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11 Plus (11+) Exam Preparation: A Detailed 18 Point Guide

Welcome to our 11 Plus guide — your helping hand to mastering the 11+ process. The purpose of this post is to help parents methodically think through everything required for 11 Plus exam success — from start to finish!

You can use the links within the contents section below for speedy navigation through our 18 points. We hope you find them useful. If so, please do leave a comment or question below. 

Contents 

Brief introduction to the 11 Plus

  1. Research Your Target Schools 

  2. Start Early On Core Skills 

  3. Find The Right Learning Approach

  4. How To Build Core Skills

  5. Space Repetitions 

  6. Use A Timetable 

  7. Build Confidence

  8. Work Around Your Child’s Stamina 

  9. Understand ‘Sticking Points’ Within Each Discipline

  10. Revise Like The Best 

  11. Use Practice Papers At Regular Intervals 

  12. Lifestyle 11 Plus Revision 

  13. Use Variable Rate Rewards 

  14. Develop An Exam Technique

  15. Raise The Bar 

  16. Pre-Exam Nutrition

  17. Before The Exam: Think Of The Basics

  18. Inspire Positivity And Focus 

Brief Introduction To The 11 Plus 

The 11 plus exam is the collective name for the selective entry exams for grammar and independent schools across the UK, taken in Year 6 (at the age of 11).

There are four core disciplines tested:

  • English (comprehension)

  • Maths

  • Verbal Reasoning

  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

The inclusion of all or some of these disciplines vary from school to school. There may also be an additional writing exam. (Creative and persuasive writing is not often tested by grammar schools as part of their 11+ exams. However, it is tested by most independent schools and the most competetive grammars.)

The 11+ exam is usually taken in the September of year 6, so if your child is in years 4 or 5 — or even if they’ve just started year 3 — now is the time to start thinking about how to prepare them most effectively. 

Your involvement as a parent will greatly impact your child’s chances of success. Within this article, we’ll explain some important points you should be aware of, in addition to giving some advice based on what we’ve seen work well in the past. 

We’re specialists in 11 plus preparation and we have the parent reviews to prove it!

1. Research Your Target Schools

Start by researching the schools in your area to find the best fit for your child. 

Here’s a list of important factors to consider when narrowing down a list of target grammar and/or independent schools. You should use them to organise a first, second and third choice school.

  • Is the school a commutable distance for your child? 

    • During secondary school, children receive more homework and often have more opportunities to do after school activities. A long commute may put constraints on your child’s ability to manage. Try to make sure they will have enough time to stay on top of all of their school commitments at each of their target schools. 

  • How competitive is the school? 

    • It’s wise to pick a range of schools. Some schools tend to be more oversubscribed than others. Don’t limit your ambitions, but it’s always sensible to have back up plans so your child can continue progressing at another good school regardless. 

  • How expensive is the school?

    • While grammar schools are public schools and therefore free to attend, the fees of independent schools can vary greatly. Make sure you are aware of any and all costs you may face with the schools you are considering for your child.

  • Will your child be happy? 

    • Here’s the thing about the ‘top schools’.... You must ask yourself first ‘is my child likely be happy at this school?’ The top schools will include many other very bright children and your child may feel significant pressure and competition which, in turn, could dent their confidence. Confidence is crucial to maintaining learning progress. Children must be unafraid of exploring and making mistakes to grow personally and intellectually. Whereas, if your child gains a place at a less competitive school they may thrive off the confidence they derive from being ‘a slightly bigger fish in a slightly smaller pond’. 

Your child may also want to have a say in the forming of your target schools list. Listen to their preferences whilst also trying to guide them based on your research and what you think will suit them best. 

As soon as you have chosen the schools you wish to apply for, research the entry exams. There is no standardised test for the 11+ and most schools’ exams differ slightly. 

Most 11+ exams operate under the CEM or GL exam boards. However, schools in Essex tend to use CSSE and Kent, the Kent Test.

There’s a lot of information on the internet explaining the different types of exams for each school or set of schools. We’d recommend using our school guides resource in order to find out key admissions-related details — we endeavour to keep this as up-to-date as possible throughout the year. The guides also help to consolidate all relevant information in one place. We hope they save you some time and give you some clarity.

Other recommendations include talking to other parents with children at your target school as well as the teaching staff at your child’s current school. If you live relatively close-by your target schools, parents and teachers alike should be able to offer some sound advice. 

2. Start Early On Core Skills 

Begin preparing your child as early as possible. The earlier you start, the more time your child has to learn, revise and become accustomed to the 11 Plus exam style and content.

