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Brainhub guide

11+ test week: the night before and the day

September is 11+ test season. The last night is for rest, not revision: pack the bag, sleep well, and know how the answer sheet works.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 31 Oct 2026 5 min read

Key takeaways

1. Why this week

September is 11+ test season. For September 2028 entry, Dame Alice Owen’s tests on 1 and 25 September 2027.[1]

St Olave’s Stage 1 test is on 17 September 2027.[2]

Buckinghamshire’s Secondary Transfer Test is in early September 2027, with results in mid-October.[3]

By now the learning is done. What helps most in the last few days is rest, routine and knowing exactly what will happen on the day.

2. The night before

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 9 to 12 hours of sleep a night for children aged 6 to 12. A good night matters more than one last practice paper.[4]

Quest Assessments, which runs some schools’ 11+ tests, advises an early night and doing something enjoyable to relax, rather than cramming. Pack the bag in advance so the morning is calm.[5]

Pack
Why
Pencils and an eraser
Answers sometimes need changing cleanly.
Water and a snack
For before and after the test.
Any letter or entry slip
Check what the school or council asked you to bring.
The route and timings
Know where to go, and allow for traffic and queues.

3. Test morning

Have a filling breakfast that is not too sugary, as Quest suggests. Leave early. Keep the last words simple and kind: “just do your best” helps more than a last-minute tip.[5]

Plan something nice for afterwards, whatever happened in the test.

Rested and calm beats one more paper.

4. In the test

An adult called the invigilator explains what to do. Many 11+ tests use an answer sheet that is marked by machine, so mark answers exactly the way the instructions show, and rub out changes fully.[5]

Do not spend too long on any one question. Move on, then come back if there is time. In Quest tests, a wrong answer does not lose marks, so it is worth having a go at every question. Nerves are normal: slow, deep breaths help.[5]

5. How you can help

Keep the week normal: school, play, meals and bedtimes as usual. Talk about the test as one part of the journey, not a verdict. Our 11+ summer practice plan covers the weeks before, and our registration guide lists the dates for each test.

A calm, prepared child: Our qualified teachers teach the 11+ one-to-one, online or in person. Every family starts with a free 45-minute assessment.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. How much sleep do children aged 6 to 12 need?

  2. 2. Should your child do a last practice paper the night before?

  3. 3. What should your child do if a question is too hard?

Your next steps

  • Pack the test bag two days before.
  • Check the route and arrival time.
  • Keep the evening calm and bedtime early.

Sources

  1. Dame Alice Owen’s School. Key dates: secondary transfer entry September 2028. damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk/admissions/key-dates
  2. St Olave’s Grammar School. Year 7 key dates (2027 and 2028 entry). saintolaves.net/4205/key-dates-1
  3. Buckinghamshire Council. Grammar schools and Secondary Transfer Testing (11+): timeline for 2028 entry. buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/grammar-schools-and-transfer-testing-11/timeline-for-following-year
  4. Paruthi, S. et al. (2016). Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(6), 785–786. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5866
  5. Quest Assessments. 11+ guidance for children (what happens on the day, the answer sheet and managing nerves). knowledge.questassessments.com/hubfs/QuestAdmissions/Quest%2011%2B%20guidance%20for%20children.pdf

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.