Taken 2023’s grammar school 11+ entrance exam? What will this year’s 11 plus pass mark be?

Our focus is on the 11 plus exam. Specifically, how the11 plus pass mark will be calculated. Find the specific grammar school 11 plus practice papers for your chosen independent school(s) below:

This then helps the parents of 11 plus grammar school applicants to achieve an 11 plus 2023 pass and to know about any 2023 11+ changes.

Which grammar schools are nearby?

COMPARE uk grammar schools League Tables.

Ask ROB, our resident 11+ test design expert , your questions by emailing passedpapers@gmail.com

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests.

Rob has worked for all three of the main school entrance test publishers: GL Assessment grammar school entry exams; ISEB independent school entry papers and CEM Select private school entrance papers.

FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY 11 PLUS QUESTION.

What is the 11 plus pass mark?

Well, let’s see what does previous years’ 11 plus pass mark data tell us?

How will the 2023 11 plus exam’s pass mark be calculated?

Raw marks go through a standardisation process. This is to maintain the integrity of the 11 plus assessment process. Also to ensure that the process is fair to all grammar school applicants.

This standardised score is then used to determine:

• All 11 plus pupils results in rank order
• 11 plus Pass marks for each grammar school, including 11 plus pass mark adjustments for that 11 plus school year.

FREE 11 Plus Practice Tests with answers.

Plenty of free 11+ past papers at the links below to guide your 11+ tuition for the 11+ exam.

Key annual 11+ exam dates

1 – When is the 11 plus exam each year?

• The 11+ exam dates 2023 depend upon the grammar school county in which you apply. This is because it is not a nationally co-ordinated set of exams like GCSE’s or A-Levels.
• 11 plus exam registration opens each year in April/May. With a June/July entry deadline for parents to register their child for the 11+ exam.
• The 11 plus exam occurs in the first two weeks of September at most grammar schools.

When are the 11 plus exam results days?

Kent 11 plus results day

The many Kent grammar schools typically release their annual 11 plus results in the first week of November.

School Entrance Tests recommends reviewing this Kent 11 plus familiarisation guide . You will find the sample Kent 11 plus questions particualrly useful.

Essex 11 plus results day

Whereas Essex’s 11 plus test results are usually posted online in the first week of December.

For further details see Essex 11 plus publisher CSSE Website.

What score do you need to pass the 11+?

• Well, that all depends on what Local Educational Authority (LEA) you take the test in.
• Each 11 plus region has its own pass marks for entry into a grammar school.
• In fully selective regions where there are many grammar schools, (i.e. Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire, Kent) the pass mark is lower than in areas with fewer grammar schools (Greater London).
• In addition, different schools within the same LEA may have different minimum pass marks.

How are 11 plus results standardised?

• Also, 11 plus pass marks are standardised using a complex statistical process.
• Put simply, this means a child’s score is adjusted to reflect their age and the difficulty of the paper.
• Standardisation ensures fairness because older children would otherwise have an advantage.
• Some grammar schools select candidates by ranked order.
• Places are given to the children who performed best on the test.
• Other schools have a minimum pass mark and use other criteria, such as distance, faith, siblings, to select candidates.

In conclusion, it is impossible to say exactly what percentage you need to pass the 11-plus. However, as an approximate figure, a child will need to score about 80—85% to pass. Obviously, in more competitive areas this figure may be higher.

Address 11 plus learning gaps a.s.a.p.

Obviously deciding when to start tutoring depends largely on the abilities of the individual child. He or she may only need a few hours of exam practice. In this case, a few months may be adequate.

However, if there are much greater gaps in their learning, then you may require several months of regular weekly tuition.

In regions where the 11 plus covers curriculum subjects, such as English and Maths, it is sometimes necessary to use a subject-specific tutor from an earlier age. This is to address known weaknesses in these subjects.

For example, many 10-year old boys struggle with English papers where they have to write their own composition ‘from the heart’. So getting a tutor who can help stimulate your child’s creative writing is probably a good idea.

Conversely, some children struggle with core areas of mathematics, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, so a dedicated Maths tutor may be needed.

Get familiar with the 11 plus test papers

The good news is that all 11 Plus Preparation to get into grammar school will also help your child’s schoolwork. In particular, core subjects such as Maths and English. The bad news, of course, is that tuition doesn’t come cheap!

