school guidance and current official examination information. No plan can guarantee an admissions outcome.