11+ mock exams: when to start, online or in person, and holiday crash courses
Mock exams let your child practise the real thing: a timed paper, a new setting and a bit of pressure. Used well, they build calm and speed.
When to start
- Year 4: no full mocks. Short, friendly timed quizzes are enough.
- Year 5, spring: start with a mock every few weeks, once most question types have been taught.
- Year 5, summer to test day: this is mock season. Most tests are sat in September of Year 6, so the summer holiday matters.
How many?
Quality beats quantity. A mock is only useful if your child goes through every mistake afterwards. One mock plus a proper review is worth more than three mocks with no review.
Online or in person?
- Online: easy to fit in, marked quickly, and good for tests that are taken on screen (such as the ISEB Pre-Test used by some independent schools). Many grammar school tests are still on paper, so do some paper practice too.
- In person: a real exam hall, strangers and a strict start time. This is the best practice for nerves, especially for a child who has never sat an exam.
- The best plan uses both: regular online mocks for skills, and at least one in-person mock before test day.
Holiday crash courses: do they help?
A short course in the summer holiday can help a child who has already done the groundwork: it sharpens timing, fixes gaps and builds confidence just before September. It cannot replace a year of steady practice. Choose a course with timed papers and clear feedback on what went wrong.
AshACE runs a Summer Revision Course from the end of July to early August. Send an enquiry to register your interest.
Tips for mock day
- Treat it like the real test: sleep well, eat breakfast, arrive early.
- Talk about effort, not the score.
- Afterwards, list the three topics to fix next.