In theory, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning papers are designed to test a child’s innate ability and are more difficult to prepare for. However, the reality is that children do need to familiarise themselves with the types of questions in these papers to do well.

This is particularly true of test papers from GL Assessment which still remains the biggest supplier to local authorities and schools. There are

Top 11 Plus Tips for Busy Parents

Increasingly popular with local authorities, Durham’s CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) entrance tests are much newer and more difficult to prepare for.

According to its website “CEM aims to reduce any disadvantage created between children who are tutored for tests and those who are not.” It continues: “Our assessments are designed to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without the need for excessive preparation.”

Nevertheless, the CEM entrance tests cover the same subject areas (Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning) as the GL Assessment tests and the standardized pass-mark is the same (121).

The key difference is that in the CEM exams Verbal Reasoning and English are grouped together. CEM exams are also divided into separately timed sections. Hence, it’s important that children learn how to manage their time correctly as it’s not possible to return to sections once completed.

When should you start your 11+ prep?

While the beginning of Year 5 is usually a good time for your child to start tuition, it goes without saying you should begin the groundwork much earlier.

This is necessary for two reasons. Firstly, so you can fully identify the weaknesses your child may have when it comes to taking the 11 Plus. Secondly, you will need a bit of time in order to find the right tutor.

Inevitably, the best tutors can be booked up many years in advance, so the earlier you start to look for one the better your options will be.

When choosing a tutor, you need to ask about their qualifications and their success rate in getting children into Grammar schools. You also need to see how they get on with your child and how much they charge for their time.

How much 11+ tutoring is needed?

Once you’ve decided when to start tuition the next big decision is how much tuition to get. Once again there is no precise answer about how much is the right amount.

During term time, most tutors will hold a weekly session of between 60 to 90 minutes with additional homework set each week. During the holidays the tutor may also recommend extra sessions. This is especially important in the summer period leading up to September’s 11 Plus exams.

The key is that the additional work required for the 11 Plus needs to be manageable for your child. Because if it’s not, then this will simply add to their stress levels before the examinations which are counter-productive.

If your child is receiving homework from school then it is more difficult to complete a tutor’s homework too.

Our top 11 plus test prep tips

Keep calm during your 11 Plus Preparation

Undoubtedly, preparing for the 11 Plus is a stressful time for everyone concerned – parents included. The key is to stay calm and not let children sitting the exams see you are stressed too!

Top 11 Plus Tips for Busy Parents

If the tuition isn’t going well then reassure them they will be fine and just to do their best. One thing to avoid is ‘burn out’ where the child can’t focus on the task at hand because of too much stress.

At every stage, you have to evaluate your child’s tolerance for coaching. You also need to make sure your child takes frequent rest breaks. This takes the child’s mind off things.

Finally, you need to prepare children for their 11 Plus preparation. This means staging at least one mock exam in close to full examination conditions.

Obviously, it’s not possible to replicate the experience of hundreds of children in an exam hall. However, it’s important to carry out the mock in silence, for the exact length of time and with all the necessary materials to hand.

Only then will they start to feel fully prepared for their forthcoming 11 Plus examinations. Good luck!

Practice with 11+ mock exams

Many children tend to panic under pressure when faced with the need to answer so many questions in a relatively short amount of time. This is quite understandable. Yet you can easily train your child for the scenario by practising it beforehand. Find full-length 11-plus tests or ask your child’s tutor to prepare them for practice. Have your child attempt these mock tests multiple times.

Keep the setting of such mock tests formal. Better still, invite other children to the house or take your child to a setting where he or she may sit mock tests alongside other kids. Use questions of varying difficulties to thoroughly test your child. Once the test is over, seek professional guidance or a tutor’s help to grade it accurately.

After the test is completed, it’s really important to ask how your child felt about the whole experience. Give them a chance to break down their psychological experience as much as their academic performance. Did they feel confident? If so, great, but why? If they felt stressed, unfocused or even upset, try to help them work through why this was. Identify incremental steps together for how they can avoid or better control these feelings next time. This type of performance analysis is vital in enabling your child to perform consistently under pressure.

