11+ Papers

11+ practice papers make ideal practice for children before they face their real 11+ paper.

11+ Practice Papers

Bond

These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond.

Exam Board Subject Question Booklet Marking Scheme (Answers)
GLEnglish
GLMaths
GLNon-Verbal Reasoning
GLVerbal Reasoning

CGP

These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. They are up to date and extremely useful.

Exam Board Subject Answer Sheet Question Booklet Marking Scheme (Answers)
GLMaths
GLEnglish
GLVerbal Reasoning
GLNon-Verbal Reasoning

These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. They are up to date and extremely useful.

Exam Board Subject Answer Sheet Question Booklet Marking Scheme (Answers)
CEMMaths
CEMVerbal Reasoning
CEMNon-Verbal Reasoning

Past 11+ Papers

Below you will find the names of all current UK grammar schools together with their websites and a number of past papers or familiarisation papers. Please note that these papers are provided 'as is' and may be out of date, incomplete or not include answers.

Where possible we have included detailed answers, English past papers and maths test papers as well as their verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning counterparts.

Grammar School (Region) Exam Board(s) Links Free Downloads
Herschel Grammar School (Berkshire)GLAdmissions
Kendrick School (Berkshire)GLAdmissions
Langley Grammar School (Berkshire)GLAdmissions
Reading School for Boys (Berkshire)FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise)Admissions
St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School (Berkshire)GLAdmissions
Upton Court Grammar School (Berkshire)GLAdmissions
Beths Grammar School (Bexley)GLAdmissions
Bexley Grammar School (Bexley)GLAdmissions
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School (Bexley)GLAdmissions
Townley Grammar School (Bexley)GLAdmissions
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Aston School (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Five Ways School (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys (Birmingham & Walsall)CEMAdmissions
King Edward VI Handsworth School (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls (Birmingham & Walsall)GLAdmissions
Newstead Wood School (Bromley)GLAdmissions
St. Olave’s Grammar School (Bromley)InternalAdmissions
Aylesbury Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Aylesbury High School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Beaconsfield High School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Burnham Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Chesham Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Dr Challoner’s High School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Dr. Challoner’s Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
John Hampden Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Royal Latin School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
The Royal Grammar School (RGSHW) (Buckinghamshire)ISEB Pretest & InternalAdmissions
Wycombe High School (Buckinghamshire)GLAdmissions
Churston Ferrers Grammar School (Devon)GLAdmissions
Colyton Grammar School (Devon)FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise)Admissions
Devonport High School for Boys (Devon)GLAdmissions
Devonport High School for Girls (Devon)GLAdmissions
Plymouth High School for Girls (Devon)GLAdmissions
The Spires College (Devon)CEMAdmissions
Torquay Boys’ Grammar School (Devon)GLAdmissions
Torquay Girls’ Grammar School (Devon)GLAdmissions
Bournemouth School (Dorset)GLAdmissions
Bournemouth School for Girls (Dorset)GLAdmissions
Parkstone Grammar School (Dorset)GLAdmissions
Poole Grammar School (Dorset)GLAdmissions
Chelmsford County High School for Girls (Essex)FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise)Admissions
Colchester County High School for Girls (Essex)CSSE (Essex 11 Plus)Admissions
Colchester Royal Grammar School (Essex)CSSE (Essex 11 Plus)Admissions
King Edward VI Shakespeare’s School (Essex)CSSEAdmissions
Ilford County High School (Essex - Redbridge)GLAdmissions
Woodford County High School for Girls (Essex - Redbridge)CEMAdmissions
Denmark Road High School (Gloucestershire)CEMAdmissions
Marling School (Gloucestershire)GLAdmissions
Pate’s Grammar School (Gloucestershire)GLAdmissions
Ribston Hall High School (Gloucestershire)GLAdmissions
Sir Thomas Rich’s School (Gloucestershire)GLAdmissions
Stroud High Grammar School (Gloucestershire)GLAdmissions
The Crypt School (Gloucestershire)CEMAdmissions
Mill Hill County High School (Hertfordshire Barnet & Enfield)GLAdmissions
Queen Elizabeth’s School (Hertfordshire Barnet & Enfield)GLAdmissions
St. Michael’s Catholic (Hertfordshire Barnet & Enfield)GLAdmissions
The Henrietta Barnett School (Hertfordshire Barnet & Enfield)GL & InternalAdmissions
The Latymer School (Hertfordshire Barnet & Enfield)Part 1: GL Assessment| Part 2: set by the schoolAdmissions
Bishops Stortford High School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)InternalAdmissions
Bushey Meads School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)GL and CEM (Cambridge Assessment)Admissions
Chancellors School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)InternalAdmissions
Dame Alice Owen’s School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)GL & InternalAdmissions
Hertfordshire and Essex High School (Bishops Stortford) (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)InternalAdmissions
Hockerill Anglo-European College (Bishops Stortford) (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)InternalAdmissions
Parmiter’s School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)GLAdmissions
Queens’ School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)GLAdmissions
