To start, here are links to a large number of English 11+ tips and tests. These will meet all your 11 Plus English exams needs.

11 Plus English and Verbal Reasoning Test Tips

Read Each Verbal Reasoning Question Very Carefully

Note this might sound like obvious advice. However, many verbal items may have one crucial word that’s easy to misinterpret. So, do look for words such as all, some, most.

Word Meanings 

Also, you must remember that easier verbal reasoning test formats ask test takers to interpret individual word meanings.

11 Plus English Exams bookcase

Argument Interpretation

This might also seem tricky. However, find the different positions making up a written argument. Also, if any assumptions and inferences have been made.

Statement Evaluation

Evaluating whether statements are supported, contradicted, or implied by the information in the passage. 

Passage summaries

Summarising the main points that the passage makes.

11+ English Test Type 1

Practice examples of four different types of verbal reasoning tests are provided below. The first type consists of a single sentence containing a word in brackets. Replace this word with the most viable alternative. Select the multiple-choice option closest in meaning to the word in italics.

1) My brother’s complacency has always irritated his friends, neighbours and colleagues.

  1. A) nosiness
  2. B) ostentation
  3. C) neglect
  4. D) cockiness
  5. E) smugness

2)  The ascetic hermit dwelled in a hut on the mountain top.

  1. A) austere
  2. B) religious
  3. C) penitent
  4. D) reclusive
  5. E) indigent

3)   The foreign tourists found the locals to be extremely amiable.

  1. A) gracious
  2. B) friendly
  3. C) curious
  4. D) suspicious
  5. E) polite

4)      Parents of pupils complained because they felt that the teacher was too lenient.

  1. A) demanding
  2. B) strict
  3. C) tolerant
  4. D) negligent
  5. E) informal

5)   The King filled his Court with sycophants and fops.

  1. A) courtiers
  2. B) flatterers
  3. C) loyalists
  4. D) advisers
  5. E) dandies

6) On the flight to New York, he sat next to a very garrulous woman.

  1. A) sullen
  2. B) attractive
  3. C) convivial
  4. D) loud
  5. E) talkative

7)  The Tutor praised his students’ perspicacious comments.

  1. A) intelligent
  2. B) insightful
  3. C) critical
  4. D) scholarly
  5. E) technical

8)    At the school assembly, the Headmaster sternly declared “Honesty is a tenet of this institution”.

  1. A) rule
  2. B) principle
  3. C) tradition
  4. D) anathema
  5. E) virtue

9)   The initiates participated in esoteric rituals at the midnight ceremony.

  1. A) ancient
  2. B) religious
  3. C) traditional
  4. D) secret
  5. E) solemn

10)   Investing in the nuclear power industry proved to be the entrepreneur’s most astute decision.

  1. A) calculated
  2. B) risky
  3. C) controversial
  4. D) lucrative
  5. E) shrewd

11+ English Test Type 2

Verbal reasoning tests may also take the form of analogies. Here the respondent’s vocabulary and knowledge of simple verbal relationships are being tested. Some examples of this type of verbal reasoning test practice are given below. Therefore, interpret the meaning that connects the word shown in large type on the left-hand side.

 