Use creative 11 plus prep approaches

Even if you’re not the main educator in your child’s 11-plus preparation, parents can play a vital role in helping ready them for the exam. Many children are intimidated by the sheer pressure of the exams, or simply lose interest due to too pedagogical an approach. These are precisely the areas where you can help your child.

Ask him or her about their progress in 11-plus preparation. Provide moral support. See if they are distressed by the pressure. Help cheer them up. Better still, find the right creative techniques to help them grasp the requisite basics. You can, for instance, use spelling and punctuation games, storytelling scenarios and real-world mathematical problems to engage their interest. It’s important that they see this as a journey in mastery, one in which they forge their own path.

How do I find the best 2022 11 plus tutor?

Every student has unique abilities and unique learning needs. It’s no secret that the help of a teacher or tutor who knows their stuff can be invaluable and give your child the boost they need. But if you are going to invest time and money in finding an 11-plus tutor it’s vital that you find the right fit.

The right tutor makes the preparation process an exciting experience and encourages a focus on the process as much as the result. This enables your child to develop a strong and flexible approach to the exam and to their learning. Again, the exact approach will vary from child to child. Thus it’s important to find a tutor that works for you. Whilst taking recommendations from other parents can be useful, it’s important to look at all of the available options.

Is a specialist 11 plus tutor necessary?

Yes. We recommedn that you look for specialist 11 plus tutors who’ve gained positive reviews from parents and successfully prepped students for the 11-plus. Don’t take recommendations as gospel. Many tutoring services will be happy to offer trial sessions at a lower rate so you can get a feel for the tutor before committing to full-priced lessons and always feel free to switch tutors if that may ultimately help in your child’s exam prep in the long-run.

It’s vital to understand all of the factors involved in the 11-plus preparation and to note that even with the best tutor in the world, as a parent, you will always play a significant role in your child’s experience. Success is the goal, but a happier student is always likely to perform better than a student who feels under pressure or lacks interest. You are a key component in instilling this happiness.

11+ exam introduction

The 11+ exam is important as it is the first major exam that students take which will have a significant impact on their education. Passing the 11+ is crucial for getting into the majority of leading grammar schools in the UK, as well as some independent schools.

There are two main exam boards for the 11+: the CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) and GL (Granada Learning).

• The exam board that you will be sitting this year depends on the county of the schools you are applying to.
• Although the exam board you will be sitting is usually dependent on the county, there are some exceptions to this.
• Therefore, it is important to ask the school you are applying to which exam board they require.
• The CEM assessment consists of Numerical reasoning, Verbal reasoning and Non-
  verbal reasoning.
• In contrast to this, the GL assessment consists of English, Maths, Non-verbal reasoning and Verbal reasoning.
• Due to the difference in topics between the two exam boards, there are different methods to revise for each exam board.

How the 11+ exam has changed

Unlike last year, the 11+ has not changed much this year despite the effects that the pandemic has had on education and schooling. Exams will be in person this year in contrast to the exams being online last year. Furthermore, there has been little to no change in the content. That said, most counties have delayed the date for the examination. Due to the exams being pushed back, results day has also been postponed. Some schools will still be carrying out interviews in addition to the usual exams, although this is not the case for all schools.

This year many students have had a far lower quality of education as many teachers have had to adapt to teaching online and a significant number of students struggled to continue learning as normal. Due to this, revision and revision methods will be vital this year to ace the 11+ exam as plenty of content was not covered by schools. An effective method of catching up on missed work is by getting a tutor or using a free tutoring app such as EasyA. Apps such as EasyA give free 1:1 maths tuition to students from passionate tutors that are keen to teach. The majority of EasyA tutors attend leading
universities around the country such as Cambridge and Oxford.

How best to prepare for the 11+ exam 2022

To ace your 11+, you must make sure that you use your last few months leading up to the examination as effectively as possible. Here are some steps that you can follow to ace the 11+ this year:

• Create a list of all the topics that will be coming up in the test for each section. Then complete a handful of exam-style questions for each topic and put a tick or cross next to the name of the topic depending on how confident you feel on it. This is crucial as it will prevent you from wasting your precious time on topics that you have already mastered rather than spending time on the topics that you actually struggle with. It is also important to update the list after you’ve mastered a new topic!
• Little and often. It is important to revise topics frequently no matter how little you do. This is because it helps solidify the information in your mind. One good way to ensure that you are revising little and often is by doing ten-minute tests. There are lots of books by CGP and Bond which have these ten-minute tests for each section to check your understanding of the topic.