Rickmansworth School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)CEM & GLAdmissions
St. Clement Danes School (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)CEM & GLAdmissions
Watford Grammar School for Boys (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)GLAdmissions
Watford Grammar School for Girls (Hertfordshire SW Herts Consortium)GLAdmissions
Archbishop's School (Canterbury) (Kent)GLAdmissions
Barton Court Grammar School (Kent)GLAdmissions
Borden Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Cranbrook School, Kent 11+ / Cranbrook School 13+ (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Dane Court Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Dartford Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Dartford Grammar School for Girls (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Dover Grammar School for Boys (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) Test or Dover TestAdmissions
Dover Grammar School for Girls (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) Test or Dover TestAdmissions
Gravesend Grammar School (GGS) (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Highsted Grammar School (Kent)GLAdmissions
Highworth Grammar School for Girls (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Homewood School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus TestAdmissions
Invicta Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Maidstone Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Mayfield Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) Test / Mayfield ProcedureAdmissions
Oakwood Park Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Faversham (Kent)GLAdmissions
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School (Kent)GLAdmissions
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Sir Roger Manwood’s School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
The Folkestone School for Girls (Kent)GLAdmissions
The Harvey Grammar School (Kent)GLAdmissions
The Judd School (Kent)GLAdmissions
The Norton Knatchbull School (Kent)GLAdmissions
The Skinners’ School (Kent)GLAdmissions
Tonbridge Grammar School (Kent)Kent 11 Plus (PESE) TestAdmissions
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School (Kent)GLAdmissions
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (Kent)GLAdmissions
Weald of Kent Grammar School (Kent)GLAdmissions
Westlands School (sittingbourne) (Kent)GLAdmissions
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (Kent)GLAdmissions
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (Kent)GLAdmissions
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) (Lancashire and Cumbria)GLAdmissions
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (Lancashire and Cumbria)GLAdmissions
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School (Lancashire and Cumbria)GLAdmissions
Lancaster Royal Grammar School (Lancashire and Cumbria)GLAdmissions
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith (Lancashire and Cumbria)GLAdmissions
Boston Grammar School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Boston High School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Bourne Grammar School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Caistor Grammar School (Lincolnshire)InternalAdmissions
Carre’s Grammar School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Kesteven & Sleaford High School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Academy (Spilsby) (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Alford (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Queen Elizabeth’s High School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Skegness Grammar School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Spalding Grammar School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Spalding High School (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
The King’s School Grantham (Lincolnshire)GLAdmissions
Chatham Grammar School for Girls (Medway)GL & InternalAdmissions
Fort Pitt Grammar School (Medway)GL & InternalAdmissions
Holcombe Grammar School for Boys (Medway)GL & InternalAdmissions
Rainham Mark Grammar School (Medway)GL & InternalAdmissions
Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School (Medway)GL & InternalAdmissions
The Howard School (Medway)GLAdmissions
The Rochester Grammar School (Medway)GLAdmissions
Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Antrim Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Assumption Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Ballyclare High School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Ballymena Academy (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Banbridge Academy (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Bangor Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Belfast High School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Belfast Royal Academy (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Bloomfield Collegiate Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Cambridge House Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Campbell College (Northern Ireland)GL & CEA AssessmentAdmissions
Carrickfergus Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Christian Brothers (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Coleraine Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Dalraida School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Dominican College (Fortwilliam) (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Dominican College (Portstewart) (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Down High School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Foyle and Londonderry College (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Friend's School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Glenlola Collegiate School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Grosevenor Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Hunterhouse College (Northern Ireland)GL & AQE (Common Entrance Assessment)Admissions