11)     SPIDER          web

 DUCK

  1. water
  2. egg
  3. feathers
  4. burrow
  5. barn

12)      BOOK             library

 PAINTING

  1. gallery
  2. frame
  3. easel
  4. canvas
  5. shop

13)    PAPER             ream

 PAINT

  1. tin
  2. brush
  3. tray
  4. litre
  5. acrylic

14)   BOAT                water

 CAR

  1. petrol
  2. road
  3. convertible
  4. engine
  5. tyres

15)   ANIMALS              hybrid

 METALS

  1. mixture
  2. alloy
  3. compound
  4. blend
  5. element

16)   ENTER                lathe

 BLACKSMITH

  1. forge
  2. metal
  3. iron
  4. anvil
  5. plinth

17)   FATHOMLESS              deep

 INFINITESIMAL

  1. short
  2. large
  3. small
  4. long
  5. narrow

18)   LETTER                envelope

 SWORD

  1. hilt
  2. sheath
  3. weapon
  4. blade
  5. dagger

19)   DECLINE                ascent

 CONVICT

  1. liberate
  2. acquit
  3. innocent
  4. prisoner
  5. release

20)   WORDS                sentence

 SENTENCES

  1. paragraph
  2. chapter
  3. phrases
  4. letters
  5. book

21)   INTRODUCTION             conclusion

 PROLOGUE

  1. preface
  2. monologue
  3. epilogue
  4. eulogy
  5. finale

22)   DROUGHT                rain

 STALEMATE

  1. draw
  2. progress
  3. hindrance
  4. cessation
  5. inequality

23)   WORD                abbreviate

 BOOK

  1. edit
  2. abridge
  3. shorten
  4. amend
  5. compress

24)   PROXY                vote

 SCAPEGOAT

  1. punishment
  2. blame
  3. trouble
  4. criticism
  5. censure

25)   PEANUT                shell

 MAIZE

  1. skin
  2. husk
  3. rind
  4. pith
  5. pod

26)   BICYCLE                tandem

 SOLILOQUY

  1. speech
  2. monologue
  3. dialogue
  4. duet
  5. sequel

27)   WAX                wane

 AMELIORATE

  1. diminish
  2. improve
  3. provoke
  4. exacerbate
  5. irritate

28)   CHESS                board

 FOOTBALL

  1. arena
  2. kit
  3. pitch
  4. grass
  5. sport

29)   BIBLIOPHILE                book

 PHILATELIST

  1. coins
  2. wine
  3. stamps
  4. dolls
  5. art

30)   FLAX                linen

 WHEAT

  1. grain
  2. cereal
  3. flour
  4. bread
  5. sheaf

11+ English Test Type 3

Verbal tests may also take the form of antonyms. Some examples of this type of verbal reasoning test practice are given below. Select the multiple-choice option that is the opposite in meaning to the word shown in bold print.

31) mean:                   A                     B                    C                    D                     E

   generous       average              miser              median            good

32) sincere:   A                     B                    C                     D                     E

   faithful          hypocritical        genuine         suspicious         unkind

33) evergreen:           A                    B                     C                     D                     E

  myrtle              flower            deciduous          fern                yellow

34) irresponsible:  A                    B                     C                     D                     E

   mischievous     independent      diplomatic      dependable  manager

35) nationalisation:   A                    B                     C                     D                     E

  democracy         oligopoly          coalition         trains            privatisation

36) inauspicious:      A                     B                     C                     D                     E

  lucky               auspices         bachelor         mutinous      inarticulate

37) pessimism:          A                     B                     C                     D                     E

  pesticide         optimism           prototype         positive          socialism

38) innocuous:          A                      B                     C                     D                     E

  vaccinate         amicable            harmful          ostensible       effusive

39) benevolent:          A                     B                      C                     D                    E

  kind             empirical         demagogue     uncharitable      eminent

40) altruistic:              A                      B                      C                     D                   E

  bird                 helpful            unhelpful          altitude           selfish

11+ English Test Type 4

Verbal tests may also take the form of selecting the odd word out from a group of words. Some examples of this type of verbal reasoning test practice are given below. Identify the common connection between four of the five words. Choose the multiple-choice option corresponding to the odd word out.

41)                 magenta          cyan                cerise              turpentine      turquoise

42)                 sole                  haddock          salmon           trout               frog

43)                 damp                wet                  water             moist              saturated

44)                 staff                  personnel        employees     workforce      managers

45)                 jester                comedian        comedy          clown            comedian

46)                 fax                    computer         letter              memo            email

47)                 hexagon           polygon            pentagon      octagon          square

48)                 squid                cockle               mussel         crab                winkle

49)                 trophy               medal               prize             gift                  reward

50)                 cask                  beer                  bottle           can                 barrel

English 11+ Exams Part I

11+English Sample Paper 1 (Alleyn’s School)

11+ English Sample Paper 2 (Alleyn’s School)

11+English Sample Paper (Bancroft’s School)

