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How to prepare for Highfield Priory School

Start from the time you have

  • A year or more

    Start at: Foundation

    Follow the plan from the start. Skills first, full papers later.

  • A few months

    Start at: Exam-style

    Start with full timed papers in the shape of the test, one a week, and go through every mistake. Use the short daily sessions for the weakest topic.

  • A few weeks

    Start at: Final stretch

    Keep sessions short and daily, revisit past mistakes rather than new topics, and do one dress-rehearsal paper at the time of day of the real test.

Month by month

The whole plan, for a family starting a year or more ahead. With less time, join it at the stage above.

  1. 1. Months 12–9 before exam

    Foundation

    Fill curriculum gaps before moving to exam-style work. Consistency > intensity.

    • Daily 20-minute practice across all four subjects (rotate, not all at once)
    • Identify weak topics via a diagnostic and prioritise them
    • Build reading stamina — 20 minutes of fiction + 10 minutes of non-fiction daily
    • Learn core mental maths facts (times tables to 12, doubles, halves, %)

  2. 2. Months 8–5

    Skill-building

    Move from learning topics to practising them under mild time pressure.

    • Introduce timed mini-tests (15 questions in 15 minutes) per subject weekly
    • Add vocabulary-building: aim for 10 new words per week with usage
    • Start verbal and non-verbal reasoning technique drills (one type per week)
    • Review mistakes — a wrong answer without a follow-up is a wasted question

  3. 3. Months 4–2

    Exam-style

    Full papers under real test timing, in the school's format.

    • One full timed paper a week, then go through the marks together
    • Build exam resilience — do at least one sitting in exam-style conditions
    • Target weakest topic from the diagnostic each week

  4. 4. Final 4 weeks

    Final stretch

    Peak condition — maintain volume, reduce novelty, prioritise sleep.

    • Short daily sessions (25–30 min) — no marathons
    • Review mistakes notebook — revisit questions, don't re-do unrelated topics
    • Do a dress-rehearsal paper at the same time of day as the real exam
    • Sleep, hydration, breakfast — treat the final week like athletes treat taper

Questions parents ask

When should we start preparing for Highfield Priory School?

Most families start a year to 18 months before the test: building skills first, then moving to full timed papers in the last few months. Starting later still works: begin at the stage that matches the time you have.

Can we prepare without a tutor?

Yes. Many children prepare at home with short daily practice, full papers under timed conditions and an honest weekly look at mistakes. Leap gives you the papers, marks them and suggests the next step.

Practise for Highfield Priory School

Practise online or on paper, then see the next step.

Created by Leap. Leap is not affiliated with or endorsed by Highfield Priory School.

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