How Many Mock Exams Should Your Child Take?

One of the questions I’m asked most often is: ‘How many mock exams should my child take?’
Some tuition companies offer multiple mocks as part of their programmes, but if your tutor doesn’t – or if you’re tutoring at home – this question can cause real uncertainty.
For both my children, we did just three mock exams each. We used independent providers, but we did our research first, choosing those who specialised in the schools we were targeting.

Avoiding Burnout and Boredom

At this stage of the 11+ journey, I often hear parents saying their child is making ‘silly mistakes’. These mistakes can result from fatigue and overexposure.
We found that chunking worked significantly better than running through full-length papers repeatedly. At home, we would take one section of a mock paper, time it – maybe just for 10 minutes – and focus only on that part. It kept their brains ticking over without overwhelming them.
By the summer holidays, my children were completely bored with full test papers. Instead, we maintained shorter, bite-sized sessions – enough to stay sharp, but not enough to crush their motivation.

Should You Take a Summer Holiday?

This is another common question: ‘Should we take holidays in the summer?’
We didn’t, but if you are planning one, I’d suggest doing it at the start of the holidays. That way, you can return refreshed and continue with your 11+ prep without losing momentum.
Think of this as training for a marathon. You wouldn’t take six weeks off before the big day. You’d train steadily so you peak at the right moment. The 11+ is no different.

Are Mocks Harder Than the Real Thing?

Some parents worry when their child scores low marks in mocks. It’s worth remembering that some mock providers make their papers tougher than the real exams.
Why? It could be a business model – low scores may encourage families to book more tests. Or it could be to ‘push’ children so the real exam feels easier. I honestly don’t know.
Our experience with commercial papers was mixed. For example, years ago, Bond papers felt harder than CGP – though this may have changed since.

Use Mocks to Find Gaps – Not to Crush Confidence

The real value of mocks is to spot gaps in learning. My daughter bombed her first mock in May of her 11+ year, yet she went on to pass Kendrick with a very high mark.
Mocks provided us with insight into what needed improvement. That’s all.
My advice? Don’t leave mocks too late. If your child performs poorly in a final mock just before the real test, it can dent confidence. If that happens, I wouldn’t share the score with them – instead, quietly focus on filling the gaps.

Final Thought

Mock exams are a tool, not the goal. Keep them to a sensible number – enough to gain experience but not so many that your child burns out. Use chunking for steady practice and, above all, protect their confidence.
Every child is different. Trust your judgement.

How Our Books Can Help

If your child needs support with vocabulary, comprehension and confidence, our 11+ Vocabulary Reading Books are designed to build these skills naturally through story.
The Cadwaladr Chronicles (four-book historical fantasy serial) and Cadwaladr Quests (three-book 11+ reading serial) blend engaging adventures with built-in footnotes, explaining tricky words, SPaG points and literary devices as they appear.
They’re ideal for children preparing for the 11+ who need to develop a stronger grasp of language without endless drilling.