Are Mock Tests Useful At All?
Mock tests can be incredibly useful - but only when they're used as a diagnostic tool, not when they're the only thing in the toolbox.
Here’s what we reckon they are good for:
Here’s what we reckon they are good for:
Timing practice:
Maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning papers are notoriously tight for time, whereas English tests usually allow a bit more breathing room. Mock tests can help your child work out the most appropriate speed for each test paper.
Exam technique:
Mock tests can definitely help children with learning how to manage nerves, as well as developing smart test techniques, such as cherry-picking questions, or making a note of any questions they might need to return to later, as well as becoming confident at filling-in answer sheets.
Spotting weaker spots:
There may well be a few specific types of questions in which your child repeatedly makes mistakes - maybe percentages, algebra, comprehensions, or verbal reasoning code questions.
Mock tests, if used properly, can help you and your child spot the areas where there is still room for improvement, so you can work out what best to focus on during their remaining study time.
Mock tests, if used properly, can help you and your child spot the areas where there is still room for improvement, so you can work out what best to focus on during their remaining study time.
In short, mock tests help us to highlight what still needs work, but they don’t do the work for us.
Where Things Can Go Wrong
The danger comes when we start to rely on mocks as the main way to prepare, especially now, with the clock ticking.
Just giving your child more and more mock tests is a bit like repeatedly putting your car in for its MOT, without fixing any of the faults the mechanics have already found.
If there's something wrong, simply testing it again won’t fix it!
The Important Bit:
The Post-Mock Debrief
The golden opportunity is not the mock test itself, but what comes after it.
When your child has completed a mock test, and you've marked it, sit down with them - calmly, with no red pen in sight.
Firstly, praise them for all their correct answers, and then work systematically through all the questions they got wrong, asking plenty of open questions, such as:
• “Why do you think you chose this answer?”
• “Do you remember how you worked this out?”
• “Where did you look in the text to find this?”
• “What would you do differently next time?”
..... and a multitude of other similar questions.
There's a wealth of information to glean from every wrong answer, and your task is to don your detective hat, and, as sensitively, tactfully and gently as possible (and we know this can be the tough bit!), try to work out why your child made each and every one of those mistakes.
This is where you'll find the real learning.
Did they make the mistake because they didn’t understand the method? If so, put that topic on the list of things that still need to be revised.
Did they make the mistake because they didn't understand a literary term, such as "irony" or "hyperbole"? If so, add it to the revision list, or come up with some examples yourself to help them learn.
Was it just a silly slip because they rushed? If that was the case, ask your child how they might go about avoiding making the same sort of mistake again. Encourage them to create a Test Technique Tips log, and to add to it every time they come up with a new thought about how they could improve their performance.
Target Practice -
Not Shotgun Strategy
Once you've found your child's weaker spots, don’t just throw more mocks at them. That’s like treating a sprained ankle by running a marathon.
Instead:
• Use Club 11 Plus to find the right lessons and quizzes to teach and practice that specific type of question. We break everything down into clear, manageable modules, so you can easily find the right topics and target them.
• Praise your child's feedback and ideas - especially if they come up with a fix themselves. For example, if they say, “Next time I’ll read the question twice before answering,” that’s gold! Get them to write it down in their Test Technique Log - it's their very own guide to personal success.
Final Thoughts:
Mocks as Maps
We know what a stressful time this can be, for both parents and children. You want to do everything you can to help your child succeed - mocks feel like action, and action feels good.
But at this stage, think of mock tests as maps: they show you where you're child is right now, and help you pick the best route for the next stage of their journey. They’re not a judgement, and they don’t define your child’s ability or potential.
The best way to use them
• Spot the gaps.
• Target the learning.
• Celebrate every improvement.
• Build confidence, not pressure.
And remember: your calm encouragement is more powerful than any mock test.
Club 11 Plus is always here to help with topic-based lessons, quizzes, and loads of friendly support.
We have mock tests of our own for you to use to help with the diagnostic process, and if your child has taken one of our online mock tests, we'll be more than happy to help you analyse their results to help you work out where best to focus their studies.
You can email us with questions whenever you like, even if you're not subscribed to Club 11 Plus, and all our customers are entitled to a 30-minute free phone call or Zoom chat.
We're here to help in whatever way we can - you only have to ask.
To find out more about the Club 11 Plus online academy, click here, or email us via our Contact page.
We have mock tests of our own for you to use to help with the diagnostic process, and if your child has taken one of our online mock tests, we'll be more than happy to help you analyse their results to help you work out where best to focus their studies.
You can email us with questions whenever you like, even if you're not subscribed to Club 11 Plus, and all our customers are entitled to a 30-minute free phone call or Zoom chat.
We're here to help in whatever way we can - you only have to ask.
To find out more about the Club 11 Plus online academy, click here, or email us via our Contact page.