Three months is enough — if you use it well
Most 11+ preparation guides assume you have 12–18 months. This one doesn't. Three months of focused, structured preparation can close a significant gap, particularly for children who are strong readers and have solid maths foundations.
Week 1–2: Diagnose before you prepare
Before doing anything else, sit a full timed paper under exam conditions — same time of day as the real exam, no interruptions, no help. The results will tell you more than any preparation plan. Look at which subject areas and question types produced the most errors.
Week 3–8: Focused subject practice
Work on the two weakest areas identified in week one. For most children this is either Non-Verbal Reasoning (if they haven't seen it before) or speed on the Verbal Reasoning paper. Do one timed paper per week in each weak area plus one full mixed paper per fortnight.
Week 9–11: Full papers and stamina
Switch to full timed papers three times per week. At this stage the goal is stamina and consistency — the child should be able to maintain focus and accuracy for the full paper duration without fatigue affecting the final sections.
Week 12: Rest and confidence
The week before the exam should involve no new papers. Light review of the question types your child finds hardest, early nights, and positive reinforcement. Exam anxiety is the biggest score depressor at this stage, not lack of knowledge.