How to Use Easter Break for 11+ Preparation
Written by: Xuan
(Updated on 4 April 2026)
If your child does not have exams this year, continue as you are. Work steadily through your worksheets and workbooks, and introduce a practice paper occasionally if you’d like but there’s no pressure at this stage.
If your child DOES have an exam this year, this is where preparation becomes more structured.
With around 5 months remaining, this is the point where practice papers should begin.
Time to start practice papers
At this stage, it doesn’t matter how many workbooks remain or how far through content you are. It’s time to start practice papers.
Students need to:
- understand exam structure
- become familiar with exam-style questions
- begin developing timing and pacing
Aim to complete one practice paper per subject per week
(typically 3–4 papers in total)
Avoid doing multiple papers in one day or cramming them into a single weekend. Try to complete no more than one paper per day.
Developing time awareness
Timing is one of the biggest challenges for students.
When completing paper-based tests:
- use a timer
- when time runs out, draw a line where your child reached
- allow them to finish the paper
You can then compare:
- marks achieved within time
- marks achieved with extra time
This helps you clearly understand:
- how much timing is affecting performance
- how much pace needs to improve
If you’re using Prep Ed, our practice papers include a built-in timer that continues running after time is up.
This allows students to:
- work towards the correct time
- continue beyond it
- and clearly see the gap between timed and untimed performance
Managing pressure and timing
Many students find timing stressful.
The timer can feel like a countdown, which leads to:
- rushing
- panic
- loss of focus
It’s important to help students develop a healthy relationship with time.
They should learn to:
- use the timer as a reference, not a threat
- move on from difficult questions
- return later if needed
- make calm decisions under pressure
This is part of exam technique.
Don’t overuse practice papers
It’s important to pace your resources. Avoid doing more than one paper per subject per week. Students who complete all their papers too early often run out of material closer to the exam.
Once weekly papers are done, continue with:
- worksheets
- workbooks
- targeted practice
The most effective approach is to let the papers guide your next steps.
If you’re using Prep Ed, your score report will highlight:
- weaker topics
- recurring errors
- specific skill gaps
You can then work on targeted worksheets based on those areas, allowing for focused improvement without time pressure.
Building stamina
Some students struggle to complete full papers in one sitting. This is normal since worksheets are usually 15–20 minutes, whereas papers can be 30–60 minutes. This is why starting papers now is important.
Students need time to develop:
- concentration
- stamina
- consistency
They may initially feel slow or lose focus but this improves over time.
Mock exams
If you haven’t already, you may consider booking a mock exam. This is not essential, but can be helpful for:
- experiencing a formal exam setting
- understanding performance relative to others
However, it’s important to note that many students perform very well without attending mock centres. A well-structured practice paper at home is often sufficient, particularly when:
- completed under timed conditions
- reviewed carefully afterwards
- followed up with targeted practice
Prep Ed practice papers also provide standardised scores, allowing you to understand performance in context and track progress over time.
Stage 2 exams (don’t worry yet)
If your school has two stages, focus on Stage 1 first. Most skills are transferable, and trying to prepare for both stages too early can spread students too thin. Once Stage 1 is secure, Stage 2 becomes much easier to approach.
Exception: writing
If Stage 2 includes writing (and Stage 1 does not), you can introduce:
- short writing practice (around 10 minutes)
- once or twice a week
The goal is simply to build familiarity and confidence.
If you need prompts, you can use structured writing tasks or guided prompts to help children practise generating ideas and organising their thoughts under time pressure.
Final thoughts
Second to last big holiday before exams, you’ve got this!
Focus on consistency, timing and targeted improvement.
Steady, structured preparation will always outperform last-minute intensity!