Year 5
British Curriculum
Complete Guide.
Everything parents need to know about Year 5 in the UK — curriculum, subjects, assessments, 11+ entrance exams, and how Eleven Ace provides expert online tuition for every subject.
What Is Year 5?
Year 5 is the year group for children aged 9–10 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is part of Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) and the second-to-last year of primary school.
There are no statutory national tests this year — schools set their own internal assessments. However, Year 5 is the single most important year for 11+ preparation, as all entrance exams are sat in September–October of Year 6.
- Part of Key Stage 2 — curriculum set by the National Curriculum (England)
- Ofsted-inspected schools follow statutory programmes of study
- Equivalent to Grade 4 (USA), Primary 6 (Scotland), 4th Class (Ireland)
- MFL (Modern Foreign Language) compulsory at KS2
- Secondary school research and open days begin this year
Year 5 National Curriculum — Core Subjects
The three core subjects every Year 5 child studies under the British curriculum. Eleven Ace provides expert 1:1 and batch tuition for all of them.
Reading, Writing & SPaG
- Fiction, non-fiction, poetry comprehension with inference and author technique
- Narrative, persuasive, explanation, report, letter, diary, playscripts
- Relative clauses, modal verbs, parenthesis, formal vs informal register
- Year 5 & 6 statutory word list (100 words), prefixes, suffixes
- Consistent joined handwriting expected throughout
- Debates, presentations, drama, poetry performance
- Comprehension strategies — skimming, scanning, close reading
Number, Geometry & Statistics
- Numbers to 1,000,000; negative numbers; Roman numerals to 1000
- Long multiplication (4-digit × 2-digit) and long division
- Prime numbers, square numbers and cube numbers
- Equivalent fractions; mixed numbers; decimal ↔ fraction ↔ %
- Metric unit conversion; area of irregular shapes; volume
- Angles, reflection, translation, coordinates in 4 quadrants
- Line graphs, tables and timetable problems
Earth, Forces, Materials & Life
- Solar system, Earth & Moon movement, day/night, time zones
- Gravity, air resistance, water resistance, friction, levers, pulleys
- Dissolving, filtering, evaporating; reversible & irreversible changes
- Life cycles of mammals, birds, insects, amphibians
- Plant reproduction and habitats
- Human development, gestation periods, puberty basics
- Scientific enquiry — fair testing, variables, recording results
- Classifying and grouping living things using observable features
Foundation Subjects — Full Year 5 Curriculum
Beyond the core three, Year 5 children study a broad range of foundation subjects under the British curriculum. Eleven Ace tutors cover these too — from History to Computing.
Ancient Greece, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons or World War II (school-dependent). Source analysis, chronological understanding and historical enquiry skills.
OS map skills, grid references, biomes, climate zones, rivers & water cycle, human vs physical geography. Fieldwork and data collection.
Compulsory at KS2. Greetings, numbers, colours, family, seasons, simple sentences and short conversations — foundation for secondary MFL.
Programming (Scratch or Python), network infrastructure, data handling, online safety, cyberbullying awareness and digital literacy.
Sketching, painting, printing, sculpture, digital art and studying artists. Developing technique, texture and composition skills.
Designing, making and evaluating structures, food technology, textiles or electronics. Problem-solving through practical projects.
Performing, composing, music theory, listening & appraising. Recorder, glockenspiel or ukulele commonly taught in Year 5.
Relationships, emotions, online safety, health, puberty awareness, community responsibility. Comparative religion, festivals, moral questions.
Invasion games, net/wall, striking/fielding, gymnastics, dance, athletics and swimming if not completed in earlier years.
Expert Online Tuition for Every Year 5 Subject
Whether your child needs support with the National Curriculum, 11+ preparation, or both — Eleven Ace offers two flexible options across the entire UK.
Start Your Child's Year 5 Journey Today.
1:1 tuition · 4-student batches · All subjects · 11+ prep · Across the UK
Book Free Year 5 Demo ClassAssessments & Tests in Year 5
Year 5 has no statutory national tests — but assessment still plays a key role. Here's what your child will encounter and how Eleven Ace helps them prepare.
How Eleven Ace Helps
Our tutors prepare students for internal school tests, CAT4 assessments, and help build the foundation skills tracked by teacher assessments throughout the year. Regular mock tests and progress reports keep parents informed.
What Year 5 Does NOT Have
- No KS2 SATs — SATs are Year 6 only (May)
- No Multiplication Tables Check — MTC is Year 4 only
- No Phonics Screening Check — Year 1 & 2 only
What Year 5 Does Have
- School internal end-of-year tests — results used for setting, streaming and reports
- CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) — verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning
- Teacher assessments & tracking — NFER, Testbase, Rising Stars used throughout the year
Year 5 Maths — Full Topic List
Every Maths topic your Year 5 child covers under the British curriculum. Eleven Ace tutors work through each of these systematically in 1:1 and batch sessions.