We recommend you focus on core skills at first: 

  • Reading accuracy and speed.

  • Mental maths (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).

  • Vocabulary depth and breadth. 

Starting early can give your child a huge advantage over others because it takes patience and repetition to build rock-solid core maths and English skills. 

We go into more detail on how you can build core skills in the ‘4. How To Build Core Skills’ section. 

For more information on the benefits of starting early, click here.

3. Find the Right Learning Approach

Finding the right learning approach is also important. Here are some options: 

Each approach comes with its own price tag, set of benefits and drawbacks. One or two are likely to be more realistic for you than others. We’d also recommend picking at least two approaches so your child’s learning experience is kept varied and interesting.

4. How To Build Core Skills 

Some short, playful testing can very easily compound into huge growth over time. This is also the most critical element in building ‘core skills’ in English and maths. 

A robust foundation will mean your child will find more complex areas of the exam easier to handle when the time comes. 

Here are a few practical pieces of advice you can use in your day-to-day preparations: 

Reading accuracy and speed. 

  • Practise reading accurately at first. The more accurately your child is able to understand the meaning of a sentence or question, the better positioned they will be for the 11 Plus. A great number of students lose easy marks through careless reading errors whilst reading questions or searching for answers. This may well sound like an obvious point to make, though you’d be amazed at how many students drop marks because they have read something inaccurately or misinterpreted its meaning

  • Allocate 10-15 minutes a day to read aloud with your child. This could be an extract from a novel, a newspaper article or even some homework. Here are a few things you can do to help them understand the importance of accuracy: 

        • If they skip words, pick them up on it and explain how their small omission changes the meaning of the sentence. 

        • Ask your child to explain the meaning of sentences to you in their own words. 

        • When reading through homework, ask your child to read the questions aloud and explain what the objective of each question is before they complete the task. 

  • Our advice is to ‘do like the Romans did’  — train as if it’s the real thing! If you can focus on building a healthy habit for accurate reading and compound this with robust exam technique (for example, underlining the key words within the question) your child can greatly reduce their chances of making costly careless errors on exam day. 

Increasing Reading Speed 

  • An easy way to build this without putting your child under undue pressure is to encourage them to read for 15-20 minutes before bed. Set a timer which is in view. If your child has a competitive streak in them, they will naturally try to better the number of pages read the day before. Gamifying the learning experience always helps! 

Mental maths 

  • Start with quick addition and subtraction. You can do quick-fire tests in the car; encourage your child to try to add up the cost of your shopping list in their head; or have them quickly workout the amount of change you are due. 

  • Mastery of times tables can also help a child gain valuable minutes within the exam. Whilst other children are adding numbers together to find their multiple, your child will know the answer off the top of their head. Again, this can be tested in a fun and competitive way when you’re spending time with them. 

Vocabulary 

  • Try to speak to your child using a vocabulary selection slightly above their current level. 

  • An expansive vocabulary helps with every English discipline that can possibly be tested for within the 11 Plus (comprehension, verbal reasoning and writing). Children who tend to do well in the 11 Plus invariably have a deeper and broader vocabulary than their peers. They know the differences between words similar in meaning and they also know more words. This can be built gradually in a number of ways: 

    • Conversation at the dinner table.

    • High-quality television or video content.

    • Listening to the radio.

    • Reading.

    • Actively researching unknown words.

  • Encourage your child to ask you what words mean. You might even find you learn a thing or two! When asked to define a word we usually start listing synonyms (words similar in meaning) or antonyms (words opposite in meaning). We also tend to give an example by using the word within the context of a sentence. 

  • Once you start making this process a habit with your child you should try to encourage them to consolidate their learning by creating flashcards and post-it notes on each word. Leaving these notes around the house will help them review and gain regular exposure to them often. This is the easiest way to help expand their vocabulary. 

  • Another way to build your child’s vocabulary is to have them listen to The Exam Coach podcast (available on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music). We review a tricky piece of vocabulary every weekday morning. We define the word, use it within different contexts, list synonyms and antonyms and throw in the odd fun fact! 

Technical aspects of the exam, for example, knowing the different parts or speech or algebraic rules can be acquired later on. If your child’s basics are solid, more complicated sections of the exam will be well within their reach at a later date.

5. Space Repetitions

This goes hand-in-hand with starting early. The earlier you start, the slower you can go. Your child is unlikely to understand everything the first time. You will need to review sticking points regularly. In fact, the best way to do this is using a technique called spaced repetition. It’s the scientifically proven way to store information within one’s long term memory. As your child prepares for the 11 Plus, you want to be spacing out repetitions of topics that your child finds tricky. The video above explains exactly how you could do this.

