The 11 plus explained: a guide for parents

What is the 11 plus?

The 11 plus (11+) is an entrance test that children sit at the start of Year 6, at about age 10 or 11, for a place in Year 7 at a selective school. Most children who sit it are applying to state grammar schools, which choose pupils by ability. Some independent schools use similar tests.

Grammar schools are not everywhere. There are about 160 in England, mostly in a few areas: all of Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire, and parts of London, Essex, Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Trafford and other counties. Northern Ireland has its own transfer test for its grammar schools. Scotland and Wales have no state grammar schools.

The test is optional. Children in a grammar school area can still go to a non-selective school, and a child needs to sit the 11+ only if you want to apply for a selective place.

Who sets the test?

Each school, or a group of schools in an area, chooses a test provider and decides which subjects to test. That is why the 11+ looks different from one area to the next. Find out which test your schools use before you start practising: look your school up in our list of every grammar school, which gives each one's test and key dates.

Test	Used by	Subjects	Format
GL Assessment	Most grammar school areas in England	Some or all of English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning	Paper, mostly multiple choice
Quest Assessments	A growing number of areas; Kent, Slough and Dorset from 2028 entry	Some or all of English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning	Paper, mostly multiple choice
FSCE	About ten grammar schools	Maths and English; at some schools the wider curriculum and creative writing	Paper, mostly multiple choice, varies by school
CSSE	Most Essex grammar schools	Maths and English, with a writing task	Paper, written answers
SEAG	Grammar schools in Northern Ireland	English and maths	Two papers, mostly multiple choice
ISEB Pre-Test	Many independent schools	English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning	On screen, adaptive
CEM	Some independent schools	Mixed short sections	On screen, timed sections

When does it happen?

For entry to Year 7 in England, the usual timeline runs over about 18 months:

• Year 5, spring and summer: grammar school open days, and registration for the test. Registration usually closes in June or July, and it is separate from applying for a school place. Miss it and your child may not be able to sit the test.
• Year 6, September: the test, often on a Saturday or during the first weeks of term. Children who cannot attend for illness may be offered a later date.
• Year 6, October: results arrive in time for the national closing date for secondary school applications, 31 October. You then name grammar schools, in your order of preference, on your council's application form.
• Year 6, 1 March: National Offer Day, when councils tell families which school has offered a place.

Northern Ireland is later: the SEAG test is in November of P7, and results come out at the end of January. Independent schools set their own dates, usually between September and January of Year 6.

What is in the papers?

Most 11+ tests use some mix of four subjects. Each test chooses its own mix, so check which ones your schools use.

Maths

Key Stage 2 maths up to the end of Year 5 or Year 6: arithmetic, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratio, simple algebra, shape and angles, measures, data, and multi-step word problems. The questions are harder than SATs-style ones because they combine ideas, and calculators are not allowed.

English

Reading comprehension, usually from a fiction, non-fiction or poetry passage, with questions on retrieval, inference and the meaning of words. Most papers also test vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Some include a piece of writing.

Verbal reasoning

Puzzles with words and letters: letter and number codes, letter series, hidden words, analogies (“hot is to cold as up is to …”), missing letters, compound words and word-sum problems. Verbal reasoning is not taught in school, so most of the gain comes from learning the question types. A strong vocabulary helps with nearly all of them.

Non-verbal reasoning

Puzzles with shapes and patterns: what comes next in a series, which figure completes a grid, odd one out, reflections, rotations, and which net folds into a cube. Like verbal reasoning, it rewards knowing the question types and checking each rule one at a time.

How is it scored?

Most 11+ tests turn the raw mark into a standardised score. This compares each child with the others who sat the same test and adjusts for age, so a child born in August is not at a disadvantage against one born in September. The scales differ between areas, but the average child taking the test often scores around 100.

Areas use the scores in one of two ways:

• A qualifying score. Children at or above the pass mark are “selective” and can be offered a grammar place. In Buckinghamshire, for example, the qualifying score is 121. If more qualified children apply than there are places, the school uses its other admissions rules, such as distance from home or siblings.
• Ranking. Some schools, often called super-selective, offer places in score order, sometimes after a minimum score. Here the score needed changes every year with the number of applicants.

Passing does not guarantee a place, and missing the mark is not always the end. Families can usually appeal, and some areas have a review for children who narrowly miss.

How to prepare

• Year 4: build the foundations. Times tables, mental arithmetic and reading for pleasure do more than any test practice at this stage. A wide vocabulary helps with English and verbal reasoning alike.
• Year 5: learn the question types. Once you know which test your schools use, work through each type of question slowly, with explanations. Little and often, around 15 to 30 minutes a few times a week, works better than long sessions.
• Summer before Year 6: practise under time. Timed mock papers build pace and stamina. Go through every mistake afterwards: understanding why an answer was wrong matters more than the score.
• Use the official materials. Most test providers or schools publish free familiarisation papers that show the real layout. Do them, ideally more than once.
• Keep it calm. A rested child who knows what to expect does better than an anxious one who has done more papers. Keep up the activities they enjoy.

Common questions

Can my child sit the test for more than one area?

Yes. Register separately for each test. Check the dates, as some areas test on the same day.

Can my child apply from outside the area?

Usually, yes. Out-of-area children can sit most tests, but read the school's admissions rules first: some give priority to children living close by.

Is a tutor necessary?

No. Many children pass with practice at home. What matters most is knowing the question types, practising regularly and going through mistakes, all of which parents can support.

What if my child has special educational needs?

Most tests can make access arrangements, such as extra time, a separate room or a modified paper. Ask when you register, as these usually need evidence from the primary school and must be agreed before the test.