Year 5 11 Plus Preparation: Expert Tuition for the Year That Counts

Year 5 is when 11 Plus preparation gets serious. The exam is now twelve months away. If your child has been preparing since Year 3 or Year 4, Year 5 is the stage where we introduce full mock exams and sharpen everything that has been built. If your child has not yet started, Year 5 is the time to begin, not the time to panic, but also not the time to wait. One year of well-structured, focused preparation is enough to make a significant difference to results.

At Geek School Tutoring, we take children from Year 3 and prepare children in Year 5 and Year 6 for grammar and independent school entrance exams across South East London and Kent. More than 1,000 families have trusted our programme since 2013. Our 100% pass rate for Kent and Medway grammar schools reflects what is achievable when preparation is specific, well-paced, and tailored to the schools on each child’s list.

What Year 5 Preparation at Geek School Looks Like

The Initial Assessment

Every child who joins us starts with a free assessment. For Year 5 children, this is particularly important because the time available is fixed. We need to know exactly where your child is in English comprehension, creative writing, mathematics, and verbal and non-verbal reasoning so we can focus the programme on the areas that will make the most difference. We do not spend time in Year 5 covering topics your child already knows well.

Mock Exams and Feedback

In Year 5, we introduce full-length mock papers under timed exam conditions for the specific schools on your child’s list. This includes GL Assessment papers for grammar schools, ISEB Common Pre-Test practice for independent schools, and school-specific formats where available. Every child receives individual written feedback on every mock paper. We identify which question types are causing the most difficulty and adjust the programme accordingly. Mock exams are one of the most valuable tools in Year 5 preparation because they show both the child and us exactly where the work needs to focus.

English: Comprehension and Writing

Year 5 English preparation covers reading comprehension at 11 Plus level, inference and analytical questions, extended creative writing, and, for children targeting schools with written entrance papers, analytical and discursive writing. Joycellyn Akuffo’s journalism background informs every aspect of our writing teaching. Children who prepare with us learn to write with precision and intention rather than just effort, and the difference is visible in their exam papers.

Mathematics: Reasoning and Problem-Solving

Year 5 maths preparation covers the full range of topics tested in grammar and independent school entrance papers: number and algebra reasoning, geometry, ratio and proportion, data handling, and the multi-step problem-solving questions that most commonly appear at the top of school papers. We work above the primary school curriculum level throughout.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

For children targeting grammar schools, VR and NVR are often the subjects where the most progress can be made in Year 5. Both require familiarity with specific question types that are not taught in school. We cover all question types systematically, building speed and accuracy through timed practice. By the end of Year 5, most children are sitting full-length timed VR and NVR papers and receiving individual feedback on their results.

What About Year 3 and Year 4?

If your child is in Year 3 or Year 4 and you are already thinking about this, starting now is the single most effective thing you can do. The additional preparation time changes the experience from intensive to sustainable, and the results reflect that. See our Year 4 preparation page for more detail on what early preparation looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to start 11 plus preparation in Year 5?

No. Many of the children we prepare start with us in Year 5 and go on to secure places at their target schools. Year 5 preparation requires more focus and intensity than preparation that began in Year 3 or 4, but it is absolutely achievable. The free initial assessment tells us exactly where your child currently stands so we can build the most effective programme for the time available.

What if we have done no preparation at all so far?

We help children who are starting from scratch in Year 5 regularly. The key is the initial assessment: it gives us a clear picture of which subjects and topics need the most work. We then focus the programme tightly on those areas rather than covering everything at the same pace. Children who have no preparation background can make significant progress in a year with the right support.

Do you take children from Year 3?

Yes. We take children from Year 3, and Year 3 is actually the ideal starting point for families with the most competitive grammar and independent schools on their list. If your child is in Year 5 and is asking about starting now, the answer is yes, and you will find more detail about Year 4 preparation on our Year 4 preparation page.

How many sessions per week does a Year 5 child need?

In Year 5, one session per week with consistent homework practice is the standard starting point. As the exam approaches in Year 6, many families increase to two sessions per week. The right frequency depends on your child’s starting point, target schools, and how consistently they can engage with the programme. We advise on this at the assessment stage.

What are mock exams and how do they work at Geek School?

Mock exams are full-length practice papers sat under real exam conditions: timed, quiet, with no help. We run mocks for the specific schools on your child’s list, GL Assessment papers for grammar schools, ISEB pre-test practice for independent schools, and school-specific paper formats where available. After every mock, every child receives individual written feedback identifying which question types to prioritise and what errors to correct. Mock results guide the focus of the following sessions.

Related: Year 4 11 Plus Preparation | 11 Plus Tutor Near Me | Grammar School Entrance Exam Tutors | 11 Plus Creative Writing Course