6. Use A Timetable

Make a plan or timetable and stick to it. You might think this could put your child under more pressure. However, it often does the opposite. Children are used to structure. It’s been a core part of their schooling from day 1. Everything at school is run against a timetable. Continue this level of organisation and time allocation after school for them. There’s a reason the old adage ‘routine sets you free’ has hung around. Routine is important for children, if you can make the initial effort to organise their time after school they will likely reward you in return with some outstanding results. 

You could start dedicating one evening a week to 11 Plus work and then increase this as the exam approaches. Similarly, try to arrange any tuition or support at the same time each week. This way your child will know when they should be focusing on 11 Plus preparation and you can help them build some learning momentum. 

They may also have school homework to do too — a timetable will help you both plan enough time to complete all of this work and revision. 

7. Build Confidence

Try to be as positive as possible when discussing 11 Plus preparation with your child. Even if they’re making the same mistakes time and again or they’re struggling to overcome a topic — be calm, be positive and persist. 

Demonstrate the kind of stoic determination required for exam success through your own approach. Stick by them and continue giving them the opportunity to succeed through arranging study sessions and tutorials for them. Your positivity, confidence and ‘can do’ attitude will rub off on them. 

A quick tip is to always talk to your child in terms of a ‘growth mindset’. Every win or good test result is something to celebrate but also something to build upon and take to the next level. Every poor mark or test score is put down to ‘experience’. That’s all. If we learn from it we can (eventually) turn a disappointment to our advantage. 

8. Work Around Your Child’s Stamina

You know your child best and working around their stamina will greatly help them to learn and memorise information for the exam. Small bursts, with plenty of breaks, are often more effective than longer lessons. 

Studies show that people are most productive in smaller, uninterrupted bursts of about 25 minutes followed by a short 5 minute break, this has been termed the Pomodoro Technique. This stops the brain from becoming frazzled or distracted. 

Keep things short, sharp and regular and try to arrange 11 Plus revision sessions  for when your child is likely to be receptive. A good strategy is to allow your child some relaxation and downtime after school. Then, after they’ve had time to decompress after the school day they may well be tempted by a quick test or review. Again, try to gamify your child’s learning experience as far as possible so it doesn’t always feel like work. 

9. Understand ‘Sticking Points’ Within Each Discipline

Within each of the four main disciplines there are some typical ‘sticking points’. These are areas or topics that students often find challenging. They’re also where the spots for grammar and independent schools tend to be decided.

English Comprehension 

  • Close reading of questions and texts.

  • Inference and deduction skills.

  • Deep knowledge of the parts of speech.

Maths 

  • Geometry.

  • Fractions.

  • Ratios.

  • Algebra.

Verbal Reasoning 

  • Breadth and depth of vocabulary.

  • Comparative skills.

  • Methodical approach.

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning 

  • Logical thought processes.

  • Deduction skills. 

Additional discipline…

Writing 

  • Structure and organisation.

  • Use of appropriate ‘writer’s tools’. For example, metaphor, alliteration, personification and onomatopoeia. 

  • Spelling, punctuation and grammar.

  • Answering the question fully.

  • Deliberately targeting the mark scheme.

At The Exam Coach, we specialise in the following 11+ disciplines:

  • 11+ Comprehension

  • 11+ Verbal Reasoning

  • 11+ Creative Writing

  • 11+ Persuasive Writing

If your child is struggling to understand the sticking points mentioned above, let us lend you a hand. Our expert tutors work with hundreds of students a month, using tried and tested techniques to ensure your child’s success.

10. Revise Like The Best 

Effective revision techniques not only help your child progress with their learning, but they can also have a tremendous residual impact on their confidence. If your child can easily identify and feel their own progress then they have a fantastic chance of developing their own self-motivation. This is magic because it makes your job a thousand times easier. We all know the feeling of wanting to do something because we want to experience a similar feeling of achievement and success many times over. It’s a healthy addiction and it applies to 11 Plus revision too. Give your child the opportunity to have this happen to them. 

Two Important Principles For Effective 11+ Revision

To revise effectively, two principles you should always keep in mind are: 

  • Active recall (regular testing)

  • Spaced repetition (repeated testing) 

The most extensive study on ‘how we learn best’ was performed by Professor John Dunlosky (here’s the paper). In short, his study finds encouraging students to recall information without assistance is the most effective revision method. This is as opposed to asking a student to read through information, highlight it or even take extensive notes on the information. Students should review information promptly and then receive a test on that information. The test is the critical piece. After all, this process replicates the exact same conditions which will be present during the exam. 

