Start with routes, not papers
Before preparing, find out which tests are relevant. A family in Kent, Bexley, Sutton, Buckinghamshire or Trafford may face different registration dates, formats and school lists.
Year 4 is a good time to remove impossible options and build good habits. It does not need to become a second school day.
What is useful in Year 4
- Reading widely and regularly.
- Secure arithmetic and problem-solving habits.
- Light familiarisation with reasoning if the route uses it.
- Visiting local areas and checking travel.
- Understanding which routes need separate registration.
What to avoid
Do not start with a long list of papers before knowing the route. Do not assume every grammar school uses the same test. And do not let preparation crowd out sleep, schoolwork and normal family life.
The useful target
By the end of Year 4, parents should know which routes are realistic and what preparation might be needed in Year 5.