Larne Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Limavady Grammar School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Loreto College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Loreto Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GL & InternalAdmissions
Lumen Christi College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Lurgan College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Methodist College Belfast (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Mount Lourdes Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Omagh Academy (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Our Lady and St Patricks College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Our Lady's Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Portadown College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Portora Royal School (Northern Ireland)GL
Rainey Endowed (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Rathmore Grammar (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Regent House School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Sacred Heart Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Colman's College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Columb's College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Dominic's High School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Killian's College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Louis' Grammar School (Ballymena) (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Louis' Grammar School (Kilkeeel) (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Malachy's College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Mary's Grammar School (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Michael's College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Patrick's Academy (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Patrick's Grammar School (Armagh) (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St Patrick's Grammar School (Downpatrick) (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
St. Joseph’s College, Stoke-on-Trent (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Strathearn School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Sullivan Upper School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
The Royal School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
The Wallace High School (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Thornhill College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Victoria College (Northern Ireland)GLAdmissions
Wellington College (Northern Ireland)CEAAdmissions
Glenthorne High School (Surrey)UnknownAdmissions
Greenshaw High School (Surrey)Selective Eligibility Test (SET)Admissions
Nonsuch High School for Girls (Surrey)Part 1: S.E.T/ Part 2: Set by schoolAdmissions
Sutton Grammar School (Surrey)Part 1: Multiple-Choice Maths and English (SET) / Part 2: Open Answer Maths and EnglishAdmissions
The Tiffin Girls’ School (Surrey)InternalAdmissions
Tiffin School (Surrey)InternalAdmissions
Wallington County Grammar School (WCGS) (Surrey)Part 1, Selective Eligibility Test (SET), Part 2, set by school
Wallington High School for Girls (Surrey)Part 1: Multiple-Choice Maths and English (SET) / Part 2: Open Answer Maths and EnglishAdmissions
Wilson’s School (Surrey)SETAdmissions
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys (Trafford)GLAdmissions
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford)GLAdmissions
Loreto Grammar School (Trafford)GL & InternalAdmissions
Sale Grammar School (Trafford)GLAdmissions
St Ambrose College (Trafford)GL & InternalAdmissions
Stretford Grammar School (Trafford)GLAdmissions
Urmston Grammar School (Trafford)GLAdmissions
Alcester Grammar School (Warwickshire)GLAdmissions
Ashlawn School (Warwickshire)GLAdmissions
King Edward VI School (Warwickshire)CEMAdmissions
Lawrence Sheriff School (Warwickshire)GLAdmissions
Rugby High School (Warwickshire)CEMAdmissions
Stratford Girls’ Grammar School (Warwickshire)CEMAdmissions
Bishop Wordsworth’s School (Wiltshire)CEMAdmissions
South Wilts Grammar School (Wiltshire)GLAdmissions
Calday Grange Grammar School (Wirral inc Liverpool)GLAdmissions
King David High School (Wirral inc Liverpool)InternalAdmissions
St Hilda's CofE High School (Wirral inc Liverpool)InternalAdmissions
St Margaret's C of E High School (Wirral inc Liverpool)InternalAdmissions
St. Anselm’s College (Wirral inc Liverpool)InternalAdmissions
The Blue Coat School (Wirral inc Liverpool)InternalAdmissions
Upton Hall School (Wirral inc Liverpool)GLAdmissions
West Kirby Grammar School (Wirral inc Liverpool)CEMAdmissions
Wirral Grammar School for Boys (Wirral inc Liverpool)CEMAdmissions
Wirral Grammar School for Girls (Wirral inc Liverpool)CEMAdmissions
Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar School (Wolverhampton & Wrekin)GLAdmissions
Newport Girls’ High School (Wolverhampton & Wrekin)GLAdmissions
Queen Mary’s Grammar School (Wolverhampton & Wrekin)GLAdmissions
Queen Mary’s High School (Wolverhampton & Wrekin)GLAdmissions
Wolverhampton Girls’ High School (Wolverhampton & Wrekin)CEMAdmissions
Crossley Heath Grammar School (Yorkshire)GLAdmissions
Ermysted’s Grammar School (Yorkshire)GLAdmissions
Heckmondwike Grammar School (HGS) (Yorkshire)GLAdmissions
Ripon Grammar School (Yorkshire)GLAdmissions
Skipton Girls’ High School (Yorkshire)GLAdmissions
The North Halifax Grammar School (Yorkshire)GLAdmissions