Two Important Techniques For Effective 11+ Revision 

Mind maps and flashcards are two of our recommended methods for testing student knowledge. 

A mind map is a visual representation of information, allowing a student to link ideas and words together to form a ‘map’. It works well for 11+ creative and persuasive writing revision or visually expressing synonyms and antonyms in relation to one word. Ask your child to plan an essay or write out synonyms and antonyms in this way. 

Flash cards are effective for testing as a question can be written on one side and the answer on the other.

Both of these techniques can be used in line with the principles of active recall and spaced repetition.

11. Use Practice Papers At Regular Intervals 

We’d recommend integrating practice papers into your child’s revision programme at regular intervals. It’s important to do this from the early stages as your child will benefit from having a clear idea of how they can apply what they are learning within an exam situation. 

As the exam approaches, we’d recommend less conceptual learning and revision and more practice papers. It’s unlikely your child will be able to internalise a new vocabulary list a week or two before the exam. The best thing to do instead is to ensure they are as familiar with the exam as possible through regular practice papers. 

Free 11 plus practice papers and answers can be found here. Search for your chosen school or county using the search bar at the bottom of the page.

How to practise using practice papers

Start off by letting your child complete the papers with no time limit; let them work through it at their own pace, even using their notes to help. When your child is more confident, add a timer, remove the notes and stop them when the time is up. 

12. Lifestyle 11 Plus Revision

It might sound a bit much to be making 11 Plus revision part of your ‘lifestyle’. That said, making a few adjustments to your daily routines and typical topics of conversation with your child can compound to make a HUGE difference on exam day. 

Many top educationalists point to factors which are very difficult to measure accurately when seeking to explain why some students are at a higher academic level than their peers. These factors are ‘lifestyle factors’. For example:

  • The number of quality conversations the child is having per day, what these conversations consist of and the thought processes they involve.

  • The home environment and the amount of access the child has to high-quality, intellectually stimulating information. 

Try to make time in your schedule to have some quality conversations with your child. If you’re short on time you could always try to capture their interest with a good tv documentary or video series. 

Encourage your child to place their flashcards, notes, posters and post-it notes around the house where they are easily visible. Yes, the home decor might take a hit — but this is all short term! The bonus is that this will allow your child to review important content and test themselves often. Family members can get involved too!

13. Use Variable Rate Rewards

In the 1950s, a psychologist named B.F. Skinner determined a variable schedule of rewards as the best motivator for increased participation and desire to achieve. 

His experiment involved mice pressing a lever: at times they’d receive a small treat, other times a large treat, and, at other times, nothing at all. The schedule of rewards when the mice pressed the lever was random. Unlike the control group, where mice received the same sized treat every time they pressed the lever, the mice that received variable rewards pressed the lever more compulsively and regularly.

This same principle can be applied to how and when you reward your child. Keep them guessing and they’ll continue trying to search for a reward. Here’s a good example of this already at play...

If you’ve ever tried talking to your child whilst they were playing their newest, most engaging video game, you might have seen variable rate rewards take their effect first-hand.

In response to your question or conversation-starter you most likely would have received a mumbled semi-conscious response. Your child will say anything to get rid of the distraction whilst their brain is occupied searching for the new reward, level-up or challenge within the game. Video game creators are experts at creating these addictive feedback loops that sustain maximum engagement and concentration. So much so, your child can become completely absorbed in the game and resist any external distraction.

Knowledge of how this works can help parents create their own productive variable reward feedback loops to engage their child in 11 Plus preparation.

The takeaway is to reward your child sporadically. Vary the size of the reward too. At times the reward could be something tangible, at others it could be a heartfelt compliment. In this way, not only will your child likely work harder to receive a reward but they may also become so embroiled in the process that they forget about the size of the reward completely — much like the mice in Skinner’s experiment!

14. Develop An Exam Technique 

Revision and test practice are the bread and butter of exam preparation. 

Exam technique is the sandwich topping which can help your child gain or save another few marks. It is also so often the difference that makes the difference between students who attain places and those who don’t.

Encourage your child to develop ‘their way’ of tackling each of the papers they know they will be sitting for their 11 Plus. 

This can include: 

  • The order they complete the paper. 

  • How they read questions to ensure they understand them fully. 

  • The steps they take to answer questions and ensure careless errors are eradicated. For example, underlining and highlighting key words. Reading the question a set number of times. 

