Mock 11+ tests are paid sessions, usually held in autumn of Year 6, where children sit a full timed paper in a hall environment that approximates the real test conditions.
The short answer
A well-run mock provides three things: a benchmark score, exposure to test-day conditions, and a discriminator for your child's performance under genuine timed pressure.
The longer answer
For families using past papers at home, a mock adds the conditions piece — real timed paper in a strange room with strange children — that the home environment cannot replicate.
When picking a mock: confirm the format matches your area's test (GL, CEM, CSSE), check the mock provider's history of feedback quality, and read recent parent reviews. A mock without detailed marked feedback is half a mock.
What experienced parents do
Two or three mocks across the autumn of Year 6 is enough. More than that and the marginal benefit drops; the child becomes either complacent (consistent good scores) or anxious (consistent poor scores).
What to avoid
Avoid: reading mock scores as predictions of the real test. The standardisation engine differs between mocks and real tests. A mock score is a diagnostic snapshot, not a probability.
Practical next step
Use the mock report to guide the final six weeks of revision. The single weakest topic identified by the mock is usually worth two or three weeks of focused work. A small, deliberate action this week is worth more than a grand plan for the year ahead.