11 plus exam preparation tips

• It is also vital to do frequent 11+ mock exams. Mock exams are great to practice exam technique as well as to get used to exam conditions. Mock exams allow you to work under the time limit meaning that you practice working under time pressure. These examinations can also be used to track topics that you commonly lose marks on which you can then focus on. Alongside this, results from mock exams can be a good indicator of how well you are doing.
• Arguably the most difficult aspect of the 11+ is vocabulary and verbal reasoning. The best method to improve your vocabulary and comprehension skills is by reading books and articles. Whilst reading, it is very useful to write down any words that you don’t know the meaning of… then to learn what they mean and how to use them in a sentence. This is a great way of perfecting your English for the 11 plus exam 2021.

Why use 11 plus exam 2022 tuition?

One of the best ways to prepare for the 11+ is by getting a tutor or using an app that provides 1:1 tuition.

Although tuition isn’t necessary to pass the 11+, it gives you a huge advantage and helps you prepare for the exam.

Tuition is especially useful if you are applying to competitive schools. If you can’t afford 1:1 tuition, EasyA is the only app to provide it completely free.

Furthermore, EasyA allows students to get maths help and tuition whenever they need it – without having to wait. Our tutors all attend the top universities across the country and the app was awarded ‘App of the Day’ by Apple.

More information on how EasyA works is available here.

Will the 11+ exam 2022 have a higher pass mark?

All students sitting the 11+ this year will be in the same situation so although it may seem unfair, it is a level playing field. Furthermore, you can capitalise on this situation by preparing and revising – something a lot of students simply haven’t learned how to do.

Using 11+ exam tutoring services

The EasyA app can put you at a major advantage, enabling you to ace the 11+. Particularly as passing the 11+ in 2021 does not guarantee you at place at those grammar schools with other selection factors.

In 2021, some grammar schools will interview for the right fit. Student distance from the grammar school is another key factor. Plus, many schools look at whether or not you have any siblings that have attended or are attending the school.

Our guide to the CEM 11 plus exam 

CEM exams are more difficult to predict as the test was designed specifically to be less transparent and create a fairer assessment. There is no clear answer as to how many questions there will be in the 11 Plus exam and how much time students are given overall.

There is no exact format for the exam as this changes every year. As CEM exams are designed to be less transparent and to test children on the skills that are not easily able to be practiced, they tend to be the trickier parts to the GL 11 Plus exams.

Past CEM exams have included two 45-minute papers, four separate papers, or one combined paper covering all the topics above.

The CEM 11 plus format containing two 45-minute papers is the most common structure seen in the CEM exam. The exam can be either multiple choice or free response depending on the topic. Each paper will have a combination of topics including Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning. Students will be given different amounts of time for each section, ranging from 6 to 12 minutes. Students are only able to proceed to the next section when they are told to do so.

CEM exams are more difficult to predict as the test was designed specifically to be less transparent and create a fairer assessment. There is no clear answer as to how many questions there will be in the 11 Plus exam and how much time students are given overall.

Our guide to the GL 11 plus exam 2022 

For GL exams, there are typically 45 questions in the maths section, to be completed in 45 minutes. There are also typically 50 questions in the English section to be completed in 50 minutes. In the 2020/2021 entrance exam, students are given an additional 5 minutes for the maths section.

See our useful grammar school guides: firstly Where is my local grammar school?

and then we also recommend Rob Williams Assessment‘s FREE 11 plus past papers.

The GL 11 Plus exam:

Is separated into these four 11 plus GL papers:

• English 11 plus
• Maths 11 plus
• Non-verbal reasoning 11 plus
• Verbal reasoning 11 plus

The GL 11 Plus Exam splits the subjects into these four 11 plus papers. Each of which typically lasts about 45 minutes.

English 11 plus GL paper’s must-know features

The GL English exam paper is normally 50 minutes long and has the following structure:

• 2 pages of reading followed by 18 comprehension questions
• 4 additional questions evaluating the meaning of given words
• 3 questions to test grammar
• 8 questions to identify spelling errors in sentences
• Eight questions to identify errors in punctuation and grammar
• 8 questions to test student vocabulary by asking them to select the most suitable word from a list for a given sentence.