  • The notes and jottings they make on the exam paper to ensure they deliver answers promptly and accurately. 

  • How much time they leave to check through their answers at the end.

  • What they do within the exam to remain focussed and working smoothly. 

All of these are important and you should discuss a ‘game plan’ with your child. Help them to formulate ‘their way’ of doing each exam by reviewing and discussing past papers with them. Careless errors are one of parent’s biggest bugbears as the 11 Plus exam day draws nearer. Solid exam technique is the antidote to this.

At The Exam Coach, we have developed our own set of exam techniques students can use and follow for each type of exam. It is this, along with practise of the essential and most challenging skills and concepts tested for, which forms the backbone of our 11 Plus Exam Preparation Courses.

15. Raise The Bar 

As exam day draws nearer it’s important to continue raising the bar. Crucial marks can won be and lost on small details. For instance, you should try to encourage your child to be as accurate as possible with their spelling, punctuation and grammar. If your 11 Plus exam involves a creative writing paper this will be used to decide the final available places.

16. Pre-exam NUTRITION

Up to 60% of the human body contains water. The brain consists of 73% water. Ensure your child is hydrated and has a healthy nutritious breakfast on the morning of exam day. Try to avoid sugars. Instead, stick to slow digesting carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein.  

17. Before the exam: Think Of The Basics 

Keep things simple on exam day. 

We wouldn’t recommend any last minute quizzes or testing on niche parts of the syllabus. This work has already been done. 

The important thing is to have your child remember the basics. Most critically, their exam technique. On exam day the occasion and nerves can cause your child to forget the basics of completing an exam effectively. For example: 

  • Reading instructions and questions carefully.

  • Remembering to deliver to the mark scheme.

  • Keeping an eye on the time.

If your child can go into the exam with their basic exam technique front of mind all of the more complicated revision they’ve worked so hard on will fall into place. 

You should review the basics with them before the exam. The three bullet points above could be the structure you guide them through. Keeping things clear and simple before an exam will help your child stay relaxed, calm and focussed — this is the ideal state for a successful exam performance. 

Finally, before getting out the door, ensure they have everything they need to take to the exam with them. 

18. inspire Positivity and focus 

Finally, and most importantly, encourage and support them. 

Psych them up for the exam, remind them that they can do it and that you are their biggest supporter. Position the exam as something to look forward to. It’s an opportunity to perform and deliver. If your child can go into the exam looking forward to seizing every mark they can, as opposed to dreading a certain topic or question, this can really help them deliver their best.  

Tell your child that you believe in them and you are proud of them no matter what. All they need to do is go into the exam hall and give it their best shot. Leave everything in there and come out with your head held high.

If you’re currently preparing for the 11 Plus, you can view our 11+ workshop and course schedule here.

We hope your child can join us soon for a course in:

  • 11+ Comprehension

  • 11+ Verbal Reasoning

  • 11+ Creative Writing

  • 11+ Persuasive Writing

Our 5-day courses:

  • Consist of five 90-minute sessions.

  • Can be taken by students up to 12 months before their 11+ exams.

  • Teach students the full set of skills and techniques they will need.

  • Worksheets, homework and class notes are provided. Homework marking consists of written marking accompanied by individualised actionable feedback delivered via a spoken audio message.

11 Plus Exam Syllabus — GL, CEM, Kent, Sutton SET, ISEB, CAT4 & Independent

11+ Exam Boards Comparison Table

11+ Exam Boards Comparison Table

Introduction

The 11 Plus exam syllabus differs slightly depending on the grammar or independent school you are applying for. However, the content of the 11+ does not vary much overall. All 11+ exams focus on the same subjects, recycling the same types of questions and content. Once you know this, you can use 11+ preparation resources for any exam board to help your child prepare for their 11+ exams.

The four main subjects covered by the 11+ are:

  1. English

  2. Maths

  3. Verbal reasoning

  4. Non-verbal reasoning

It is up to each school which subjects they test and how. Most schools that use an 11+ entry assessment work with an exam provider or body to administer the exam. There are several exam providers for the 11+ in England including GL, CEM, and ISEB, however some schools write their own exams.

The article below will shed some light on what subjects are tested by each of these exam boards and how you can use the many similarities between all 11+ exams to your advantage. We hope this will help you to make the most of all the free revision resources we provide, no matter your chosen school’s exam board.

GL (Granada Learning) Assessment

GL Assessment is a leading provider of 11+ admissions testing in the UK. They administer the majority of tests for the 11 Plus exams. All questions are multiple choice with five answer options per question.