11+ English Sample Paper 2016 (Bancroft’s School)

11+English Sample Paper 1 2017 (Bancroft’s School)

11+ English Practice Paper (Blackheath High School)

11+English (Bancroft’s School Sample Paper 1)

11+ English (Bancroft’s School Sample Paper 2)

11+English Reading Comprehension – Multiple Choice (CGP 2012)

11+ English (City of London Freemen’s School September 2014)

11+English (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)

11+ English (City of London School)

11+English (City of London School for Girls 2014)

11+ English (City of London School for Girls 2013)

11+English (City of London School for Girls 2012)

11+ English (City of London School for Girls 2010)

11+English (City of London School for Girls 2008)

English 11+ Exams Part II

11+ English (Dulwich College)

11+English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper A)

11+ English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper B)

11+English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper C)

11+ English (Emanuel)

11+English (Emanuel 2012)

11+ English (Emanuel 2011)

11+English (Emanuel 2010)

11+ English (Francis Holland 2017)

11+English – Passage (Francis Holland 2017)

11+ English (Francis Holland 2016)

11+English – Passage (Francis Holland 2016)

11+ English (Francis Holland 2015)

11+English – Passage (Francis Holland 2015)

11+ English (Francis Holland 2014)

11+English – Passage (Francis Holland 2014)

11+ English (Francis Holland 2013)

11+English (Francis Holland 2012)

11+ English – Passage (Francis Holland 2012)

11+English (Francis Holland 2011)

11+ English – Passage (Francis Holland 2011)

11+English (Francis Holland 2010)

11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2016)

11+English Group 2 Reading Passage (Godolphin & Latymer 2016)

11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2015)

11+English Group 2 Reading Passage (Godolphin & Latymer 2015)

11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2014)

11+English Group 2 Reading Passage (Godolphin & Latymer 2014)

11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2013)

11+English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2012)

11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2011)

11+English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2010

11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2009)

11+English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2008)

Lastly, 11+ English Sample Paper (Godolphin & Latymer)

English 11+ Exams Part III

Firstly, 11+English – Source (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2014)

11+ English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2016)

11+English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2014)

11+ English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2013)

11+English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2011)

11+ English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2010)

11+English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2009)

11+ English – Paper 1 (ISEB 2009-10)

11+English – Paper 2 (ISEB 2009-10)

11+ English – Paper 1 (ISEB 2009)

11+English – Paper 2 (ISEB 2009)

11+ English – Paper 1 (ISEB 2008-9)

11+English – Paper 2 (ISEB 2008-9)

11+ English – Paper 1 (ISEB 2008)

11+English – Paper 2 (ISEB 2008)

11+ English – Paper 1 (ISEB 2006)

11+English (Junior King’s 2014)

11+ English (Junior King’s 2013)

11+English (Junior King’s 2012)

11+ English (Junior King’s 2011)

11+English (Kent College 2009)

11+ English – Comprehension (King Edward’s School Birmingham)

11+English – Composition (King Edward’s School Birmingham)

11+ English Section A (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017)

11+English Section B (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017)

11+ English Section C (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017)

11+English – Writing (King’s College School Wimbledon 2015)

11+ English – Reading (King’s College School Wimbledon 2015)

11Plus English (The King’s School Chester)

11+ English (Latymer Upper School 2014)

11Plus English (LIGSC 2009-10)

11+ English (Magdalen College School)

11Plus English – Practice Paper 1 (Merchant Taylors)

11+ English – Practice Paper 2 (Merchant Taylors)

11+English (NLIGSC 20 January 2012)

11+ English (NLIGSC 13 January 2012)

11+English Question Paper (NLIGSC 2011)

11+ English Reading Passage (NLIGSC 2011)

11+English (NLIGSC 2003)

11+ English (North London Collegiate School 2011)

11+English (North London Collegiate School 2010)

11+ English (North London Collegiate School 2009)

Finally, 11+English (North London Collegiate School 2008)

English 11+ Exams Part IV

Firstly, 11+ English Guidance for parents 2(North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2018)

