---
type: "Article"
title: "How many hours a week should my child study for the 11+?"
description: "There is no magic number of 11+ study hours. About 15 to 20 minutes on most days beats long sessions. How to build a routine without burnout."
resource: https://pip11plus.com/how-many-hours-a-week-should-my-child-study-for-the-11-plus
tags: ["11+", "pip"]
timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:50:09Z
image: https://pip11plus.com/info-hub-cards/study-plan-pip.jpg
---

🗓️ Preparation

# How many hours a week should my child study for the 11+?

![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png)

**By the Pip team** Updated June 2026

There is no fixed number of hours your child needs for the 11+, and chasing one misses the point. Consistency matters far more than total time. For most children, 15 to 20 minutes of focused practice on most days does more than occasional long sessions. As the exam gets closer, you can add a weekly practice paper to build stamina. The aim is steady progress without burnout, so the skills actually stick.

**TL;DR**

-   There is no magic number of hours. Consistency beats total time.
-   Around 15 to 20 minutes on most days suits most children better than long sessions.
-   Add a weekly practice paper as the exam approaches to build stamina.
-   Too much drilling causes burnout, so protect rest, play and sleep.

## How much should my child study?

Aim for short, regular practice rather than a fixed weekly quota. Around 15 to 20 minutes on most days is a sensible target, and one widely shared recommendation is roughly 16 minutes of focused daily practice.

Notice that this is measured in minutes per day, not hours per week. That framing matters, because a daily rhythm is easier to keep up and gentler on your child than a couple of long, tiring sittings. Getting the timing right from the outset is part of [when you start preparing](https://pip11plus.com/when-should-you-start-preparing-for-the-11-plus).

_A typical 11+ practice week: roughly 15 to 20 minutes on most days, a lighter Sunday, and one timed paper as the exam nears._

## Why little and often works

A ten-year-old can only concentrate well for so long. Short sessions stay inside that window, so the practice is genuinely focused rather than a tired slog.

Spacing practice out also helps memory. Returning to a skill day after day locks it in far better than meeting it once in a marathon session. And crucially, brief daily practice keeps motivation up, which protects the long game.

## Building a weekly routine

Start with a short daily slot at a consistent time, perhaps after school or before dinner, so it becomes automatic. Mix the [subjects](https://pip11plus.com/what-subjects-are-tested-in-the-11-plus) across the week so nothing gets neglected.

As the exam approaches, add one longer session for a timed paper on top of the daily practice. That weekly paper is your bridge towards full [mock exams](https://pip11plus.com/should-my-child-do-11-plus-mock-exams), building the stamina a real sitting demands. A tool like [Pip](https://pip11plus.com/index#get) covers the daily minutes by rotating maths, English and reasoning for you.

**Watch for the signs of too much**

If your child starts avoiding practice, losing confidence or showing headaches and stomach aches, ease off. Those are signals to do less, not more. A rested child learns faster than an exhausted one.

## Can a child do too much?

Yes, and it is a real risk. Over-drilling leads to burnout, anxiety and diminishing returns, where extra hours stop adding anything and start taking confidence away.

Protect the rest of your child's week. Sleep, physical activity, free time and seeing friends are not distractions from 11+ preparation. They are part of what makes a child able to perform on the day.

_Warning signs of over-preparation: avoiding practice, lost confidence, headaches or tummy aches. Ease off when you see them._

## Making practice count

Quality beats quantity every time. A focused fifteen minutes spent on the things your child finds hard is worth more than an hour of redoing what they already know.

Keep the tone positive, target weak spots, and let [practice adapt to your child's level](https://pip11plus.com/adaptive-learning). Reading counts too, so do not forget how much [reading supports the 11+](https://pip11plus.com/how-important-is-reading-for-the-11-plus) alongside formal practice.

![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png)

Written by **The Pip team**

The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.

## Keep reading

[When should you start preparing for the 11+?](https://pip11plus.com/when-should-you-start-preparing-for-the-11-plus): Preparation Why Year 4 is the sweet spot, year by year. 5 min read · Preparation

[Should my child do 11+ mock exams?](https://pip11plus.com/should-my-child-do-11-plus-mock-exams): Preparation Build stamina, find weak spots, cut nerves. 5 min read · Preparation

[How should my child practise maths for the 11+?](https://pip11plus.com/how-should-my-child-practise-maths-for-the-11-plus): Maths Arithmetic, reasoning and timed practice. 5 min read · Maths

## Short sessions, real progress

Pip turns 11+ practice into five calm minutes a day across maths, English and reasoning, adapting to your child so every minute lands.

[Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) [More 11+ guides](https://pip11plus.com/info-hub)

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