- Read, write and order numbers to 1,000,000
- Count forwards/backwards in powers of 10
- Negative numbers — count through zero
- Round to nearest 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000
- Roman numerals to 1000 (M)
- Multiples, factors and prime numbers
- Square numbers and cube numbers
- Long multiplication (4-digit × 2-digit)
- Long division (divide by 2-digit numbers)
- Equivalent fractions — identify, name, write
- Compare and order fractions
- Add & subtract fractions (same denominator and multiples)
- Multiply proper fractions by whole numbers
- Mixed numbers and improper fractions
- Decimals to 3 decimal places; round to 1 dp
- Percentages as fractions and decimals
- Multiply & divide decimals by 10, 100, 1000
- Solve problems involving fractions, decimals and percentages in context
- Angles at a point, on a straight line, in a triangle
- Regular & irregular polygons; reflection and translation
- Coordinates in all 4 quadrants
- Convert between metric units (km, m, cm, mm, kg, g, l, ml)
- Area of rectangles and compound shapes
- Volume of cuboids (counting cubes)
- Read & interpret line graphs, tables and timetables
- Solve multi-step problems involving time, money and measures
Year 5 English — Full Topic List
Every English topic covered in Year 5 under the British curriculum. Eleven Ace sessions build reading stamina, writing accuracy and grammar confidence.
- Retrieve and record information from texts
- Summarise ideas from multiple paragraphs
- Inference — what characters feel and why
- Identify and explain author's use of language
- Compare characters, settings and themes
- Identify how structure contributes to meaning
- Broad range of genres — myth, legend, sci-fi, biography, journalism
- Narrative — adventure, mystery, historical fiction
- Persuasive writing — speeches, adverts, formal letters
- Explanation texts, reports, non-chronological reports
- Diary entries, biographies and playscripts
- Poetry — free verse, rhyme, cinquain, limerick
- Planning, drafting, editing and proofreading as process
- Relative clauses (who, which, where, when, that)
- Modal verbs (might, should, will, must)
- Parenthesis — brackets, dashes, commas
- Expanded noun phrases; adverbials of time, place, manner
- Passive vs active voice; formal vs informal register
- Colons, semi-colons, bullet points
- Year 5 & 6 statutory spelling list (100 words)
11+ Entrance Exam — What Parents Must Know in Year 5
The 11+ is taken in September or October of Year 6. All meaningful preparation takes place during Year 5. Parents who start in Year 6 are already late. Eleven Ace provides specialist 11+ tuition tailored to each county's format.
What Is the 11+?
- Entrance exam for selective secondary schools — grammar schools (state-funded) and selective independent schools
- Two main test providers: GL Assessment and CEM
- GL tests are more predictable; CEM tests are harder to prep for
- Subjects tested: Verbal Reasoning (VR), Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR), Maths, English
- Not all areas test all subjects — depends on your county
- VR and NVR are NOT taught in school — this is the main reason children need dedicated 11+ prep with Eleven Ace, who provide specialist tutors across GL, CEM and independent school formats
Year 5 Prep Timeline
Autumn Term (Sept–Dec)
Introduce VR and NVR question types. Identify weaknesses. Start structured 11+ practice with Eleven Ace.
Spring Term (Jan–Mar)
Structured weekly practice. Focus on Maths gaps (fractions, problem solving). Build English comprehension speed.
Summer Term (Apr–Jul)
Begin timed mock papers. Identify remaining weak areas. Research and shortlist target schools.
Summer Holidays (Jul–Aug)
Final mock paper push. Familiarise with exam format. Register for actual exams — deadlines vary by county.
11+ Format by County
Eleven Ace provides specialist 11+ tuition tailored to each county's exam format.
| County / Area | Provider | Subjects Tested | When Sat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | GL Assessment | English, Maths, Reasoning | Sept Year 6 |
| Buckinghamshire | CEM (Bucks-specific) | Verbal, Numerical, Spatial | Sept Year 6 |
| Birmingham | BCHF (own format) | English, Maths | Sept Year 6 |
| Essex (CSSE) | Own paper | English, Maths | Sept Year 6 |
| Lincolnshire | GL Assessment | VR, Maths | Sept Year 6 |
| Medway | Own paper | English, Maths, Reasoning | Sept Year 6 |
| Slough | Own format | English, Maths, VR, NVR | Oct Year 6 |
| Wirral / Cheshire | GL Assessment | VR, NVR | Sept Year 6 |
| Trafford | Own paper | English, Maths, VR | Sept Year 6 |
| Sutton (London) | Consortium | English, Maths, VR, NVR | Sept Year 6 |
| Redbridge (London) | GL Assessment | VR, NVR, Maths | Sept Year 6 |
Independent & Private School Entry — Year 5
Many independent schools require action during Year 5. Eleven Ace provides tailored preparation for ISEB, scholarship exams and school-specific entry tests.