11+ Practice Papers

11+ Papers are used by grammar schools as part of their entry procedure. We host a number of free practice papers for 11+ entry, published by Bond, Owl Tutors, GL Assessment, CSSE and CGP.

The purpose of 11+ papers is to gauge your child's intelligence and academic potential. Test providers try hard to craft exams that children cannot prepare for but it's a tricky task. No matter how 11+ papers are structured, good preparation will always be essential.

11+ papers are not easy. Their purpose is to separate higher ability children so don't expect your child to achieve full marks. However, with 11+ practice papers you will see their performance and confidence improve.

11 plus papers are available in English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-Verbal reasoning. Pay close attention to the subjects and 11+ test provider for your target schools. Some grammar schools test certain subjects and others don't so make sure your preparation is correctly targeted.

Several grammar schools require a separate test in creative writing. These are sometimes used to analyse children's grammar, punctuation and spelling (as well as their imagination) but more often than not this test is used as a tie-breaker.

As a further complication, some grammar schools will use two 11+ exam papers whilst others will use three or more. Pay close attention to the number of 11 plus exam papers for your target school.

11+ Paper Test Providers

The 11 plus papers your child will take depends on where you live. Entry to the 11 plus paper will be organised by your local authority,  a group of schools or an individual school.

Most areas use either CEM (University of Durham) or GL Assessment (NFER). Other areas write the 11+ papers themselves or choose not to disclose the source.

The content of these papers can vary significantly. CEM test papers are not comparable to GL Assessment papers. Again, ensure your 11+ preparation is correctly targeted.

The CEM practice papers (or simply CEM papers) we host are published by CGP while the GL-Assessment papers (or simply GL papers) are published by Exam Ninja.

11+ Past Papers

As well as 11 plus practice papers, some grammar schools release 11+ past papers. These are extremely valuable for children attempting to gain entry to those schools.

It's rare for children to have a complete 11 plus past papers from a target school. If these are available, use them extensively. The papers will tell you what test styles, subjects and topics come up. This information makes these 11 plus past papers incredibly valuable to your preparation.

GL Assessment have released several 11 plus past papers in recent time. If your target schools use them, download the GL Assessment sample papers free of charge.

Passing 11 plus papers can get children into an excellent grammar school
Passing 11 plus papers can get children into an excellent grammar school

About 11+ Papers

11+ Papers are an IQ test for children that seek to assess your child's potential. Deemed unfair in 1976, 11+ papers were abolished and replaced with the modern comprehensive system.

Many disagreed with this decision and the debate surrounding 11+ test papers continues today.

Several areas in the UK still have grammar schools alongside modern comprehensives. Gaining entry to these grammar schools is ferociously competitive. Using 11+ practice papers is essential.

