11+ Revision Timetable (2026 Guide): Weekly Plans for Busy Families

Three principles for a timetable that lasts

• Short sessions: 20-45 minutes is usually enough for focused progress.
• Balanced week: rotate vocabulary, comprehension, maths/reasoning, and writing.
• Review + rest: include one lighter day and one review checkpoint.

Design for real life first. Timetables that ignore homework, clubs, and tired evenings get rewritten constantly and create more stress than progress.

If writing is one of the areas that keeps slipping, pair this page with the creative writing revision plan and the 11+ revision hub before you rebuild the week.

Free 11+ Revision Timetable Template (Download)

This printable PDF includes a Monday-Sunday grid and 30 minute revision blocks so busy families can plan one week at a time without overcomplicating the routine.

Weekly Example Timetable

This table is deliberately simple and mobile-readable. Each session has one main goal and one review action so practice feeds into next week instead of becoming a disconnected task list.

To keep Thursday writing sessions fresh without changing the routine, rotate tasks from the Year 5 writing prompts guide and use the parent feedback guide for your review notes.

11+ Revision Timetable by Year Group

One timetable does not fit every stage. The structure should evolve from light habit-building in Year 3 to consistent weekly revision in Year 4 and more exam-focused planning in Year 5. The biggest mistake is copying a Year 5 mock-heavy routine too early.

Year 3: light vocabulary building and reading habits

Year 3 is usually about building the foundations that make later revision easier. Most children do not need a formal exam-style timetable yet. A better approach is two short weekly study slots plus regular reading. Keep sessions around 15-20 minutes. One slot can be vocabulary and reading discussion; one slot can be gentle logic, number fluency, or comprehension thinking. The key outcome is routine, not volume.

Vocabulary building is especially high-value in Year 3 because it supports comprehension and later creative writing. Keep it practical: choose a small set of useful words, discuss meanings, and use each word in a sentence. Parents can borrow ideas from the 11+ vocabulary list for parents article and the 11+ descriptive writing checklist article to focus on words that improve expression, not just memorisation.

Busy families often feel pressure to "do more" in Year 3. In practice, a calm, repeatable routine matters more than a packed schedule. If your child has clubs or long school days, protect one weekday slot and one weekend slot and let reading do much of the heavy lifting.

Year 4: reasoning introduction and a real weekly schedule

Year 4 is the stage where many families benefit from a clearer 11+ timetable. A practical structure is three weekday sessions of 20-30 minutes plus one longer weekend block. Rotate subjects so no single area dominates the week: for example vocabulary/comprehension on Monday, maths or reasoning on Tuesday, writing on Thursday, and a mixed review or timed mini-section on Saturday.

Reasoning should be introduced gradually in Year 4, especially if your target schools assess verbal or non-verbal reasoning. Separate learning mode from timed mode. During learning mode, explain methods and patterns. During timed mode, use a short set to observe pace, not to create pressure. This keeps confidence stable and helps the timetable remain sustainable.

Writing is often where families become inconsistent in Year 4, because it feels harder to "fit in" than a worksheet. A timetable solves this if you assign one predictable writing slot with a narrow focus. Use one week for openings, another for endings, another for description, and another for paragraph control. The story openings and endings guide, creative writing examples guide, and writing prompts guide all make that slot easier to run.

Year 4 is also a good time to start weekly tracking. Write down one thing that improved, one thing that stayed difficult, and one priority for next week. This prevents random practice and helps you adjust the timetable without restarting from scratch.

Year 5: mock exam preparation with confidence protection

Year 5 timetables are revision timetables in the full sense. Families usually need a weekly rhythm that balances fundamentals, timed practice, and review. The common mistake is jumping straight into frequent full papers. A better plan keeps 2-3 short skill sessions in the week and one weekend mock block with a review session. Review is where the progress happens.

For busy families, a realistic Year 5 pattern often looks like: Monday vocabulary/comprehension, Tuesday maths or reasoning, Thursday writing, Friday light review, Saturday timed section or mock paper, Sunday planning and recovery. This mirrors the example table above and is easier to maintain during term time than trying to do long sessions every evening.

Writing should remain in the plan, especially if any target route includes creative writing or if your child needs stronger composition quality. Keep the writing slot focused on one improvement target at a time, then use the 11+ creative writing complete guide or the new 11+ creative writing revision plan to make weekly progress visible.

Mock preparation should be phased: short timed sections first, then chained sections, then fuller test conditions. Always schedule the error review in the timetable. If a mock reveals weak timing, next week's timetable should reflect that with a short timing drill, not just another full paper. Families can make strong progress with one well-reviewed mock block per week if the follow-up is specific.

Finally, protect confidence in Year 5. Every week should include some success as well as challenge. If every session feels hard, consistency drops. If every session is easy, progress slows. A good timetable mixes both and stays flexible when school events disrupt the plan.

Simple tracking system for weekly adjustments

1. Improved: what skill moved forward?
2. Stuck: what still feels slow or inconsistent?
3. Next week: what one priority leads the timetable?

For a weekday-first version of this approach, see the 30 minutes a day 11+ study plan and the writing practice routine guide.

Common timetable mistakes

• Too many weekday sessions: reduce session length before cancelling the routine.
• No writing slot: add one short weekly writing practice session.
• No rest day: fatigue reduces consistency and retention.
• Too many mock papers too early: build fundamentals and review habits first.
• No school-format check: revise according to published routes, not assumptions.

School format checkpoint: keep your plan source-led

Before increasing revision time, confirm what your target schools actually assess. A quick format check helps you weight the timetable correctly and prevents wasted practice.

For timeline planning beyond one week, use When Should You Start 11+ Preparation? and 6 Month 11+ Revision Plan for Busy Families.

FAQ: 11+ revision timetable planning

Internal resources to support this timetable