GL offers exams in all of the main four subjects:

  1. English

    GL English papers test: comprehension skills; use of capital letters and punctuation; spelling; word choice and grammar.

  2. Maths

    GL maths papers test: knowledge of times tables; quick mental arithmetic; understanding of shapes, space and measures; applying the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and graph reading.

  3. Verbal Reasoning

    GL verbal reasoning papers test: processing verbal information; similarities and differences between words; applying logical thinking and problem-solving skills; identifying patterns and demonstrating the understanding of the rules and meaning of language. Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Insert a Letter

    • Odd One Out

    • Related Words

    • Closest Meanings

    • Opposite Meanings

    • Hidden Words

    • Missing Words

    • Letters for Numbers

    • Move a Letter

    • Letter Series

    • Number Series

    • Word Connections

    • Compound Words

    • Make a Word

    • Letter Connections

    • Reading Information/Solve the Riddle

    • Complete the Sum

    • Related Numbers

    • Word-Number Codes

    • Complete the Word

    • Same Meanings

  4. Non-Verbal Reasoning

GL non-verbal reasoning papers test: processing graphic information and following patterns or rules; applying mathematical skills (such as rotation, reflection and symmetry); use of spatial awareness; applying logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • Odd One Out

  • Rotations

  • Code Breaking

  • Like Shapes Identification

  • Missing Sequences

  • Missing Squares

  • Most Alike

  • Nets

  • Spatial Recognition

The GL 11+ consists of either a single test or a series of tests depending on the school. Each of these tests can cover one or more of the subjects listed above. Tests will vary depending on the local authority's or individual school’s decision as to which subjects to test.

Most GL 11+ papers contain some form of verbal reasoning as GL believe that this is proven to be the best predictor of future academic potential. Verbal reasoning tests identify a child’s ability to think logically about written information and then use this skill to solve problems.

If your child needs help developing their verbal reasoning skills, please join us for our weekly verbal reasoning free taster sessions. You can sign up for this week’s workshop here.

You can find specific information on your chosen grammar school’s use of GL Assessment testing by clicking the button below.

CEM (Centre for Evaluation and monitoring)

CEM is run by Cambridge University Press and Assessment. It was established in 1999 after concerns were raised over the use of tutors and coaching for GL Assessment. CEM aims to enable children to demonstrate their academic potential and ability without the need for coaching and excessive preparation. However, their exams are very similar in style and content to those of GL Assessment.

CEM offers exams in three subjects:

  1. Maths

    This is referred to as ‘numerical reasoning’ by CEM.

  2. Verbal Reasoning (and English)

    CEM’s definition of ‘verbal reasoning’ is a lot broader than that of GL Assessment and most other 11+ exam boards. Therefore, CEM’s verbal reasoning exams include aspects of English exams (such punctuation, grammar and comprehension questions).

    CEM also can include cloze passages with missing words that need to be filled in by students.

    Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Reading/Comprehension

    • Closest Meanings

    • Opposite Meanings

    • Same Meanings

    • Cloze Passages

    • Complete the Word

    • Missing Words in a Sentence

    • Spelling Errors

    If your child needs help developing their verbal reasoning skills, please join us for our weekly verbal reasoning free taster sessions. You can sign up for this week’s workshop here.

  3. Non-Verbal Reasoning

    CEM 11+ exams are usually 45-50 minutes long. There is often more than one paper and all questions are multiple choice with four or five answer options per question. CEM papers contain timed sections and each paper includes a mixture of all subjects. Children must work through each section and then wait until they are told to continue.

    Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Rotations

    • Code Breaking

    • Like Shapes Identification

    • Missing Sequences

    • Missing Squares

    • Most Alike

    • Nets

    • Spatial Recognition

You can find specific information on your chosen grammar school’s use of CEM testing by clicking the button below.

The Kent Test

Kent is the largest grammar school area in the UK and as a result, it runs its own 11+ test. This test is also provided by GL Assessment. So (as you can probably thought) the Kent Test and GL Assessment exams are very similar. Please see above for more information and the possible question types.

The Kent Test tests all four of the main 11+ subjects in the same way as GL:

  1. English

  2. Maths

  3. Verbal Reasoning

  4. Non-Verbal Reasoning

The Kent Test also offers a creative writing exercise. This is not marked unless it is needed by a school panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process.

There are always two 1 hour exams followed by a 40-minute writing exercise. Like GL, the Kent Test’s questions are multiple-choice with five answer options for each question.