Getting through 11+ papers and into grammar school can be stressful.
Getting through 11+ papers and into grammar school can be stressful.

There are plenty of 11+ past papers, 11 plus mock exams and 11 plus sample papers available to download. By using these 11+ exam papers, your child will feel more confident approaching their 11+ paper.

Do note that CEM 11 plus have been careful to never release any CEM test papers. Whilst precise preparation for this test provider is speculative, it is firmly recommended.

11 plus test papers are enormously valuable for children hoping to enter a grammar school. With so many grammar school test papers free of charge on our website, we urge you to use them. Grammar schools, for all their faults, offer amazing possibilities to children.

Since 2011 we have offered grammar school test papers free of charge to millions. Thank you for your support!   

11 Plus

What is the 11 Plus?

What's the 11 plus you ask? Well first, a brief bit of history...

After World War 2, the Education Act dictated that state education should be free of charge and fall into two forms - grammar schools and secondary moderns. Grammar schools would focus on academic subjects whilst secondary moderns would teach trades.

The 11 plus (also known as 11+ exam or 11plus) was the test to determine whether a child went to a grammar school or a secondary modern.

Children judged to have a higher academic potential would go to a grammar school with the rest going to a secondary modern.

In 1960 there were over 1,200 grammar schools in the UK.

A typical British grammar school photo from the 1960s.
A typical British grammar school photo from the 1960s.

Why did the 11 plus stop?

In the 1950s and 1960s some politicians argued that selective education systems reinforced class division. They also added that middle-class privilege only increased these divisions.

In 1965, the government ordered LEAs to start phasing out grammar schools and replace them with modern comprehensives. Then in 1976, legislation was cast to ban the introduction of any new selective education schools.

However, some areas of England refused, dug in their heels and kept their grammar schools. Today 163 grammar schools remain, run alongside comprehensives.

Wait, so does the 11+ still exists?

Yes...weirdly. The 11 plus is now a collective term for the entrance exams that the remaining grammar schools offer.

Contrary to popular belief (and legislation), the 11+ exam is still alive and extremely popular.
Contrary to popular belief (and legislation), the 11+ exam is still alive and extremely popular.

Should my child to take the 11 plus?

Most grammar schools were dismantled and transformed into secondary comprehensives for political reasons.

The 11 plus offered thousands of children from impoverished backgrounds a genuine opportunity. There's little doubt that the very nature of selective education did reinforce class privilege. However, for those that got the opportunity, they often went on to greater things.

The atmosphere inside today's grammar schools is without doubt a "social bubble". Try as they may to limit it, plenty of pupils come from privileged backgrounds and benefited from 11+ exam training

Catchment areas and Britain's housing market have only reinforced middle-class privilege. This has led to dwindling numbers of children from lower-income backgrounds.

In 1998 the government enacted legislation that strengthened powers to stop new grammar schools from opening. It also allowed for parent ballots on the future of existing grammar schools.

Only one ballot ever took place and the government embarassingly lost it, 67% to 33%. As a result Ripon Grammar remained a grammar school.

But enough negative talk...

Grammar schools offer children a spectacular academic environment. Their facilities, both academic and extra-curricular are almost incomparable to comprehensive schools. Their exam results speak for themselves with the top 40 grammars scoring 100% A*-C at GCSE in 2016.

Frankly, if your child has the opportunity to attend a grammar school, grab it with both hands. You would be mad not to.

167,000 children attend grammar schools in England
167,000 children attend grammar schools in England

So how do I enter them for an 11 plus exam?

Getting your child into a grammar school is not a simple task.

Every grammar school continues to offer an 11 plus paper to determine their intake.

Some local authorities automatically enter children for these tests while they're still in primary school. Others require you to apply. Some grammar schools band together as a consortium and offer a grouped test to whomever applies. Also, some grammar schools offer 11 plus exams to parents and children that only apply directly to them. Sadly, it was probably all a lot easier prior to 1965...