GL 11 plus Maths paper’s must-know features

The GL Maths exam paper typically contains 50 questions to be completed in under 50 minutes. These are often multiple choice questions and cover the following topics:

• Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• Fractions, decimals, prime numbers, prime factors, highest common factor and lowest common multiple, percentages
• Calculations with money, time, metric system, perimeter and area, distance, speed and time, volume of cubes and cuboids
• Probability, averages, simple ratio, column graphs, pie charts, co-ordinates
• Simple Geometry: angle calculations, reflection and rotation, shapes

Verbal reasoning GL 11 plus paper’s must-know features

The GL Verbal Reasoning exam usually consists of 80 questions to be completed in 50 minutes.

2022 GL Non-Verbal Reasoning exam format

The GL Non-Verbal Reasoning exam normally contains 4 sections of 20 questions and students normally spend 10 minutes per section. Students are typically given 40 minutes to complete the paper.

The following topics are covered in the NVR exams:

• Identifying odd-one-out shapes.
• Identifying the next shape or diagram in a sequence.
• Working out how a 3D shape or a coloured cube would look when unfolded.
• Finding mirror images and reflections, identical shapes in a series, symmetries of a shapes and shape rotations.

11 Plus Info and Mixed Papers

11 Plus Maths and English AQEPP 1 Sample

Maths and English AQEPP 2 Sample

11 Plus ISSE Middle-Level Test 1

11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice

11 Plus English Practise Tests

11 Plus English Comprehension Practice Paper

Visuteach English Practice

English Multiple Choice 1
11+English Multiple Choice 2
English Multiple Choice 3
11+English Multiple Choice 4
English Reading Comprehension – Multiple Choice (CGP 2012)
11+English (City of London Freemen’s School September 2014)
English (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
11+English (City of London School).
English (City of London School for Girls 2014)
11+English (City of London School for Girls 2013)
English (City of London School for Girls 2012)
11+English (City of London School .for Girls 2010)
English (City of London School for Girls 2008)
11+English (Dulwich College)
English (Dulwich College Paper A)
11+English (Dulwich College Paper B)
English (Dulwich College Paper C)
11+English (Emanuel).
English (Emanuel 2012)
11+English (Emanuel 2011)
English (Emanuel 2010)

11 plus exam 2022

English 11 plus exams

11+English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2014)
English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2013)
11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2012)
English (Godolphin & Latymer 2011).
11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2011)
English (Godolphin & Latymer 2010).
11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2010)
English (Godolphin & Latymer 2009)
11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2009)
English (Godolphin & Latymer 2008)
11+ English Group 2 (Godolphin & Latymer 2008)
English Sample Paper (Godolphin & Latymer)
11+ English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School 2011)
English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School 2010)
11+ English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School 2009)

See our useful guides called Where is my local grammar school?

Where’s my local London Grammar Schools?

English 11 plus exams

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 (Kent College 2009)
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)
11+ English (The King’s School Chester).

11+ English & Maths Sample 1 (Latymer Upper School 2019)

11+English (Latymer Upper School 2019)
11+English (Latymer Upper School 2014)
11+ English (LIGSC 2009-10)
11+English (NLIGSC 20 January 2012)
11+ English (NLIGSC 13 January 2012)
11+English Paper (2011)
11+English (NLIGSC 2003).

11Plus English (North London Collegiate School 2010)

See our useful guides called Where is my local grammar school?

Where are my local London Grammar Schools?

More English 11 plus exams

11+ English (North London Collegiate School 2009)
11+English (North London Collegiate School 2008)

11+ English Group 1 (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2016)
11+English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2015)
11+ English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2014).
11+English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2013)
11+ English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2012)
11+English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2011)
11+ English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2010)
11+English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2009)
11+ English (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2008).
11+English (Oundle School 2014).
11+ English (Oundle School 2013)
11+English (Oundle School 2012)
11+ English (Oundle School 2011)
13+English (Oundle School 2010)

11 plus exam 2022

English 11 plus practice

11+ English Paper 1 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge).
11+English Paper 2 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+ English Paper 3 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+English Paper 4 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+ English (The Queen’s School)
11+English (Reigate Grammar School 2012)
11+ English (St George’s College 2012).

