Year 6 11 plus preparation should be mostly revision, not new learning. In areas such as Buckinghamshire and Medway, the 11+ is sat in September of Year 6, so the real work happens in the summer holiday before: revisiting tricky words, timed practice and plenty of rest. After the test, the focus moves to results, the secondary school application and enjoying reading again.
This guide covers the summer before Year 6, test week, the key dates for 2026 to 2027 and what to do once the test is over. Dates come from council and GOV.UK pages we checked on 13 October 2026.
In Year 6, revise what your child already knows rather than cramming new words. Short, calm sessions and good sleep usually matter more in the final weeks than extra hours.
Sources: Buckinghamshire Council, timeline for entry in 2027; GOV.UK, school admissions: how to apply; National curriculum in England, English Appendix 1 (checked 13 October 2026).
Key Year 6 11+ dates for 2026 to 2027
In Buckinghamshire and Medway, and at schools such as Heckmondwike Grammar School, the 11+ is over by the end of September of Year 6 and results arrive in October. Every area sets its own dates, so check your council's 11+ pages; our list of grammar schools in England links to every school by area. These are the published dates for children starting secondary school in September 2027.
- 10 September 2026
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (Practice Test on 8 September)
- 14 September 2026
Heckmondwike Grammar School entrance exam
- 15 and 16 September 2026
Medway Test for pupils at Medway maintained primary and junior schools
- 9 October 2026
Buckinghamshire results released
- 14 October 2026
Medway results day
- 17 October 2026
Heckmondwike Grammar School results available online (target date)
- 31 October 2026
Deadline to apply for a secondary school place
- 1 March 2027
Councils send secondary school offers
- 10 to 13 May 2027
Key stage 2 tests (SATs) week
Sources: Buckinghamshire Council, Medway Council test dates and results, GOV.UK, primary assessments: future dates, Heckmondwike Grammar School. Children who don't attend a Medway primary or junior school sit it on 19 or 20 September 2026.
Heckmondwike Grammar School sets its own FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) entrance exam, which every child seeking a Year 7 place must sit in the autumn term before they start. For September 2027 entry, registration opened at 9am on 11 May 2026 and closed at midday on 22 June 2026, the exam was on 14 September 2026, and results are due online on 17 October (target date). The school offers 210 places. A pass is not necessarily a formal offer, because in recent years more children have reached the standard than there are places; formal offers come from the local authority in early March. See the school's entrance exam page.
Buckinghamshire's timeline for entry in 2028 has registration in early May 2027, the test in early September 2027 and results in mid-October 2027. That means the summer holiday after Year 5 is the final revision window. Our Year 5 11+ preparation plan covers the year before.
The summer before Year 6: revision, not new learning
Use the summer to tidy up what your child already knows and to get used to the test format. Learning lots of new words in the last few weeks can be hard work and may not stick. Revisiting known words, and the ones your child keeps getting wrong, is a better use of the time.
- Make a "tricky words" list
Collect the words your child still mixes up, from practice papers, reading and the Hard Questions list in 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master.
- Revise little and often
A few short sessions a week on that list: meanings, a synonym, an opposite and a sentence of their own.
- Practise the format
Read the familiarisation materials for your area's test, then do some timed practice so the format holds no surprises.
- Keep reading for fun
Books your child enjoys keep vocabulary growing without feeling like revision.
- Plan proper breaks
Days off, outdoor time and a normal bedtime often help more in the final weeks than extra practice.
Buckinghamshire, for example, publishes a familiarisation booklet with sample questions, and points families to free materials from GL Assessment. Its two papers are multiple-choice, and one tests verbal skills, including comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Year 6 vocabulary: what to revise
Focus Year 6 vocabulary revision on word relationships, more formal words and the spellings your child still gets wrong. The Year 6 national curriculum covers how words are related as synonyms and antonyms, and the difference between informal vocabulary and the vocabulary used in formal speech and writing.
| Informal | More formal |
|---|---|
| find out | discover |
| ask for | request |
| go in | enter |
| help | assist |
| get | obtain |
| show | demonstrate |
For spelling, the national curriculum's statutory Years 5 and 6 list has 100 words; our 11+ spelling words list covers both the Years 3 and 4 and the Years 5 and 6 lists, with a free PDF. For meanings, print our free 11 plus vocabulary list with meanings and tick off the words your child already knows, then try a round of the free 11+ vocabulary quiz. Short, spoken vocabulary games for 11 plus keep revision light.
