11+ Study Timetable — What a Good Week Looks Like
Most parents either over-structure preparation until it becomes a battle, or under-structure it until weeks pass without meaningful practice. Here's what a realistic week actually looks like.
The 20-minute daily habit
The most effective 11+ preparation is 20-30 minutes every day rather than longer sessions on fewer days. Daily practice builds retention. The spaced repetition that makes vocabulary stick and question types feel familiar only works if the spacing is consistent. One hour on Sunday does not have the same effect as 15 minutes on each of the seven days.
What a realistic week looks like
Monday to Friday — 20 minutes of targeted practice covering whichever subjects Lumi has identified as needing work that week. Saturday — one timed practice section or mini-paper under exam conditions. Sunday — review any wrong answers from the week. That's it. No weekend marathons. No stress. Consistent and sustainable.
How to adjust the timetable as the exam approaches
In the final two to three months before the exam, introduce full timed papers on Saturday or Sunday alongside the daily practice. In the final two weeks, ease off new material entirely. Light review of familiar topics, one or two confidence-building timed papers, and making sure your child is getting enough sleep and not feeling crushed by pressure.
Why consistency beats intensity
A child who does 20 minutes every day for 12 months will be better prepared than one who does two hours a day for the final two months. The forgetting curve is real — information reviewed regularly is retained. Information crammed at high intensity fades quickly. Build the daily habit early and protect it.
How StageX Academy handles the timetable for you
There's nothing to plan. StageX Academy builds your child's daily plan every night based on what they got wrong the day before — covering all four subjects, introducing timed papers at the right stage, and adjusting focus automatically as the exam approaches. Twenty minutes a day. No spreadsheets. No deciding what to do next. Just open the app and start.
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Subjects covered
Exam boards
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week should my child study for the 11+?
Two to three hours per week — spread across daily 20-30 minute sessions — is enough for most children in Year 5. In the final few months, slightly more is appropriate as mock tests are introduced.
Should my child study for the 11+ during school holidays?
Yes — but lighter than during term time. Complete breaks of more than a week undermine spaced repetition. Fifteen minutes a day through most holidays maintains momentum without adding stress.
Does StageX Academy plan the timetable for me?
Yes — Lumi builds your child's daily plan automatically every night based on what they got wrong the day before. There's nothing for you to organise or schedule.
Try Lumi free this week.
Your child gets a plan tonight. You get a dashboard that actually tells you something. And on Sunday morning, instead of staring at 11+ books, you read a one-paragraph summary with your coffee.
Questions? Email us we read everything.