To confuse matters, the 11 plus exams that each of the above scenarios offer can be from different test providers. CEM and GL Assessment are the two main test providers but there are others.

Lastly, to confuse you even more, two grammar schools could have the same test provider but not the same subjects! For example, some use Non-Verbal reasoning tests whilst others only use English and Maths.

Confusing eh?!

Even that doesn't put off the hundreds of thousands of parents that apply every year. Many schools report over 12 children applying for every single place.

Thankfully, we have a helpful 11 plus entry table to help you with your 11+ exam process.

How can I enter my child for an 11 plus exam?

First of all, look at our 11 plus entry table. Check the "Admissions" column.

11+ Exam Boards by Area

Area Admissions Test Date Test Content Test Provider
Bexley Apply to LA September Verbal Reasoning, Comprehension, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths CEM (University of Durham)
Buckinghamshire Entered Automatically September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, English and Maths GL Assessment (Secondary Transfer Test)
Essex (Redbridge) Apply to LA September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Maths GL Assessment
Gloucestershire Apply direct to school(s) September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Maths GL Assessment
Kent Apply to LA September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, Maths, English and Writing GL Assessment
Medway Apply to LA September Extended Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Maths Verbal Reasoning and Maths by GL Assessment
Warwickshire Apply to LA September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning, English and Maths GL Assessment
Wirral Apply to LA September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths GL Assessment
(St Anselms College & Upton Hall School administer their own tests.)
Liverpool Apply to LA September Maths and English (Blue Coats School) Unknown
Yorkshire (Calderdale) Apply to LA September English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning GL Assessment
Yorkshire (North Yorkshire) Ripon pupils will be asked if they want to enter the test via a letter. Apply online for Skipton schools. September Ripon: Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Skipton: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning
Ermysted's Grammar School also tests Non-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment
Berkshire Apply direct to school(s) September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Maths GL Assessment
Birmingham Apply direct to school(s) September Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning, English and Maths GL Assessment
Essex Apply direct to school(s) September Maths and English Written by the consortium
Hertfordshire (South-West) Apply direct to school(s) September Maths and Verbal Reasoning GL Assessment
Lincolnshire Apply direct to school(s) September Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning GL Assessment
Northern Ireland (Post Primary Transfer Consortium) Apply direct to school(s) November Maths and English GL Assessment
Northern Ireland (Association for Quality Education) Apply direct to school(s) November / December Maths and English CEA (Common Entrance Assessment)
Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Apply direct to school(s) September Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths CEM
Sutton Apply direct to school(s) Stage 1: September
Stage 2: September / October
English and Maths Unknown

Applying for the 11+

All 11+ areas have a responsibility to be fair with their entries but they do have very strict deadlines. Get informed and be organised.

Contact the admissions provider for the school (or schools) you would like to apply for. This could be the LEA, the school or a body that acts on behalf of the consortium of schools.

Politely request detailed information about:

  • When 11+ exam will take place.
  • Where 11+ exam will take place.
  • What topics are in their 11+ exam.
  • What format the test(s) will take (multiple choice or standard answer).

It's also very important to ask whether there are any other admissions criteria such as a maximum distance from the school.

Don't feel nervous contacting them, you won't be the only person asking.

Get organised and plan it. It's not much work and it could well be the best thing you ever do for your child's education.

There doesn't seem to be a grammar school near me.

Sorry, you're going to need a time machine. Blame the politicians that made those decisions back in 1965.

Sorry Marty, it's probably not going to happen
Sorry Marty, it's probably not going to happen

How do I prepare my child for their 11+ exam?

By now you should know:

  • The target grammar school(s).
  • The test provider (CEM, GL Assessment etc).
  • The subjects that will be tested (Maths, English etc).
  • The format of the tests (Cloze, Multiple Choice etc).

Some parents appoint personal tutors for their children to help improve their performance. This can be very confidence boosting and test providers do their best to limit the "exam coaching" effect that it has.

