A Kind, Practical Plan for the Habs Girls 11+

Preparing for the Habs Girls 11+ need not mean making every evening feel like an examination. The published process asks children to read, reason, solve, write and later talk with adults. Those abilities grow through regular, varied practice and through the confidence that comes from understanding what to do when a question feels unfamiliar.

NeurofiED is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Haberdashers' Girls' School.

Put the important dates in one place

These details were checked on 20 October 2026 for 2027 entry. Families should use the school's admissions page for updates because future dates and arrangements may differ.

For 2027 entry, Year 7 registration and scholarship applications close on 6 November 2026, while bursary applications close on 19 November 2026.[3]

The 11+ assessment is on 23 November 2026 and includes multiple-choice English and verbal reasoning, Maths and non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and written creative writing.[3][4]

Interviews take place from 8 to 15 January 2027, with invitations based on examination performance.[3][4]

Offers are due on 12 February 2027.[3]

The school offers approximately 60 to 70 places and also considers interview performance and the current-school reference.[4]

Once the dates are visible, resist the urge to fill every gap with practice. A simple weekly routine leaves room for schoolwork, activities and rest while still building the English and Maths foundations your child will draw on.

Make reading an active habit

Choose fiction and non-fiction that your child can mostly read independently but still finds interesting. After a few pages, ask one open question: “What makes you think that?”, “What changed here?” or “Why did the writer include this detail?” The answer matters, but the explanation and evidence matter more.

For multiple-choice work, teach a two-stage habit: form an answer from the passage first, then compare it with the options. This reduces the temptation to select a choice because one familiar word stands out. When an answer is wrong, return to the line that settles it and discuss the clue rather than simply recording the score.

Vocabulary can grow naturally alongside reading. Keep a small list of useful words, include a short meaning and write an original sentence. Revisit a few words later in the week. The Habs Girls school guide is a useful companion when you want to connect preparation with the wider picture of the school.

Keep Maths explanations visible

Fluency gives a child more thinking space, so continue short practice with number facts, fractions, decimals, percentages and written calculation where needed. Then add problems that require choosing a method. Ask your child to underline what is being asked, estimate an answer and explain why an operation fits.

A corrected solution is useful only if the thinking changes. After an error, sort it gently: was the question misread, was a fact insecure, did the method break down, or was it a checking slip? Choose one follow-up question that tests the same idea in a new form. This keeps correction focused and avoids turning one mistake into a punishing worksheet. A worked English example shows the same principle of making thought processes clear.

Nurture creative comprehension

Creative comprehension can begin with enjoyable reading rather than a special workbook. Ask your child to respond to a passage in a different form: write a diary entry from a character's viewpoint, select an object that symbolises the scene, or describe how an illustration might capture the atmosphere. Encourage every idea to connect back to details in the text.

This is also a chance to value interpretation without suggesting that anything goes. A strong response is both imaginative and grounded. If your child offers an unexpected idea, ask which words prompted it and listen before helping them develop it.

Practise finishing short pieces of writing

One complete page can teach more than several abandoned stories. Use a picture, a setting or an intriguing object as a prompt. Let your child spend a couple of minutes deciding who is present, what changes and where the piece will end. That small plan protects time for the writing itself.

On rereading, focus on one or two priorities: clarity, paragraphing, sentence control or precise detail. Do not edit every line together. Ask your child to find one place that works well and one place where a reader needs more. Over time, this builds independence and a realistic sense of revision.

Add format practice without taking over the week

When foundations are secure, introduce short mixed sections and a visible timer. The aim is to learn pacing, not to create urgency. Teach your child to notice a stuck moment, make the best sensible choice and move on when appropriate. Leave time afterwards to discuss the route through the questions.

Use occasional longer practice to rehearse concentration and transitions between tasks. Keep a simple note of recurring needs, such as rushed reading or weak fraction conversion, and let those patterns guide the next week's teaching. Scores can fluctuate; habits are more dependable.

Let interview confidence grow from real conversation

An interview is not a performance to script word for word. Children can practise speaking clearly by discussing a recent book, an activity they care about, a challenge they overcame or a question they would like to explore. Ask follow-up questions and allow thinking time. “I am not sure, but I would start by…” can be a thoughtful response.

References and interviews also underline the value of continuing ordinary school life. Preparation should support, not crowd out, classroom learning, friendships and interests. These are where children develop examples, opinions and the confidence to join a genuine conversation.

End with steadiness

In the final days, use familiar material, finish sessions while energy is still good and protect sleep. Agree what your child can do if one question feels difficult: breathe, reread the instruction, mark a possible answer and continue. That plan is more useful than last-minute cramming.

Official sources

[3] Habs Girls admissions process

[4] Habs Admissions Policy

Check those official sources for admissions decisions. For home preparation, aim for something quieter and more durable: good foundations, useful reflection and a child who can approach the day feeling supported.