Essex 11 plus English paper format

• Essex grammar schools have their own unique 11 plus exam for the whole county.
• This Essex 11 plus exam comprises two separate 11 plus papers.
• These are each worth 60 marks. During the English test, the grammar school provides 1 hour (for answering the 11 plus questions); plus an additional 10 minutes of reading time.
• The English paper covers: 11 plus English comprehension, 11 plus continuous writing, and 11 plus verbal reasoning.

Essex 11 plus Maths paper format

• Similarly, the Essex 11 plus maths paper, has a 60 minutes administration and completion time allocation (by each Essex grammar school).

Kent 11 plus Exam Format

The first Kent 11 plus paper is a one-hour multiple-choice question paper that is split into 2 sections. This section comprises English and mathematics. Every section consists of 5 minutes of exercise practice.

Whereas, the second Kent 11 plus paper is a one hour paper that will be split into 2 sections that comprise of nonverbal reasoning or spatial awareness and verbal reasoning. In the 3^rd test, 40 minutes writing test will be conducted that includes a planning time of 10 minutes.

Bucks 11 plus Exam Format

The Bucks 11 plus exam is a multiple-choice entrance exam lasting approx. 1 hour including 10 mins for the initial administration. Then, 50 minutes to answer the Bucks 11 plus questions. There is a 30 min break between the English and Maths papers.

Surrey 11 plus Exam Format

The Surrey 11 plus exam – for example Kingston Tiffin girls grammar school – is conducted in two phases:

1. The first phase is a sifting stage. This merely determines which Surrey 11 plus applicants have passed and are therefore eligible for an invitation to phase two. It comprises multiple-choice maths and English papers. The first paper consists of a test where the marking is performed by the computer. In the next stage, tests are conducted for both mathematics and English. The marks from the first test do not contribute to the final pass/fail result.

Slough and Reading Exam Format

The Slough and Reading 11 plus exam comprises two separate 11 plus papers; each lasting approximately 60 to 65 minutes. There is a mixture of questions on comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and nonverbal reasoning. The papers are categorized into timed sections as well as the instruction we provide it on an audio soundtrack. Most of the questions are multiple-choice and the answers are completed (and then marked) using a separate machine-readable sheet.

See our useful guides called Where is my local grammar school?

Where are my local London Grammar Schools?

Maths 11 plus exams practice

11+Maths (Hampton Court House)
11+ Maths (Highgate School 2013)
11+Maths (Kent College).
11+ Maths (IPS 2004)
11+Maths (ISEB 2016)
11+ Maths Mark Scheme (ISEB 2016)
11+Maths (ISEB 2009-10)
11+ Maths (ISEB 2009)
11+Maths (ISEB 2008-9)
11+ Maths (ISEB 2008).

11+Maths Section A (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017 and Pre-test 2019)
11+ Maths Section B (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017 and Pre-test 2019)
11+Maths (King’s College School Wimbledon 2014)

11+ English & Maths Sample 1 (Latymer Upper School 2019)

11+Maths (Latymer Upper School 2014)
11+ Maths (LIGSC 2003)
11+Maths (LIGSC 2013)
11+ Maths (LIGSC 2012)
11+Maths (LIGSC 2010)
11+ Maths (LIGSC 2009-10)
11+Maths (LIGSC 2008).

Maths 11 plus exams III

11+ Maths Group 1 (LIGSC 2011)
11+Maths Group 1 (LIGSC 2010)
11+ Maths Group 1 (LIGSC 2009).
11+Maths Group 1 (NLIGSC 2012)
11+ Maths Group 2 (NLIGSC 2012)

11+Maths (North London Collegiate School 2011) Group 2
11+Maths Group 2 (North London Collegiate School 2009)
11+ Maths (North London Collegiate School 2008).
11+Maths Group 1 (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2016)
11+ Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2015)
11+Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2014)
11+ Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2013)
11+Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2012)

More Maths 11 plus exams practice

11+ Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2011)
11+Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2010)
11+ Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2009).
11+Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2008)
11+ Maths (Oundle 2008)

11+Maths Paper 1 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+ Maths Paper 2 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+Maths Paper 3 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+ Maths Paper 4 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+Maths Paper 5 (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+ Maths (Premium Series 2007).
11+Maths (The Queen’s School)
11+ Maths (Reigate Grammar School 2013)
11+Maths (Reigate Grammar School 2012)