Senior independent schools (Eton, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey) use the ISEB online pre-test taken in Year 6 Autumn — prep begins in Year 5. Tests: English, Maths, VR, NVR.
Academic, music, sport and art scholarships available. Music scholars need Grade 4–5 by Year 6. Academic scholars need strong VR, NVR, Maths and English from Year 5.
Many independent schools require registration by October–November of Year 5. Missing the deadline rules out entry entirely. Check each school individually.
If aiming for a 13+ senior independent school, children may start at a prep school at Year 5. Some prep schools conduct Year 5 entry assessments.
Most independent schools hold open mornings in October and March. Attending in Year 5 gives families time to compare before Year 6 application deadlines.
North London Collegiate, City of London, JAGS, St Paul's Girls, Westminster Under — all have separate entry processes. Eleven Ace prepares for each.
Top Grammar Schools — Where Year 5 Families Apply
Eleven Ace students target these grammar schools across England. Our tutors know each school's exam format, scoring and selection criteria.
Tonbridge Grammar, Tunbridge Wells Grammar, Dover Grammar, Dartford Grammar, Simon Langton GS, Harvey Grammar
Royal Latin School, Dr Challoner's GS, Sir Henry Floyd GS, Aylesbury GS, Wycombe High School
King Edward VI Aston, Camp Hill Boys/Girls, Five Ways, Sheldon Heath
Colchester Royal Grammar, KEGS Chelmsford, Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Altrincham Grammar (boys & girls), Sale Grammar, Urmston Grammar, Stretford Grammar
Caistor Grammar, Boston Grammar, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar, Kesteven & Grantham Girls
Rochester Grammar, Strood Academy, Rainham Mark Grammar, Fort Pitt Grammar
Wallington, Wilson's, Nonsuch, Greenshaw (Sutton); Ilford County HS, Woodford County HS (Redbridge)
Langley Grammar, Herschel Grammar; Ripon Grammar, Skipton Girls' High, Ermysted's Grammar
What to Do in Year 5
A term-by-term action plan for parents navigating Year 5. Follow this timeline to stay ahead of every key deadline.
- Register with target secondary schools — independent schools often have Autumn Year 5 deadlines
- Research your area's 11+ format — GL vs CEM changes your revision materials
- Attend secondary school open days — October open mornings are common and informative
- Begin Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning — many children have never seen VR/NVR before Year 5
- Book a free demo with Eleven Ace — start tuition while the year is fresh
- Identify and plug Maths gaps — fractions, decimals and problem solving are common weak points
- Build reading stamina — 11+ English requires fast reading under timed conditions
- Start timed mock papers — begin untimed, then introduce timing gradually
- Support school work alongside 11+ prep — teacher assessments affect reports some schools request
- Review progress with your Eleven Ace tutor — adjust focus based on mock results
Why Year 5 Parents Choose Eleven Ace
- All subjects in one place — no juggling multiple tutors or platforms
- County-specific 11+ expertise — GL, CEM, ISEB and school-specific formats
- Flexible 1:1 or batch options — choose what works for your family
- Progress visibility — monthly reports so you always know where your child stands
- UK-wide coverage — expert tutors available wherever you are
- Free demo class — try before you commit, no obligation
Frequently Asked Questions — Year 5
Everything parents ask about Year 5 in the British curriculum, answered clearly.
Is there a SATs test in Year 5?
When should my child start 11+ preparation?
What is Verbal Reasoning and why does it matter?
Does my child need a tutor for Year 5?
What should a Year 5 child know by year end?
Is the 11+ available everywhere in England?
What is the difference between GL and CEM?
How many hours per week for 11+ prep?
Does Eleven Ace cover all subjects or just 11+?
What is the difference between 1:1 and batch tuition?
Child Wellbeing — Managing Year 5 Pressure
Year 5 is the preparation year, not the exam year. Keeping revision healthy and proportionate is essential for sustained progress.
Sleep disruption, reluctance to revise, stomach aches before tests, tearfulness about results — all common and manageable. Adjust the pace if you notice these signs.
Structured daily practice is healthy; excessive pressure is counterproductive. 30–45 minutes a day is enough. Eleven Ace sessions are designed to be focused and efficient — not marathon cramming.
Children aged 9–10 still need unstructured time. Reducing all hobbies for revision is not recommended by child psychologists. Balance is key to sustained progress.
Children should understand their goals without feeling their worth depends on passing an exam. A strong comprehensive or non-selective school is a valid and excellent alternative.
Year 5 Is Where It All Begins.
1:1 Tuition · 4-Student Batches · All Subjects · 11+ Exam Prep · Across the UK
English · Maths · Science · Verbal Reasoning · Non-Verbal Reasoning · History · Geography · Computing · ISEB · Scholarship Prep
Book Free Year 5 Demo Class