Free 11+ guide
Henrietta Barnett 11+ for Year 5: a 12-month plan
For girls in Year 5 now, Round One is expected in early September 2027, but the school has not published the dates for 2028 entry yet. A steady plan works through foundations, then every Round One question type, then pace and Round Two writing, with timed papers last. For 2027 entry, registration ran from 1 April to 1 July 2026, so watch the school site from spring.
Source: HBS admissions and current test notice (accessed 2026-09-24) · HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24)
What is known about the dates
Source: HBS admissions and current test notice (accessed 2026-09-24) · HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24)
For 2027 entry, registration closed at 5pm on 1 July 2026, Round 1 ran on 2, 3 or 4 September, and Round 2 followed on 6 October. The school publishes each year’s dates itself; we do not guess the 2028-entry dates.
Test registration with the school is separate from the council school application. Both are needed.
A suggested twelve months
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| September to December | Foundations for both rounds: close reading, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation, and number work written out |
| January to March | Every Round One question type: verbal reasoning rules, non-verbal patterns, turns, reflections and nets |
| April to June | Pace and Round Two writing: short timed sets, and one longer written answer a week |
| July and August | Timed papers with a review after each, and a lighter final week |
| After Round One | Round Two English and maths, if invited. For 2027 entry, Round Two came about a month after Round One |
This is our suggestion, not school guidance. Keep one rest week in every six, and move faster or slower to suit your daughter.
Keep it calm
- Short, regular sessions beat long weekend blocks.
- Review one wrong answer properly before adding more questions.
- Avoid comparing her with other children. Compare her with her own last attempt.
Plan backwards from the time you have
Worked example Count the sessions
Original teaching example. A girl has 40 study weeks and 60 minutes a week, in 20-minute sessions. How many sessions is that?
Why this works: Three sessions a week for 40 weeks is 120 sessions. Planning in sessions shows early whether everything fits.
Why the tempting route fails: Planning only in months hides the problem until the summer, when there is no time left to adjust.
Sources and independence
Sources
HBS admissions and current test notice. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://www.hbschool.org.uk/admissions/
HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://henrietta-barnett.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/10095733/Admissions-Policy-2027-2028.pdf
Accessed 2026-09-24. Independent preparation, not affiliated with or endorsed by the school or test provider. Activities and routines are our suggestions, not official questions, marking schemes or promises of admission. Check the entry year before using a policy.