11+Maths Sample (St Alban’s School 2019)
11+ Maths (St George’s College Weybridge)

Non-verbal reasoning 11 plus exams practice

Non-verbal Reasoning 1
11+ Non-verbal Reasoning 2
11+Non-verbal Reasoning Test 1
11+ Non-verbal Reasoning Test 2
11+Non-verbal Reasoning Test 3
11+ Non-verbal Reasoning Test 4
11+Non-verbal Reasoning Test 5.
11+ Non-verbal Reasoning (11PlusSwot 2005).
11+Non-verbal Reasoning (IPS 2006)
11+ Non-verbal Reasoning (Premium Series 2007)

Verbal reasoning 11 plus exams

Verbal Reasoning Test 3
11+ Verbal Reasoning Test 4
11+Verbal Reasoning Test 5
11+ Verbal Reasoning Test Eight.
11+Verbal Reasoning Test Five
11+ Verbal Reasoning Test Four
11+Verbal Reasoning Test Nine
11+ Verbal Reasoning Test Seven
11+Verbal Reasoning Test Ten.
11+ Verbal Reasoning Test Three.
11+Verbal Reasoning Test Two
11+ Verbal Reasoning Test 1 with answers (11PlusSwot 2005)
11+Verbal Reasoning Sample Paper 1 with answers (Chuckra)

11+ Verbal Reasoning Exams

Verbal Reasoning Type 1 Revision (Chuckra 2007)
11 Verbal Reasoning Type 2 Revision (Chuckra 2007)
11+ Verbal Reasoning Type 3 Revision (Chuckra 2007)
11+Verbal Reasoning (IPS 2002).
11+Verbal Reasoning (The Perse Upper School Cambridge)
11+ Verbal Reasoning Sample Questions with answers (Premium Series 2007).

Learning Centre Pros and cons for 11 plus tutoring 2022

Three of the most popular 11 plus tutoring agencies are: Explore Learning, Kumon and The Student Support Centre.

Every parent wants the best start in life for their child. For many, this means a good education. And while schools obviously do a good job in teaching children, an increasing number of parents are turning towards external learning programmes. Why? Because they hope it will give their children an added educational boost and help them get on in life.

Upon entering one of its centres for the first time, each student is given an initial assessment of his or her abilities regardless of their age. Based on the results, the instructor then gives the student an individualised study plan.

Students must complete their worksheets within a certain time frame. If there are any errors they have to take similar worksheets away to complete for homework. Students advance to the next level only after they complete a mastery test based on speed and accuracy. If they fail, they can retake the exam until they have demonstrated a full understanding of the material.

Our 11 plus revision tips

Different families will have differing amounts of time available for revision. What we have done is structure a revision process around a four week period. If the time you have for eleven plus revision is longer or shorter then you can adjust accordingly.

This section aims to provide you with a plan together with suggested resources for delivering an ideal revision process over the last four weeks.

The Eleven Plus revision plan is split into three core areas

1/ Continuing to keep core skills fresh during the eleven plus revision process.

Many families make the mistake of just using papers for revision, in fact it is absolutely essential that children have mix of longer and shorter tasks and can continue to develop their core skills through the process.

Developing core skills through the Eleven Plus revision process.

2/ Using practice papers as part of the eleven plus revision process.

Practice papers are the core of a good revision programme but it is essential that they are not overdone. Where a child has been through a proper preparation and has already done lots of papers then gains will only be had from using papers in revision the right way. Doing paper after paper will deliver no noticeable benefit and in fact can be counter-productive. Find out what revision papers to use and how to use them as part of an effective revision process.

Using 11 Plus revision papers

Structuring 11 Plus Mock exams at home

One aspect of the 11 Plus exam which many parents don’t focus on is the stamina required to deliver a good result. Often children will face two (sometimes more) 50 minute exam papers (with a small break) in a new environment on a day full of pressure and stress. Doing some mock exam preparation at home can help children adjust to the level of stamina that will be required to deliver their best result. Find out how to use mock exams as part of an effective eleven plus revision plan, what papers to use and how to structure this at home.

