11+ Year 5 Half-Term Plan: What to Cover Before Mocks

A good Year 5 half-term plan uses about 45 minutes of focused work on weekdays, plus daily reading, and leaves lots of time for rest. Use the October half-term to find weak spots, the February half-term to finish the main topics, and the May half-term to start timed practice. For most schools in England, October half-term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, but please check your own school's calendar. 

Year 5 is when 11 plus preparation gets more serious, and half-term is a great chance to make real progress. This guide shares a clear 11+ Year 5 half-term plan in simple words. You will see what to cover before mocks, how much time to spend and how to keep your child calm and happy. 

Why a Year 5 half-term plan matters for 11+ preparation

For most children, Year 5 is the year when 11 plus preparation becomes real. Your child is old enough to focus properly, and the test is still far enough away to learn everything without rushing. For a child in Year 5 now, many grammar school tests will be around September 2027.

Half-term is a gift in the middle of that busy year. There is no homework to finish and no early alarm, so it is the best time to catch up on weak topics and get ahead. A clear plan means you know exactly what to do each day, and you can enjoy the break too.

Our team at Pass 11 Plus Grammar has helped many families with this stage. Our approach to 11 plus preparation Year 5 starts with a clear picture of where your child is today, and then builds step by step. That is the same idea behind this half-term plan.

Try our 11+ October half-term course for Year 5

11+ Year 5 half-term plan

Most 11 plus tests look at four areas. Not every school tests all four, so check the schools you are interested in. Here are the main topics we suggest covering before your child sits full mocks.

Do not worry if that list feels long. Your child has months to cover it. The goal for each half-term is to tick off a few topics, not all of them at once.

Why cover the content before 11 plus mock exams?

A mock exam is like a dress rehearsal. It shows how your child works under real test conditions. But a mock is only useful if your child has already learned the topics. If they have not, the mock will just show a lot of questions they have not been taught yet, and it can knock their confidence.

That is why we suggest this order:

1. Learn the topics. Build knowledge step by step.

2. Practise the topics. Use short exercises and then timed sections.

3. Sit mocks. Use them to spot gaps and practise exam skills.

4. Fix the gaps. Go back and strengthen the weak areas.

Many families start mocks in the spring or summer of Year 5, once most topics have been covered, and then sit more in the summer holidays and in early Year 6. Our 11 plus mocks give children a real taste of exam conditions, so they learn how to pace themselves, move on from tricky questions and stay calm.

How much time should a Year 5 child spend at half-term?

A healthy amount for most Year 5 children is about 3 to 5 hours a week. That is enough to make steady progress without tiring your child out. At half-term, you can spread this across the week in small, calm sessions.

That adds up to about 45 minutes of focused learning on a weekday, plus reading. Keep weekends light, and take a full rest day whenever your child needs one. Children learn best when they feel fresh and happy.

11+ Year 5 English plan: Comprehension, vocabulary and spelling

English is the backbone of the 11 plus. A strong vocabulary helps with comprehension and with verbal reasoning too. You cannot cram it, so little and often works best.

1. One comprehension passage a day

Pick a short passage from a story, a poem or a fact text. Read it together, then ask your child to answer a few questions. Talk about how they found each answer in the text.

2. Build a word bank

Collect five new words each day, with their meanings, opposites and a sentence. A word bank grows into a strong vocabulary over time.

3. Spelling and grammar in small doses

Practise a spelling pattern or a grammar rule for ten minutes. Try apostrophes, commas, homophones and word endings. Quick wins build confidence.

4. Read widely every day

Mix stories, news for children and non-fiction. Reading stamina matters, because the real test has longer passages to read under time pressure.

11+ Year 5 Maths plan: Number, fractions and word problems

Strong number skills are the heart of 11 plus maths. Fast times tables help children finish the paper in time. Here is what we suggest focusing on in a half-term week.

1. Times tables up to 12 x 12

Practise quick recall with short games. Ask questions in a mixed order, not just in sequence, so your child learns to answer fast.

2. Fractions, decimals and percentages

Show how they link together. For example, a half, 0.5 and 50 percent are all the same amount. Use real life examples, like prices, recipes and sale signs.

3. Written methods and mental maths

Practise adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing larger numbers. Then try quick mental questions, like "What is 15 percent of 60?"

4. Shape, area and measures

Work out the perimeter and area of rooms or rugs, read scales and convert between units. Everyday objects make great practice.

5. Word problems

Read slowly, underline the key facts and decide what the question is asking. Then choose a method. Ask your child to explain their steps out loud.

Verbal reasoning plan for Year 5 11 plus

Verbal reasoning uses words and letters. It feels new to many children, because it is not usually taught in school. The good news is that it improves quickly with regular, short practice.

Non-Verbal reasoning plan for Year 5 11 plus

Non-verbal reasoning uses shapes and patterns. Many children find it fun once they know the tricks. Spend a little time on it a few times a week.

• Sequences: Ask, "What comes next?" using shapes, colours and sizes.

• Rotations and reflections: Use paper shapes and a small mirror to see how shapes turn and flip.

• Odd one out: Show a group of shapes and ask which does not belong, and why.

• Building and drawing: Use blocks to make a model, then draw it from above or from the side.

• Pattern puzzles: Jigsaws, tangrams and spot the difference puzzles are all good practice.

Always ask your child to explain their thinking. If they can say why an answer is right, they really understand it.

A 5-day October half-term plan for 11+ Year 5

Here is an easy plan you can copy for October half-term. Swap days around, or take a rest day if your child needs one.

11+ Year 5 half-term plans before mocks: October, February and May

You do not need to do everything in one go. Here is how the three half-terms in Year 5 can build on each other before mocks begin. Dates are the ones used by most schools in England, so check your own school's calendar.

The summer before Year 6 is a big chance to sharpen skills. Our 11 plus intensive courses bring the key topics together in a focused block, so your child goes into Year 6 feeling ready, not rushed.

Key Year 5 dates to know for the 11+

The 11 plus is not one national test, so dates depend on the area and the schools you choose. These are the general points to look out for. Always check each school's website for exact dates.

How to prepare for 11+ in Year 5 after half-term

When school starts again, keep the same calm routine going. A few short, focused sessions each week and daily reading are enough to keep moving forward.

Our guide: How to prepare for 11+ in Year 5 shares a clear routine for the whole year, with ideas for every term. It is a great next read.

How Pass 11 Plus Grammar helps 11+ Year 5 children

Many Year 5 families like the reassurance of expert help. A tutor can spot gaps quickly, explain tricky topics and keep practice on track. Our Year 5 11 plus tuition covers English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, step by step, so children feel proud and confident.

Across every year group, our 11 plus tuition builds the skills grammar school tests look for, with a calm and clear plan.

If you would like friendly advice, you can meet our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham, and we will happily talk through your options with no pressure.

Final thoughts

A good 11+ Year 5 half-term plan is simple. Cover the main topics first, practise a little each day, and keep reading. Use the October half-term to find gaps, the February half-term to finish the main topics, and the May half-term to move towards mocks. About 45 minutes of focused work a day, plus rest and play, is plenty.

There is no need to rush, and no need to worry. A calm plan, steady practice and a happy child make a powerful team. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we are always here to help when you are ready.