With October underway, the clock is officially ticking for Year 6 parents across Yarm, Eaglescliffe, and Ingleby Barwick.The Yarm School 11+ entrance assessment takes place in January, meaning there are less than 90 days left to prepare.
If your child is sitting the exam this winter, now is the time to shift gears from general Key Stage 2 learning to sharp, exam-focused preparation. A structured 90-day strategy removes the guesswork, prevents last-minute panic over the Christmas holidays, and builds the calm confidence your child needs on exam day.
Click here to view my interactive skill tracker to support your child’s preparation
Phase 1: November — Shift from Learning to Exam Conditions
By November, your child should already be familiar with the core Year 6 maths, English, and reasoning topics. This month is all about transition: moving from untimed practice questions to strict exam-style conditions.
Key Focus Areas for November:
Introduce Timed Mock Papers: Speed is where many bright candidates fall short. Start setting short, 20-to-30-minute timed sections. Teach your child to pace themselves—aiming for roughly one minute per mark in mathematics and reasoning.
Master Multi-Step Problem Solving: Yarm School’s entrance paper tests deep problem-solving, not just straightforward arithmetic. Prioritise multi-step word problems involving ratio, percentage of amounts, and perimeter/area of composite shapes.
Build an "Error Log": Keep a dedicated notebook for every wrong answer in practice papers. Group them into two categories:
Knowledge Gaps: Topics they genuinely don't understand yet (e.g., converting fractions to decimals).
Careless Errors: Reading the question wrong or making basic arithmetic mistakes.
Click here to view my interactive skill tracker to support your child’s preparation
Phase 2: December — Target Weak Spots & Fine-Tune Technique
December can be a tricky month with school plays, festive events, and Christmas holidays. The key to success in December is consistency over intensity.
DECEMBER REVISION RHYTHM
[ Mon - Thu ] ──► 20 mins/day targeted weak-spot drill (use your “Error-log”)
[ Saturday ] ──► 1 Full-Length Timed Mock Paper
[ Sunday ] ──► Rest & Review (No new papers)
Key Focus Areas for December:
Master "Non-Verbal" Spatial Speed: Patterns, 3D shape nets, and rotations in Non-Verbal Reasoning often trip students up when rushed. Short, daily 10-minute bursts are far more effective for spatial recognition than long weekly sessions.
Focus on Method Marks: Ensure your child writes down clear step-by-step working for maths problems. In independent school papers, partial credit is awarded even if a final calculation misfires.
Protect the Christmas Break: Avoid marathon 4-hour revision sessions over the holidays—they lead directly to burnout. Instead, maintain 30-minute daily sessions and keep Sundays completely free.
Phase 3: January — Tapering, Mindset & Exam Day Prep
In the final fortnight before the exam, academic "cramming" yields diminishing returns. Your primary goal in January is building stamina, calm, and exam-day readiness.
Key Focus Areas for January:
Simulate the Exam Environment: Conduct one final mock paper at a quiet desk at home at the exact time of day the Yarm School exam will take place (usually morning). No background music, no mobile phones, and no immediate hints.
Teach the "Skip and Return" Strategy: Remind your child that they don't need 100% to pass. If they hit a brick wall on a tough question, teach them to circle it, guess if necessary, move on, and return if time permits at the end.
Prioritise Sleep & Calm: The night before the exam, put revision books away by 6:00 PM. A good night's sleep and a calm, reassuring morning routine will impact their performance more than last-minute flashcards.
Quick Summary: The 90-Day Checklist
Quick Summary: The 90-Day Checklist
Expert 11+ Maths Support in Yarm
Navigating the final 90-day stretch alone can feel overwhelming for both parents and students. Personalised, one-to-one tuition helps target your child’s exact weak spots, refine exam techniques, and build lasting confidence ahead of the Yarm School entrance paper.
Whether you live in Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, or Stockton-on-Tees, targeted local support ensures your child steps into the exam room fully prepared.
Get in touch today to discuss tailored 1-to-1 Maths tuition in Yarm, Eaglescliffe, and surrounding areas.