The best approach is simple:
📝 Step 1: Take Full-Length Timed Mock Tests
Before you plan anything, you need to know what you’re working with. That means sitting a full-length, timed mock test in each subject your child will be tested in.
If your child is taking a GL-style test (again, your chosen school's website will tell you this), the official GL paper practice packs are ideal, or, if you're a Club 11 Plus member, our online mock tests are designed to exactly mirror the range and level of difficulty of the GL practice papers.
🕵️♀️ Step 2: Analyse the Results
This is the step that most people skip - but it’s the most important bit!
• Were there specific topics that your child found particularly tough?
• Did they run out of time in any of the tests, or finish with plenty of time to spare, but still not get a brilliant score?
• Did they spend too long on some of the harder questions, meaning that they didn't have time to hoover up marks from some of the easier ones?
• Did they lose marks through making “silly” mistakes?
Don’t dismiss the “silly” mistakes – those sorts of errors can be gold dust when it comes to improving test technique. Ask your child what they could do differently next time to stop themselves making that same "silly" mistake again.
If you're a Club 11 Plus member, we’re here to help! We can check through all the answers your child gave in their online mock tests, and we’re happy to help analyse their results. Every Club 11 Plus member is entitled to a free 30-minute advice chat, and we're always happy to give email support, so feel free to reach out and ask for our support at any time.
✏️ Step 3: Create Two Lists
Once you’ve gone through all the mock tests, make two key lists of areas in which there is still room for improvement:
• Hard skills, e.g. fractions, percentages, VR code questions, geometry, comprehensions, etc.
• Soft skills, e.g. timing, confidence, focus, test strategy.
These two lists will form the basis for your summer priorities.
🗓 Step 4: Make a Plan of Action
Now you know what to focus on, you can build a realistic summer plan.
Look through your list of hard skills and work out how best to tackle those areas. Every Club 11 Plus module is based on a specific GL question type, so your child can use Club 11 Plus to target the right topics with confidence.
Build a summer study plan that includes:
• The topics your child needs, based on your analysis.
• Rewards and incentives to help them stay motivated.
• Time off for fun and rest - because summer is for relaxing too!
You know your child better than anyone else, so be realistic about how much time you can successfully persuade them to put into their studies each day or each week. You're better off planning for 10 minutes a day, 5 times a week, and succeeding, than planning for 1 hour a day, 7 days a week, and falling at the first hurdle.
And don't feel bad about offering rewards for sticking to a study plan - we all like our efforts to be appreciated!
🎯 Final Thoughts
These last few weeks aren’t about cramming – they’re about working smarter, using the results of the mock tests to guide revision, rather than relying on guesswork. Now is the time for focused learning and real progress. A calm, structured summer plan can make all the difference in September.
But remember: work matters - but fun, play and relaxation matter too!
👉 Join Club 11 Plus today and get full access to our mock tests, expert feedback, and topic-by-topic lessons and quizzes, all perfectly tailored to the GL 11 Plus tests.
👉 Work out what needs doing.
👉 Make a plan.
👉 Stick to it.
👉 Don’t forget to have fun too!
Let’s break that down…
📝 Step 1: Take Full-Length Timed Mock Tests
Before you plan anything, you need to know what you’re working with. That means sitting a full-length, timed mock test in each subject your child will be tested in.
If you’re not sure which subjects your child will be taking tests in, check your chosen school’s website - not every school tests all four 11 Plus subjects.
If your child is taking a GL-style test (again, your chosen school's website will tell you this), the official GL paper practice packs are ideal, or, if you're a Club 11 Plus member, our online mock tests are designed to exactly mirror the range and level of difficulty of the GL practice papers.
🕵️♀️ Step 2: Analyse the Results
This is the step that most people skip - but it’s the most important bit!
When your child has completed the mock tests, don’t just glance at the score – now is the time to deep-dive into the “why” behind every incorrect answer. Sit down with your child and go through each of the completed mock tests, but try to keep the process really positive, with no stress, and no blame for their mistakes. You're a team on a mission - to find out what those results can tell you!
• Were there specific topics that your child found particularly tough?
• Did they run out of time in any of the tests, or finish with plenty of time to spare, but still not get a brilliant score?
• Did they spend too long on some of the harder questions, meaning that they didn't have time to hoover up marks from some of the easier ones?
• Did they lose marks through making “silly” mistakes?
Don’t dismiss the “silly” mistakes – those sorts of errors can be gold dust when it comes to improving test technique. Ask your child what they could do differently next time to stop themselves making that same "silly" mistake again.
If you're a Club 11 Plus member, we’re here to help! We can check through all the answers your child gave in their online mock tests, and we’re happy to help analyse their results. Every Club 11 Plus member is entitled to a free 30-minute advice chat, and we're always happy to give email support, so feel free to reach out and ask for our support at any time.
✏️ Step 3: Create Two Lists
Once you’ve gone through all the mock tests, make two key lists of areas in which there is still room for improvement:
• Hard skills, e.g. fractions, percentages, VR code questions, geometry, comprehensions, etc.
• Soft skills, e.g. timing, confidence, focus, test strategy.
These two lists will form the basis for your summer priorities.
🗓 Step 4: Make a Plan of Action
Now you know what to focus on, you can build a realistic summer plan.
Look through your list of hard skills and work out how best to tackle those areas. Every Club 11 Plus module is based on a specific GL question type, so your child can use Club 11 Plus to target the right topics with confidence.
Build a summer study plan that includes:
• The topics your child needs, based on your analysis.
• Short, focused sessions using Club 11 Plus, or other topic-specific materials if you’re working offline.
• Rewards and incentives to help them stay motivated.
• Time off for fun and rest - because summer is for relaxing too!
You know your child better than anyone else, so be realistic about how much time you can successfully persuade them to put into their studies each day or each week. You're better off planning for 10 minutes a day, 5 times a week, and succeeding, than planning for 1 hour a day, 7 days a week, and falling at the first hurdle.
And don't feel bad about offering rewards for sticking to a study plan - we all like our efforts to be appreciated!
🎯 Final Thoughts
These last few weeks aren’t about cramming – they’re about working smarter, using the results of the mock tests to guide revision, rather than relying on guesswork. Now is the time for focused learning and real progress. A calm, structured summer plan can make all the difference in September.
But remember: work matters - but fun, play and relaxation matter too!
👉 Join Club 11 Plus today and get full access to our mock tests, expert feedback, and topic-by-topic lessons and quizzes, all perfectly tailored to the GL 11 Plus tests.
Together, let’s make this summer count!