11+English Group 1(North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium  2017)

11+ English Passage (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2016)

11+English (North London Independent Girls’ School’s Consortium 2016)

11+ English Group 1 (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2016)

11+English Group 1 (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2015)

11+ English Group 1 (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2014)

11+English Group 1 (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2013)

11+ English Group 1 (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2012)

11+English (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2011)

11+ English (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2010)

11+English (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2009)

11+ English (North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium 2008)

11+English (Oundle)

11+ English Specimen Paper 1 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)

11+English Specimen Paper 2 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)

11+ English Specimen Paper 3 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)

11+English Specimen Paper 4 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)

11+ English (The Queen’s School)

11+English (Reigate Grammar School 2012)

11+ English Sample Paper 2 Writing Paper (Royal Russell)

11+English (Sevenoaks 2017)

11+ English (Sevenoaks 2016)

11+English (Sevenoaks 2015)

11+ English (Sevenoaks 2014)

11+English (Sevenoaks 2013)

11+ English (Sevenoaks 2012)

11+English (Sevenoaks 2011)

Finally, 11+ English (Sevenoaks 2010)

English 11+ Exams Part V

Firstly, 11+English (St George’s College 2012)

Secondly, 11+ English – Paper 1 (St Paul’s Girls’ School)

Thirdly,11+English – Paper 2 (St Paul’s Girls’ School)

Next, 11+ English – Comprehension 3 (St Paul’s Girls’ School)

Followed by, 11+English – Comprehension 2 (St Paul’s Girls’ School)

11+ English Specimen Paper (The Cedars School)

Next, 11+English Specimen Paper 2017 (The Cedars School)

Then, 11+ English Sample Questions and Syllabus (Trinity School)

Finally, 10+ 11+ English Entrance Exam Structure (Whitgift)

School Entrance Exams – Past School Test Papers

11+ Past Papers and 11+ Practice Sites.

School Entrance Exams 7+ and School Entrance Exams 8+.

Entrance Exams 9+ and School Entrance Exams 11+.

KS1 KS2 KS3 Past Papers

Please click on the links below to practice for your KS1, KS2, KS3 exams:

KS1 SAT Past Papers / KS1 Practice Sites

KS2 SAT Past Papers / KS2 Practice Sites

KS3 Practice Sites

 

11 Plus Pass Mark Tips

What score do you need for passing the 11+? /Health tips during exams / Getting high exam results / How to apply for grammar school test / Some last minute 11 Plus Strategies! / How to become an 11 Plus Tests tutor / Top Tips for Successful 11-plus Preparation / Bespoke 11+ Verbal reasoning tests designed for tutors

Additional challenging 11 Plus practice 

10 personality tips to help your Study Skills

  1. Find time to study – If you manage your time badly, inevitably you will be less productive than if you manage it well. This can lead to increased stress and anxiety levels, especially around exam time.
  2. Keep to a routine – Work in the same place at the same time each day. Also, make sure you have everything you need before you start.
  3. Work to your strengths – Schedule challenging tasks for when you are most alert, and routine ones for when you may be feeling more tired.
  4. Don’t waste time – Rather than reading irrelevant material, skim and scan to help you decide if you need to read something critically and in-depth.
  5. Avoid distractions – Related to above. Switch emails and social media off to prevent your mind wandering while trying to learn new information!
  6. Regularly review your notes – Edit out what you don’t need. Ask yourself the question: “Is this information is relevant to my assignment, and how does it relate to what I already know.”
  7. Vary how you to take notes – For example, use Mind Maps and diagrams to generate ideas and linear notes to focus your ideas for essay or report plans.
  8. Be critical – Make sure that you always add your own comment to every concept or quotation that you write down. Maintain a critical and analytical approach at all times!
  9. Plan your work – If writing an assignment produce a detailed plan before you start to write it. This will make the drafting process much less stressful
  10. Understand different styles  – By understanding different writing styles – such as academic, journal and journalistic styles – you can put what you read into perspective. In particular, you can become more aware of any particular bias.

 

 Exam preparation for all ages, all in one place.