DEVISE A REVISION PLAN ACCORDING TO THE TIME YOU HAVE LEFT

Once you know which tests your child is taking and when those tests will take place, it’s time to equally divide the revision required for each of these subjects according to how much time you have left until the exams. As recommended in my first article, don’t allocate more than two hours a day to work intensively on 11+ because your child will have school during the day and other extracurricular activities. Any more than two hours will be overkill unless you’re absolutely sure your child can take it and you’re weeks away from the exams and still have a lot to do.

You can spread the two hours throughout the day or you can group them together with a small break in between, depending on how and when your child works at their best. My son works better after school so he takes a small break and then he studies until dinnertime.

In the beginning, you shouldn’t focus on timed tests but familiarising your child with the level of work required and what’s expected of them. We divide the two hours equally between Maths, Verbal Reasoning and English with slightly more time allocated to Maths and Verbal Reasoning. So, for example, Maths revision is 45 minutes long, Verbal Reasoning is 45 minutes and then English is 40 minutes, plus or minus and with a small snack/movement break in between.

Once you’ve worked out a plan of revision action, you can start to incorporate tools and resources to enhance your child’s learning. We use all three methods below but you can use any one or all of the tools/resources to help your child revise for the 11+. These are:

1. Hiring a specialist 11 plus tutor

These can help your child to stay on top of their Year’s schoolwork, whilst also preparing once a week for their 11 plus exam. Start with once a week and perhaps go beyond what was expected but now we focus purely on 11+ work in the form of activity books and 11 past papers. Gillian then sets us homework based on the free 11 plus papers with answers which we follow throughout the week and we also book extra sessions during holidays if required.

2. 11 plus prep books (from WH Smiths)

Google ‘11+ practice papers‘ and you’ll be bombarded with a wide variety of paper-based resources catering for all kinds of pupils and exam boards. We use Letts Ten Minutes Tests* and Familiarisation Papers from the school’s website as well as some other great workbooks from The Works and Amazon. Again, make sure you get the right paper from the right examination board as CEM verbal reasoning exam looks very different to the GL 11 plus verbal reasoning exam for example.

Also, check on your local online 11 plus forum for more information on what parents are using in your area. It’s always great to connect with other parents during this time as you may be able to find tips and tricks on revision techniques that may work for your child too.

3. 11 plus Familiarisation papers

A few months before the grammar school exams you can progress onto familiarisation papers which are past papers taken from the school’s website. You don’t need to worry about timed 11 plus test papers at this point because the aim is to find out which topics your child is struggling with and which they’re doing really well in so you can focus on bringing everything up to par.

Once you’re happy that your child can work through the papers with ease, you can start timing them a few months before the test. This is a vital part of the revision plan because your child needs to know what it feels like to sit a 50-minute test without any breaks.

Dealing with 11 plus stress

Don’t forget to submit special circumstances if you feel your child needs extra time and support during these tests. You will need a letter from your child’s school to submit as evidence. Follow the school’s special circumstances protocol to a ‘T’ so you don’t miss out on extra support for your child.

UK Grammar school 11+ Exam Boards

There are two main exam boards for the 11+ Exam:

1. GL Assessment (previously known as NFER) administer the 11+ exams for most grammar schools. The GL 11+ exam cover English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning (spatial awareness). Each school can choose any combination of these to best fit their selection criteria.
2. CEM developed by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University administer the 11+ exams for

• Birmingham 11 plus exam CEM Select
• Cumbria 11 plus exam CEM Select
• Dorset 11 plus exam CEM Select
• Lancashire 11 plus exam CEM Select
• Kent 11 plus exam CEM Select (Medway 11 plus exam CEM Select)
• Northern Ireland 11 plus exam CEM Select
• Wiltshire 11 plus exam CEM Select

The CEM 11+ exam covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning. (The verbal reasoning exam includes many of the skills tested in the GL English exam; the numerical reasoning exam includes many of the skills tested in the GL maths exam).
A mixture of GL and CEM are used by:

• Devon independent schools
• Essex
• Hertfordshire
• Manchester independent schools (Trafford independent schools)
• Yorkshire independently schools.

In both GL and CEM exams, there is a strong emphasis on core skills in English and maths; including spelling, punctuation, grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary, including arithmetic skills, problem-solving, and data manipulation. Non-verbal reasoning assesses spatial awareness, pattern-spotting and logical skills.