Personal tutors are expensive though and by no means are they essential to passing the 11+ exam. Indeed many pupils obtain places in grammar schools by only practising past 11 plus papers or 11+ practice papers.

11+ Verbal reasoning and 11+ Non-verbal reasoning are both unique tests. They are often used because they gauge aptitude and don't require any previous experience. Having said that, the distinct nature of the tests means a child will benefit from preparation.

The 11 plus is the same as everything else in life: There's no substitute for experience.

11+ Maths and 11+ English tests will seem more familiar to your child. 11+ Maths tests will be of a problem solving nature and get harder as children progress through the paper.

11+ English assessments typically contain a comprehension test or a writing assessment. Often they contain both. They may also have a Cloze test. Again, practice makes perfect.

Most important of all is that your child prepares for the tests that they will be facing. If it's a CEM test in Maths then ensure they're working from examples that clearly state that!

With enough practice, your child can walk into the actual exam feeling far more confident and much more likely to pass.

Is all this too much to read and take in? Ok - here's the most important take-away - Don't delay, start preparing today.

Understanding your local grammar school system isn't necessarily very simple
Understanding your local grammar school system isn't necessarily very simple

CEM? What's the CEM Test?

CEM is a provider of 11+ exams for several grammar schools including Bexley, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. CEM stands for Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring and it's part of the University of Durham. There are several other providers including GL Assessment.

What's different about the CEM Test?

If only everyone knew! CEM have never openly provided their past 11+ papers so it's hard to say.

CEM has grown in popularity over the past 5-10 years because their tests are seen as harder to "coach" for. The feedback from grammar schools supports this. It's unclear whether their tests are appreciably different to anyone else's or if it's simply because they don't release past 11+ papers.

From what we can gather, the CEM 11+ is often two 11+ exams. Each is time limited to 45 minutes and both include English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning.

The English sections of the test include reading comprehension exercises, cloze tests and Verbal reasoning questions.

Non-verbal reasoning questions are well known from other providers of 11 plus exams. These are the questions that often include rotating patterns or shapes.

Numerical reasoning questions test mental arithmetic, pattern recognition and problem solving. Calculators are not allowed.

Both tests are designed such that children are time pressured. Many children don't finish all the questions before the end of the test.

Some areas will allocate a different weighting of marks towards different subject areas. For example, Birmingham awards half of the marks to Verbal Reasoning. Warwickshire meanwhile awards marks equally among all three.

In some areas pupils may take practice 11+ CEM test papers. These will take place before the real CEM 11+ exam (normally in June or July) and the marks will not be formally taken into consideration. They are a practice exercise that's marked internally and whose marks are not recorded externally from the school.

Got any past CEM 11+ Papers?

No.

Past CEM 11 Plus papers are not distributed after their respective assessment day. CEM insist that "by restricting the amount of available preparation material to only what primary schools provide (familiarisation with the format and structure of the tests) it makes the test fairer for all".

However, we do have a number of free 11+ papers for you to download.

How can I prepare my child for the CEM 11 Plus?

CEM say that they devise their tests such that they "reduce any disadvantage between children who are tutored for tests and those who are not." In other words, CEM feel that you can't coach for CEM.

You might not be able to coach, but you can certainly help.

Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning questions are often unfamiliar to children. Hence prior practice, if only as a familiarisation exercise, is highly recommended. The important point being that prior practice does not lead to pupils attempting to guess their answers.

FAQ

What is the highest mark for 11+?

100% - full marks! Don't worry though, nobody expects children to achieve this.

How difficult is the 11+?

The 11+ is a hard test! Combining comprehension, maths and reasoning, the 11+ tests are challening and should not be underestimated.

What percentage is the pass rate for 11+?

The pass rate for the 11+ is around 80%. I.e. children hoping to pass the 11+ will need to score around 80% across their tests.

What are the best 11+ Practice papers?

We think the CGP range of 11+ Practice papers are the best.

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