The Balanced 11+ Summer Programme
Frequently Asked Questions
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This bundle is designed for Year 5 children preparing to sit the 11+ exam in the early weeks of Year 6. It is best suited to children who have already completed some 11+ preparation and are familiar with the main question types.
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Yes - this programme can be used by beginners alongside additional resources.
This programme is designed for children who already have some familiarity with 11+ content and are ready to consolidate knowledge, build exam confidence and prepare effectively over the summer.
If your child is new to verbal and non-verbal reasoning, we recommend adding on our Understanding Reasoning Pack which can be worked through alongside this programme.
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This bundle has been designed primarily around the question types and exam style commonly found in GL-style 11+ exams, including the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test.
Many of the resources will also be relevant for other 11+ exams due to the overlap in question types and core skills. However, exam formats, timings and question styles vary between schools, counties and exam providers, so please check your child’s specific exam requirements.
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No resource can guarantee a particular result.
Success in the 11+ depends on many factors, including your child’s starting point, the specific exam, consistency of preparation and how they perform on the day. This bundle is designed to help your child feel as prepared, confident and calm as possible.
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We recommend starting approximately seven weeks before your child’s exam date, with the four Build weeks taking place over the summer holidays. This gives you time to work through the full programme at a balanced pace.
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That’s absolutely fine. You can still benefit from the resources by adapting the schedule to fit the time available. Focus on consistency rather than trying to complete everything perfectly.
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That’s completely fine. The programme is designed to be flexible. You can move sessions around and adapt the schedule to fit holidays and family plans. Consistency matters more than perfection.
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The programme is designed to be flexible and it is up to you how much time it takes each week. We have included a 6-week sample schedule and one-week sample timetable. These illustrate the maximum amount of time recommended. You may choose to reduce the time spent each day, to do fewer days of study per week, or to reduce the number of weeks.
If following the maximum recommended amount of study, this varies slightly by week. Week 1 is lighter and focuses on the 11+ Superpowers course (up to 45 minutes per day over 6 days). Weeks 2–5 involve Practice Papers, Mock Tests and shorter supporting activities. (up to 2.5 hours per day on 5 days out of 7). Week 6 is intentionally lighter again, focusing on confidence, calm and exam readiness.
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No.
The bundle is designed to be flexible. Some families print everything, whilst others use a combination of printed and digital resources.
For the best experience, we strongly recommend printing the Practice Papers, Mock Test Papers, Multiple Choice Answer Sheets and the 11+ Journey Journal.
We also offer a Printed Pack which you can purchase as an optional add-on to the digital programme.
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We strongly recommend using printed papers where possible, as this provides the most realistic preparation.
However, some families choose to view papers on screen and record answers on separate paper.
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Yes.
A Printed Pack option is available for families who would prefer a ready-to-use physical pack.
This includes professionally printed copies of all the printable resources, ready for immediate use at home.
You can find details and order your Printed Pack here: [INSERT LINK]
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Practice Test Papers are learning tools designed to build knowledge, strengthen skills and develop confidence. They comprise 8 full practice tests (16 papers), multiple choice answer sheets and mark schemes.
Mock Tests are designed to replicate exam conditions and help children build familiarity, resilience and confidence under pressure. These are accessed via our Virtual Mock Test area, which contains invigilation videos complete with full recorded instructions and timings to replicate the exam room conditions. They also include full tutorial videos, including all answers, worked solutions and exam tips.
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This programme takes a balanced approach to 11+ preparation. Alongside academic preparation, it places strong emphasis on mindset, wellbeing and emotional readiness, because we know from decades of experience that children perform best when they feel calm, confident, prepared and well supported.
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Yes.
A key part of this bundle focuses on helping children build confidence and manage nerves through the 11+ Superpowers course, Wellbeing Check-Ins, the 11+ Journey Journal and practical exam preparation strategies.
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The bundle includes a range of parent-facing resources, including the Balanced Study Guide, Family 11+ Charter, Wellbeing Check-In Guide, Parent Mock Test Co-Pilot and the What Happens After the Exam guide.
These resources are designed to help you support your child calmly and confidently throughout the journey.
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This is more common than many parents realise.
Try to stay calm and curious rather than turning revision into a battle. Often, resistance is linked to overwhelm, tiredness, anxiety or a lack of confidence rather than unwillingness.
This is one of the reasons the bundle begins with the 11+ Superpowers course. Starting with mindset, confidence and emotional readiness often helps children feel more motivated, more engaged and better able to approach the academic work positively. Start small, keep sessions manageable and focus on encouragement and connection.
Progress is far more likely when children feel calm, understood and emotionally safe.
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This programme is sold as a single-family licence for personal use only.
That means one family may use the resources with their child or children within the same household.
Tutors, schools and organisations must not copy, share or distribute the resources across multiple students under a single purchase.
If you are a tutor, school or organisation interested in using these resources with multiple students, please contact us about licensing options on hello@unravelled.uk
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Yes.
This programme includes a single-family licence, which means it may be used by multiple siblings within the same household.
The resources must not be shared outside your immediate family.
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Yes, in many cases.
The bundle is designed as a flexible seven-week preparation programme, so it can be adapted to fit different exam dates.
However, it is important to note that the programme has been specifically designed around summer holiday preparation.
The core Practice Phase includes Practice Papers, Mock Tests, review sessions and additional activities, so it works best when children have more time and mental capacity than they typically do during term time.
For children sitting earlier exams, or exams outside the usual September timetable, the schedule may need to be adapted more carefully.
Some families choose to spread the programme over a longer period, completing parts of the preparation more gradually across weekends or school holidays.
As always, the key is to adapt the programme to suit your child’s individual timetable, energy levels and needs.
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Possibly, yes.
Strong academic ability does not always translate into strong exam performance under pressure.
Research shows that stress and exam anxiety can significantly affect performance, even in very able children, by impacting focus, memory and decision-making in the moment.
Over the years, we have seen academically capable children perform below their true potential simply because they felt anxious, overwhelmed or underprepared for the pressure of exam day.
This bundle is designed not only to strengthen academic preparation, but also to help children build confidence, resilience and emotional readiness.
For many children, success in the 11+ is not just about knowing the content. It is about being able to access that knowledge calmly and confidently under timed exam conditions.
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Yes — and this is exactly where the bundle can be especially valuable.
Many children know more than they are able to show under pressure.
The 11+ Superpowers course, Wellbeing Check-Ins, 11+ Journey Journal and Pre-Exam Week Survival Guide are all designed to help children build confidence, manage nerves and approach exam day feeling calmer and more prepared.
For many families, mindset and emotional readiness can make just as much difference as academic preparation.