Test week: keep it calm
In test week, stop new practice and keep everything as normal as possible. A familiar routine, a good night's sleep and a decent breakfast are likely to help more than last-minute revision.
- Check the test date, time and place in the letter from your council or school
- If your area runs a practice test, go along so the room and the format feel familiar (Buckinghamshire's is optional, but children normally sit it)
- Keep the evening before the test relaxed: no practice papers
- Stick to a normal bedtime and a breakfast your child likes
- Afterwards, talk about something else: the test is done
After the 11+: results, applications and reading
Once the test is over, three things matter: understanding the result, applying for secondary school and keeping your child reading. You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October, and councils send offers on 1 March.
Our guide to 11+ results day and what your score means explains standardised scores, and if the result falls short, our guide to your options if your child didn't pass the 11+ covers reviews (where your area offers them), appeals and waiting lists.
Year 6 isn't over after the 11+. The key stage 2 tests (SATs) are timetabled for 10 to 13 May 2027. Reading widely and talking about new words help there too, and in secondary school.
What to do in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Year 6 is the end of a gradual build-up that starts with reading and word play.
| School year | Focus | Using 11+ Vocab Master |
|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | Reading for pleasure and light word games. | A few minutes of the games, with audio pronunciation. |
| Year 4 | A daily word habit: synonyms and opposites. | Short sessions through the categories. |
| Year 5 | Structured practice and exam-style questions. | Practice modes and mock tests, with progress tracking. |
| Year 6 | Revision of tricky words, timed practice, rest before the test; keep reading after it. | Unlimited mock tests; works offline. |
For the bigger picture, see our guide to building 11+ vocabulary year by year.
How 11+ Vocab Master and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master can help
For the final revision weeks, our two apps fit short sessions and mock tests on a phone or tablet.
- 11+ Vocab Master, our 11+ vocabulary app: 2,500+ words for CEM-style and GL Assessment tests across 100 categories, 12,000+ vocabulary questions, 6 practice modes, 7 games and unlimited mock tests.
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master: 2,000+ verbal reasoning questions covering 38+ question types, with flashcards, mock tests and 5 VR games, such as Analogy Arena and Code Cracker.
- Vocab Master has progress tracking, works offline, is ad-free and has audio pronunciation. VR Master has a Hard Questions list. 11+ Vocab Master is Educational App Store Certified.
Both apps come with a 7-day free trial. After that, 11+ Vocab Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £12.99 a year, and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £14.99 a year.
11+ Vocab Master
11+ Verbal Reasoning Master
Year 6 11+ preparation FAQs
When do children sit the 11+ in Year 6?
In areas such as Buckinghamshire and Medway, the 11+ is sat in September of Year 6. In 2026, Buckinghamshire's Secondary Transfer Test was on 10 September, Heckmondwike Grammar School's entrance exam was on 14 September and the Medway Test was on 15 and 16 September for pupils at Medway maintained schools. Other areas set their own dates, so check your council's 11+ pages.
What should my child revise in the summer before Year 6?
Revise rather than learn lots of new words: go over a list of tricky words, practise meanings, synonyms and opposites, and do some timed practice in your area's test format. Keep reading for fun and plan proper breaks, because rest matters in the final weeks.
Should my child do practice papers in test week?
It's best to stop new practice in test week and keep the routine normal. Go to any practice test your area runs so the format feels familiar, keep the evening before relaxed, and make sure your child has a normal bedtime and a breakfast they like.
When is the deadline to apply for secondary school?
You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October, and councils send secondary school offers on 1 March. Apply through your local council; grammar schools are usually listed on the same application, so check your council's guidance.
What should my child do after the 11+?
Keep reading and talking about new words, because Year 6 isn't over: the key stage 2 tests (SATs) are timetabled for 10 to 13 May 2027. If the result is disappointing, look at reviews (where your area offers them), appeals and waiting lists, and remember that other secondary schools also suit many children.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026.
- Timeline for entry in 2027 and timeline for entry in 2028, Buckinghamshire Council
- Secondary Transfer Testing process, Buckinghamshire Council
- Medway Test dates and Medway Test results, Medway Council
- Entrance exam, Heckmondwike Grammar School
- School admissions: how to apply, GOV.UK
- Primary assessments: future dates, Standards and Testing Agency
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (English Appendix 1: spelling, and Appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation), Department for Education