You can find specific information on your chosen grammar school’s use of The Kent Test by clicking the button below.

The Sutton SET (Selective Eligibility Test)

The Sutton SET is a first stage 11+ exam used by the six grammar schools in the London Borough of Sutton. They are:

  • Greenshaw High School

  • Nonsuch High School for Girls

  • Sutton Grammar School

  • Wallington County Grammar School

  • Wallington High School for Girls

  • Wilson’s School

The Sutton SET tests two of the main 11+ subjects:

  1. English

    The Sutton SET’s definition of English includes some verbal reasoning style questions.

    Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Spelling Mistakes

    • Punctuation Mistakes

    • Comprehension

    • Word Meanings

    • Closest Meanings

    • Opposite Meanings

    • Parts of Speech

    • Language Techniques

    • Fill in the Gaps

  2. Maths

The Sutton SET consists of two 40-50 minute exams. Both are multiple choice with five answers options per question. The content of the exams is in line with the KS2 curriculum.

You can find specific information on your chosen grammar school’s use of the Sutton SET by clicking the button below.

ISEB (independent schools examination board) Common Pre-Test

ISEB is known for producing the Common Pre-Test and Common Entrance examinations which are sat to gain entry to some of the top independent schools in the UK and abroad. As the ISEB Common Pre-Test is created by GL Assessment, the questions and question types found in this exam are very similar to those which appear in the 11+ GL exams. All questions are multiple-choice with five answer options for each question.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is sat in Years 6 or 7 as a pre-test to determine a child’s eligibility to apply for the Common Entrance examination which is sat at the end of Year 8.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test assesses all of the main four subjects:

  1. English

    Comprehension, missing words in sentences, spelling and punctuation

    Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Comprehension

    • Sentence Completion

    • Spelling Mistakes

    • Punctuation Mistakes

  2. Maths

    Any maths skills in line with the KS2 national curriculum up to the end of Year 5.

  3. Verbal Reasoning

    Thinking and problem-solving with words.

    Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Common Words

    • Opposite Meanings

    • Closest Meanings

    • Word Combinations

    • Letter Transfer

    • Number codes

  4. Non-Verbal Reasoning

    ISEB tests thinking and problem-solving with shapes, diagrams and pictures.

    Here are all of the individual question types that could be examined:

    • Analogies

    • Like Classes

    • Horizontal Codes

All four of the ISEB Common Pre-Test exams take two and a half hours to complete.

  • The English test takes 25 minutes.

  • The maths test takes 50 minutes.

  • The verbal reasoning test takes 36 minutes.

  • The non-verbal reasoning test takes 32 minutes.

The four tests can be taken together or separately, but once a section is started it must be completed in one go. The tests can be completed in any order. Each test has a timer which counts down the time remaining for that section.

The four ISEB Pre-Test exams are taken online. A progress bar can be seen at the bottom of the screen at all times. The timer at the top of the screen shows students how much time they have remaining.

You can find specific information on your chosen school’s use of the ISEB Common Pre-Test by clicking the button below.

CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities TesT)

CAT4 is an assessment in different types of reasoning, created by GL Assessment. AS you might have thought, they are very similar in content. The CAT4 is taken by 750,000 students a year from the ages of 6-17. All questions are multiple-choice with five answer options for each question. CAT4 can be taken either online or on paper, but most schools prefer to use it online. The CAT4 test for the 11+ “provides you with an accurate analysis of potential student achievement”. It is similar to an IQ test, providing the school with a profile of each student’s ability in four areas:

  1. Verbal Reasoning 

    This test focuses on a child’s ability to express ideas and use reason when faced with word problems. This also tests vocabulary knowledge.

    Here are the question types that will be examined:

    • Verbal Classification

    • Verbal Analogies

  2. Non-Verbal Reasoning 

    This test focuses on problem-solving using pictures and diagrams, rather than words.

    Here are the question types that will be examined:

    • Figure Classification

    • Figure Matrices

  3. Spatial Reasoning (or Maths)

    Spatial reasoning is a term that we have not mentioned yet, but don’t let that scare you or your child. This tests a child’s ability to find answers when faced with questions that use three dimensions (e.g. - finding the volume of a 3D shape). Most other exam boards include this in their 11+ maths exams.

    Here are the question types that will be examined:

    • Figure Analysis

    • Figure Recognition

  4. Quantitative Reasoning (or Maths)

    Finally, this tests a child’s ability to use numbers to solve problems… It is just a fancy name for maths.

