For most 11+ exams, your child needs surprisingly little: usually just a pen, pencil and ruler. Schools send their own instructions a few days before, and some provide extras like lunch or specific equipment. Children are normally asked to wear comfortable casual clothes rather than school uniform. The golden rule is to follow the exact instructions your school sends, because those always override any general advice you read online.
- Most exams need only a pen, pencil and ruler.
- Comfortable casual clothes are usual, not school uniform.
- Schools send instructions ahead, and some provide lunch or equipment.
- Always follow your school's exact list over any general advice.
What to bring
Keep it simple. A pen, a pencil and a ruler cover most exams, and a spare of each removes any last-minute worry if one fails.
Some schools supply equipment and ask you not to bring your own, so always check the list they send. Packing the night before, with the school's instructions beside the bag, makes the morning calmer, which our guide to the morning of the exam covers in more detail.
What to wear
Comfort wins. Most entrance exams ask for casual clothes rather than uniform, so choose something your child feels relaxed in.
Layers are wise, since exam halls can run warm or cold, and a jumper that can come off keeps your child comfortable either way.
Schools email or post details a few days before, sometimes including what to bring, what is provided, and arrival times. If their advice differs from anything here, follow theirs.
What the school provides
This varies by school. Some provide all the equipment, some supply water, and a few that run a full exam day even provide lunch.
You will find this in the instructions sent ahead of time, which often also explain timings and arrival. Those details connect to what happens on exam day itself.
A simple exam-day checklist
The night before, lay out the equipment your school allows, fill a water bottle, and pack a small snack if permitted. Put the instructions and any entry letter in the bag too.
Plan to arrive early so there is no rush, and make sure your child has rehearsed working to time through mock exams beforehand. The kit is the easy part; the confidence comes from steady practice with Pip in the weeks before.