Year 4 is widely seen as the ideal time to start preparing for the 11+, and at this age "starting" should look gentle: light exposure to question styles, wide reading and growing vocabulary, not timed papers or formal pressure. Most children have not begun any formal 11+ practice yet at this point, and that is completely normal. Here is what actually deserves your time this year, the real Year 4 spelling words your child should be meeting, and which of Pip's free resources genuinely fit.
- Year 4 is for gentle, low-pressure exposure, not formal timed practice.
- Focus on reading widely, vocabulary and number confidence, with short puzzle-style sessions.
- The statutory Year 3/4 spelling list (96 words) is the vocabulary backbone for this year.
- Keep sessions to a few minutes a day; consistency beats intensity at this age.
- Formal timed papers and mock exams can wait for Year 5.
What Year 4 preparation should actually focus on
Year 4 is when you can add light, structured practice on top of normal school learning, without it ever feeling like a second school day. Think short puzzles, problem solving and a first look at the styles of question the 11+ uses, rather than full papers under time pressure.
Our guide to when to start preparing for the 11+ covers the full year-by-year picture; this page focuses specifically on what Year 4 itself should look like.
Subject balance matters here. Reading and vocabulary carry the most weight, because they build slowly through repeated exposure and pay off across English and verbal reasoning later on.
Number confidence through everyday maths keeps that muscle warm. Reasoning puzzles can appear, but only as a taste of the question styles, not a rehearsal of the exam itself.
It also helps to know which subjects the 11+ actually tests, so the light exposure you introduce now points in the right direction.
Keep sessions brief, playful and led by curiosity. A few minutes of daily practice that feels like a game will do more for a Year 4 child than an occasional long, formal session that feels like a test.
The Year 4 spelling & vocabulary words
Vocabulary is one of the highest-value places to spend Year 4 effort, because it feeds directly into English, verbal reasoning and comprehension later on.
The statutory Year 3/4 National Curriculum spelling list, 96 words in total, is the vocabulary backbone for this year: real, curriculum-set words your child's school is already teaching, not a 11+-specific invention. Here are five of them, taken directly from the full list:
| Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| although | conjunction | in spite of the fact that; even though. |
| bicycle | noun | a two-wheeled vehicle that you pedal. |
| business | noun | the work of buying and selling, or a company. |
| calendar | noun | a chart showing the days and months of the year. |
| different | adjective | not the same. |
Every word on the full list comes with a kid-friendly meaning, an example sentence and a simple guide to how it sounds, plus a note on exactly why it trips children up when it is a tricky spelling.
Flip through all 96 free as flashcards with a match game and spelling test at the Year 4 vocabulary tool, or download the Year 4 Spelling & Vocabulary List PDF to work through a few words a day at your own pace.
Which of Pip's free resources fit Year 4
Not everything on Pip is right for this year, and that honesty matters more than pointing you at everything we have.
The Year 4 flashcard tool and its matching PDF word list are the core Year 4 activity: free, low-pressure and exactly matched to what your child's school is teaching.
Beyond vocabulary, Pip's four free subject practice papers (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning) can be used untimed and ungraded, purely as a gentle first look at question styles, without needing to know your child's specific exam board yet.
Two things are deliberately not on this list for Year 4: the score calculator and exam-board-specific practice papers. Both matter more once your child is sitting timed practice regularly, which for most families starts in Year 5.
Strong reading habits do more for Year 4 than either, which is why reading matters so much for the 11+ and our 11+ reading list are worth your time this year.
Keep the momentum going
Year 4 is groundwork. Year 5 is where regular practice papers, timed exercises and format familiarisation begin in earnest, and Year 6 is exam technique and timing in the run-up to the exam itself, which usually falls in the autumn term.
The three cards below take you straight to the Year 4 tools and the next step.
Year 4 vocabulary flashcards
All 96 words, free, with a match game and spelling test.
Year 4 word list (PDF)
All 96 words with meanings, examples and how to say them.
Year 5 11+ preparation guide
What changes when practice steps up a gear.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should a Year 4 child know for the 11+?+
There is no official word count the 11+ requires by Year 4. A good, curriculum-based benchmark is the statutory Year 3/4 spelling list itself, 96 words, which your child's school is already teaching.
Working through it gradually across the year is more useful than chasing a specific number.
Is Year 4 too early to start preparing for the 11+?+
No. Year 4 is widely seen as the ideal time to start, as long as it stays gentle: light exposure to question styles, reading and vocabulary, not formal timed papers.
Is Year 4 too late if we have not started yet?+
Not at all. Year 4 is still early.
Year 5 is when most families move into more structured, regular practice, so there is plenty of time ahead.
Should my Year 4 child sit timed practice papers?+
It is not necessary yet. Untimed, low-pressure exposure to question styles is enough at this stage.
Timed practice and mock exams matter more from Year 5 onwards.
What if we feel behind for Year 4?+
Focus on the daily habit rather than the volume of work. A few minutes of reading, vocabulary or number practice most days will do more than occasional long sessions.
Our guide on how many hours a week your child should study covers this in more detail.
Does my Year 4 child need to know which 11+ exam they are sitting yet?+
Usually not yet. Many families confirm the exact test in Year 5.
Our guide to 11+ exam types explains the main formats so you know what to look out for.
How do I keep Year 4 preparation fun rather than stressful?+
Keep sessions short, playful and led by curiosity rather than targets. If you are ever unsure whether the pressure is right for your child's age, our guide on putting too much pressure on your child is a good gut check.
Arielle handles SEO and AEO growth at Pip, with over 10 years in the digital marketing space working with brands and founding her own projects.
