Firstly and most importantly, do not overload your child! Allow them plenty of breaks, even if they’re only 5 or 10 minutes long. This supports them to take it all in and refocus back on tasks.

Bear in mind that typically a child’s attention span ranges between 20 to 40 minutes. Part of the build-up method is to increase the attention span steadily.

Active revision is a great way to learn, this means plenty of past papers or simulated 11+ exam questions in exam conditions.

Another great strategy is timings of exams: If the exam is in the morning, then to help your child adjust, do all the practice papers around the same time as the exam so that your child mentally adjusts to perform at peak at that time!

One form of motivation for children can be Rewards! As each 11+ topic is finished or if they exceed an expectation in a mock exam, why not have a mini-treat for your child and yourselves? Another way of doing it is to set a target and the reward if it’s met.

When initially starting revision, give your child time to adapt and learn new topics, however do leave enough time when doing 11+ papers under exam conditions shows if the student needs to work on the speed by which he/she answers as every mark counts.

At some point, when doing practice 11+ papers, start completing the test in the exact format of the test. it could be either the standard (no choice of answers) format or the multiple-choice format. Most grammar schools now use multiple choice style exam papers, and usually most independent schools use standard, but it’s still worth a check.

Use the answer book to go through a test paper to catch even the silliest mistake as everybody can make errors under timed conditions.

Allocate more time to the subjects your child is weaker in, e.g. Verbal Reasoning, rather than letting him/her avoid it because then it seems more overwhelming to pack it in.

Remember – Your Brain is a Muscle! So just as you would after any other exercise, make sure your child rests in order to recoup from activity and brain overload!

Plenty of exercise and nutritious food is a must to keep their brains in good running order – in terms of treats stay away from sugary rewards!

Another useful tip is to make sure your child is sleeping properly so that they are renewed and contented for another demanding day, with the 11+ routine. If they are having concern, a mug of hot chocolate could help or a long hot bath or perhaps even an extra 15 minutes of play/television to get their mind to unwind.

Make sure both parent(s) and child have a good night’s sleep before the 11+ exam as you have to keep each other relaxed!

On the morning of your test, have a decent breakfast for energy and leave early so that you arrive with plenty of time for the exam.

If your child starts to get anxiety, you can help them by simply telling them that whatever the outcome you are both proud of the effort they have made. All they need to do is to work through the paper calmly and do the best they can.