The 11+ and 13+ entrance exams are highly competitive, particularly in London and the South East, where places at top independent and grammar schools are limited and in high demand. While many families begin focused tuition in Year 6 or Year 8, more parents are recognising the value of starting earlier – in Year 4 or 5 – to build skills gradually, reduce pressure and set their child up for long-term success.
11+ and 13+ Prep: When Should You Start? Advice for Year 4 and 5 Families
Benefits of Starting 11+ Preparation Early
At Enjoy Education, we work with families to take the stress out of exam preparation by planning ahead with purpose and approach the process in a way that feels supportive, structured and age-appropriate.
1. Build Strong Foundations
Year 4 and 5 are the perfect time to strengthen core skills in English and Maths without the time pressure of a looming deadline. Focus can be placed on:
- Reading comprehension and vocabulary
- Mental arithmetic and number fluency
- Problem-solving and reasoning skills
These are the foundations that 11+ and 13+ papers are built on, and developing them early gives your child a clear advantage.
2. Nurture Confidence and Curiosity
Starting early allows children to explore their creativity. Our tutors often integrate games, storytelling and project work into early sessions to spark engagement while gently stretching academic ability.
Children who enjoy learning early on are more likely to feel confident when the assessments become more structured later in Year 5 and 6.
3. Support Emotional Readiness
Early preparation isn’t just academic. It helps build the stamina, independence and self-awareness children will need when they eventually face interview questions, reasoning tasks or unfamiliar test formats.
With time, children develop calm under pressure – something that can be challenging for some students to refine in a rush.
How Year 4 and 5 Can Get Ready for Entrance Exams
1. Light-Touch Tuition That Grows with Your Child
Our approach for Years 4 and 5 blends personalised tuition with enrichment. A typical programme might include:
- Weekly sessions focused on key skills
- Confidence-building activities in areas like verbal reasoning
- Holiday workshops or mini assessments to track progress gently
- Recommendations for wider reading and independent learning
- Everything is designed to feel manageable and enjoyable for your child – no cramming, no burnout.
2. Practice Without Pressure
We believe in introducing exam-style thinking gradually. That means short-format comprehension tasks, puzzle-based maths and verbal reasoning games rather than full mock exams.
By the time formal preparation begins in Year 5 or 6, students are already familiar with the skills and mindset required – they’ve simply arrived there in a calmer, more confident way.
3. Tailored Support for Each School’s Requirements
Different schools have different formats, focus areas and expectations. Starting early gives us time to:
- Identify target schools
- Understand what each school is looking for at 11+ or 13+
- Begin to align learning with those specific demands
From interviews and pre-tests to full entrance papers, our team ensures your child is prepared with precision.
Explore Our Competitive Entrance Exam Support
If your child is in Year 4 or 5, now is the ideal time to start thinking about the road ahead.
At Enjoy Education, we offer:
- Expert advice on private school selection and timelines
- Tailored one-to-one tuition with experienced 11+ and 13+ tutors
- Academic assessments to benchmark progress
- Interview preparation and reasoning workshops
We work with former heads of top schools, highly experienced tutors and a full in-house team to guide you every step of the way.
Want to find out what early tuition could look like for your child? Contact us today and we’ll help you with a personalised 11+ and 13+ application plan.
Get 11+ & 13+ Support
By Enjoy Education