Year 7 11+ entry
How to prepare for Highgate School
What the test asks for, where to start with the time you have, and a month-by-month plan to test day.
What’s in the test
For 2027 entry
English paper and Mathematics paper in December; group interview and taster lessons in January
English45 minutes (the school's sample paper)
Written answers, on paper
MathsAbout 45 minutes (the school's sample paper)
Written answers, on paper
From the school's admissions information for 2027 entry.
Month by month
The whole plan runs from a year before the test. With less time, join it at your stage.
Months 12–9 before exam
Foundation
A year or more to go? Start here. Follow the plan from the start. Skills first, full papers later.
Fill curriculum gaps before moving to exam-style work. Consistency > intensity.
- Daily 20-minute practice across each subject the test covers (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, %)
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
- Review mistakes — a wrong answer without a follow-up is a wasted question
Months 4–2
Exam-style
A few months to go? Start here. 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.
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
Final 4 weeks
Final stretch
A few weeks to go? Start here. 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.
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
Want this school's practice in one place? See the Highgate 11+ preparation bundle.
Questions parents ask
When should we start preparing for Highgate 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. The key dates page lists Highgate School's admissions dates.
What is in the Highgate School test?
English paper and Mathematics paper in December; group interview and taster lessons in January
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 Highgate School
52 practice papers ready. Practise online or on paper, then see the next step.
Year 6: free practice papers for Highgate School until 3 December.
Other years: the Highgate 11+ preparation bundle, paid once, no subscription.
Created by Leap. Leap is not affiliated with or endorsed by Highgate School (Highgate).