    Here are the question types that will be examined:

    • Number Analogies

    • Number Series

Overall, the CAT4 takes 72 minutes. It is composed of 8 short tests assessing the following subsections of the four areas above:

  1. Figure Classification (10 mins)

  2. Figure Matrices (10 mins)

  3. Verbal Classification (8 mins)

  4. Verbal Analogies (8 mins)

  5. Number Analogies (10 mins)

  6. Number Series (8 mins)

  7. Figure Analysis (9 mins)

  8. Figure Recognition (9 mins)

You can find specific information on your chosen independent school’s use of CAT4 by clicking the button below.

Independent School Testing (Grammar VS Independent Schools)

This is where the 11+ syllabus differs a little. While content and topics remain similar, there are some bigger differences between the 11+ exam style for grammar schools (as detailed above) and the 11+ exams sat by independent (also known as private) schools.

Firstly, most English independent schools tend to write their own 11+ entrance exams. Therefore, there is a greater variety in topics covered and question styles. While most grammar school exams tend to consist of multiple-choice questions, independent schools often use standard answer (also known as written answer) questions. This is because grammar school exam boards use optical readers to mark exam papers, whereas independent school papers are marked by people (often teachers at the school).

English Independent School Exams

Independent school English exams use standard answer questions. Similar to grammar school exams, there is almost always a comprehension exercise. Independent schools are known to use more difficult texts and questions. An independent school exam tends to place more focus on understanding and interpreting the meaning of a text or author, especially when using a classic text. A wide vocabulary is needed to do well in this exam.

If your child needs help developing their vocabulary, please join us every weekday morning by listen to our 11+ Daily Vocab Show podcast. You can listen to the first episode below.

Furthermore, there is less of a focus on specific spelling, punctuation and grammar questions in an independent school English exam. This is because longer, written answer questions require students to write in correct and accurate English. Marks can be awarded and lost for use of spelling, punctuation and grammar during this.

The most important difference here is independent schools’ use of creative or persuasive writing as part of their English exams. Most grammar school exams are marked by computer and therefore large written exams are not taken into account. The Kent Test assesses creative writing, but only as a back-up to help solve any tie-breaks between students competing for the same place at a school. Most (if not all) independent school exams include a writing section, which counts towards the final mark of the exam. Therefore, developing your child’s creative and persuasive writing skills can be key to succeeding in an independent school’s English exam.

Take a look at some of the best 11+ creative and persuasive writing answers Exam Coach students have produced by clicking here.

Maths Independent School Exams

Again, a major difference here is the use of standard answer questions. 11+ maths exams for independent schools including longer, detailed questions, often with multiple parts. Marks are given for clear workings as well as the correct answer for most questions.

Overall, independent school maths exams tend to include fewer, but more difficult, questions. The majority of the questions in these exams will align with the KS2 curriculum (up to and including Year 6). However, some schools are known to include a few tricker questions at the end of the paper. These will often include content that students have not been taught at school, requiring them to use their existing maths knowledge and logic to find the answer. This is done in order to single out the very best and most gifted young mathematicians.

Verbal Reasoning Independent School Exams

Verbal reasoning exams do not tend to differ much between grammar and independent schools. Most independent schools buy their VR tests from the same exam boards as grammar schools (namely GL Assessment, CEM or ISEB) meaning they sit the same type of exam.

Please see above for more information on how these different exam boards test verbal reasoning and the possible question types. If you are unsure which exam board your school uses, please check your school website.

Non-Verbal Reasoning Independent School Exams

Finally, non-verbal reasoning testing is less common among independent schools. There are currently no independent schools in England which use their own non-verbal reasoning exam.

Similarly to the above, most independent schools that test non-verbal reasoning buy their tests from the same exam boards as grammar schools, this means children will sit the same type of exam.

Please see above for more information on how these different exam boards test non-verbal reasoning and the possible question types. If you are unsure which exam board your school uses, please check your school website.

You can find more specific information on your chosen independent school’s 11+ entrance exams by using the search bar below.

How To Prepare For The 11 Plus Exam (All Exam Boards)

The Exam Coach offers a wide range of free 11+ practice papers and answers for children preparing for their 11+ exams.

You can find specific information and preparation resources/papers for your chosen grammar or independent school by searching for your school in the search bar below.

The Exam Coach’s own practice papers, answering booklets and answers are also available free of charge to help your child prepare for their 11 Plus exams.

We offer free papers for all major 11+ exam boards and using this article, you should now be able to understand how to use all/most of these to aid your child’s preparation, no matter which 11+ exam they are due to sit.

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