How much a day? A gentle rhythm, not a rule

The single most useful thing we can tell you about preparing for the 11+ is this: little and often beats long and rare. A few calm minutes most days will do far more, and cost far fewer tears, than a long, anxious session once in a while. Short and regular protects your child's attention, protects their mood, and keeps them wanting to come back.

So rather than a strict timetable, here is a rhythm that tends to sit well with both children and parents. Treat it as a guide, not a target:

Starting out (Reception and Year 1): just a few minutes, around three is plenty. At this age it should feel like play, never like work.

Lower primary (Years 2 to 4): a little longer as concentration grows, around five minutes, most days.

Upper primary (Years 5 and 6): up to about ten minutes, as the test comes into view and stamina builds.

A few things matter more than the exact number on the clock:

Consistency beats length. Five minutes most days will always beat half an hour once a week. The habit is the thing.

Stop while it is still going well. Ending a little early, on a small success, builds a quiet appetite for next time. Pushing for "just one more" until it sours teaches the opposite.

An off day is fine. Some days your child will not have it in them, and that is completely normal. Do less, or skip it, and come back tomorrow. The goal is a child who still likes learning, not a streak to defend.

If your child is enjoying it and keen to do more, that is wonderful: follow their lead. And if it ever starts to feel like a chore, that is your signal to shorten it, not lengthen it. Calm and consistent, a few minutes at a time, is how confidence is built, and confidence is what carries a child through the test and everything after it.