Year 7 11+ entry at Belmont, Mill Hill Prep
How to prepare for Mill Hill Schools
What the test asks for, where to start with the time you have, and a month-by-month plan to test day.
8 weeksto the exam · 4 January 2027
Now: 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.
What’s in the test
For 2027 entry
Stage 1
English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Multiple choice, online
EnglishRoughly 20–30 minutes
Online
MathsRoughly 45–55 minutes
Online
Non-verbal reasoningRoughly 25–35 minutes
Online
Verbal reasoningRoughly 30–40 minutes
Online
From the school's admissions information and recent sittings for 2027 entry. Counts and timings are rounded.
Month by month
The whole plan runs from a year before the test. With less time, join it at your stage.
- FoundationMonths 12–9
- Skill-buildingMonths 8–5
- Exam-styleMonths 4–2YOU ARE HERE
- Final stretchFinal 4 weeks
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, %)
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
Months 4–2
Exam-style
Your stage nowFull 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
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 Belmont (Mill Hill) 11+ preparation bundle.
Questions parents ask
When should we start preparing for Mill Hill Schools?
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 Mill Hill Schools's admissions dates.
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 Mill Hill Schools
10 practice papers ready. Practise online or on paper, then see the next step.
Year 6: free practice papers for Mill Hill Schools until 28 November.
Other years: the Belmont (Mill Hill) 11+ preparation bundle, paid once, no subscription.
Created by Leap. Leap is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mill Hill Schools.