Count routes by real school choices, not by ambition
The number itself is less important than the quality of the school list behind it. One route can be enough if it contains the schools that genuinely fit. Two routes can be sensible near a boundary. Three or more routes need a very clear reason.
The warning sign is when the family can name the tests but not the schools they would actually accept.
A practical test
For each route, write down:
- the schools you would name on the CAF;
- the daily journey to each school;
- the registration deadline and test date;
- whether writing, reasoning, or a second stage changes preparation;
- the admissions rule that could decide offers after a result.
If a route cannot survive that list, remove it before it consumes attention.
Why fewer routes can be better
Fewer routes make preparation less fragmented. They also make it easier to attend open events, read policies properly, and talk honestly about backup schools. A child does not benefit from sitting every possible test if the family has no intention of using half the results.
When another route may be worth it
An extra route can make sense when it adds a genuinely different school option: a closer journey, a better fit, a different school type, or a realistic admissions position. It should not be added only because another parent is doing it.
The best route list is not the longest one. It is the one connected to schools your family would seriously consider.