11+ exams and 11 plus tests

11plus.uk

The 11+ test is a selective entrance examination for admission in to secondary schools in England. They are sat in September of year 6 when children are aged 10-11 for entry in to year 7 (aged 11, hence 11+). All children sat the 11+ exam until the mid 1970s when there was a move in favour of non-selective comprehensive schools. There are now only 164 grammar schools left in England and new state grammar schools can no longer be opened. The eleven-plus test is no longer mandatory, however it still used in those areas which still offer a grammar education, as well as some selective independent schools, although the term grammar schools usually refers to free state schools as opposed to private schools. Children have to apply to sit the 11+ test in most areas, bar a few, such as Buckinghamshire in which children automatically sit the tests, but they can opt out of the transfer tests. 11-plus tests aim to identify innate academic ability and potential. The two main test suppliers are CEM ® Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring ® (CEM 11+ ® tests) from Cambridge University and GL Assessment ®. An application to sit the test is not an application to the school. Applications to grammar schools must be specified on the CAF.

A FREE CEM 11+ practice mock paper is available to download from Children's Educational Material for 11+. Click here.

The 11+ Exam

The two major suppliers of eleven plus tests in England are CEM ® (often now called the CEM 11+ test) and GL Assessment ® (often called the GL 11+ test).

The format and content of the 11+ exam varies between different suppliers and regions but now tend to be multiple choice papers. Test papers tend to cover individual sections covering:

English (comprehension)
Maths and data-processing
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning (NVR) and sometimes spatial awareness

Although its is often claimed the English (comprehension) and Maths/data-processing tests tend to follow the National Curriculum up to year 5 or early year 6, the verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning/spatial awareness tests are not part of the national curriculum. Children generally benefit from preparation in all sections.

English (comprehension) and verbal reasoning rely on wide reading whereas many more difficult maths topics rely on what is taught either in year 5 and year 6 of primary school. Hence, it is recommended children cover the entire year 6 maths syllabus to maximise their performance in these tests. They should also prepare for NVR/spatial reasoning sections.

CEM Tests

CEM do not release past exam papers and can change the test format and question types without notice. They do not sell practice material, but do provide very short free 11+ familiarisation material (available to download via this site). Paper based tests comprise of two 50-minute multiple choice papers which are answered on a separate answer sheet, with instructions provided from a CD. Each paper consists of short individually timed sections. Sections change between subjects. For example, a paper can contain all four subject areas.The Verbal Reasoning questions tend to be from synonyms; antonyms; cloze sentences; jumbled sentences, and odd word out. Maths tend to be either quick fire questions or longer questions with multiple sections. NVR tend to be sequences; rotation; reflection; grids, and sometimes, nets of cubes.

CEM withdrew paper based 11+ tests in 2023 and now only supply online tests via CEM Select.

GL Assessment Tests

GL do not release past papers, but do provide practice papers and Kent County Council provides a long familiarisation paper. There are often two papers which are both one hour long. The first paper usually covers English and Maths and the second covers VR and NVR/Spatial Reasoning. Both are in multiple choice format and involve a wider range of verbal reasoning question types, many of which are similar to the old 21 types of VR questions. Much more preparation is required for verbal reasoning tests than compared to CEM. Tests may contain more spatial reasoning questions than CEM tests.

Online 11+ preparation

Use WordBuilder for English and Verbal Reasoning and CoolCleverKids for Maths and NVR.

11+ Test Information

11+ Exams

There are numerous organisations that create entrance exams for secondary school admission. The main supplier is GL Assessment (GLA)^®. CEM^®. Cambridge, have pulled out of paper-based 11+ tests leaving the field wide open to GL Assessment. CEM provide online test using CEM Select and are mainly used by private schools. A A few small state schools use these tests.

CEM Centre and GLA

Both sets secondary school entrance assessments (widely referred to as selective entrance or 11+ exams) for various English grammar schools and regions, including Bexley; Birmingham; Buckinghamshire; CCHS (Essex); Gloucestershire; Henrietta Barnett & Latymer; Reading; Redbridge; Shropshire; Slough; Walsall; Warwickshire; Wolverhampton; Trafford; Bexley; Torbay & Devon; Kent Shepway, and Medway .

GL Assessment^® (formally National Foundation for Educational Research^®) is another supplier. Every year GL Assessment^® constructs new, custom-made selection tests for many schools and Local Authorities. Although GL Assessment^® is the copyright holder of the tests, it is the property of the commissioning school or Local Authority for the duration of use.

Both tests are easy to prepare for using WordBuilder.co.uk and CoolCleverKids.co.uk.

Purchase Mock Exams from the Shop

Past eleven plus papers set by CEM Centre^® Cambridge University are not released and cannot be purchased. Usually, two weeks before the test, applicants receive a sample sheet containing example questions.

The new tests from GL Assessment® are similar in to tests from the University of Durham® as far as content is concerned. The move is towards a rich vocabulary, curriculum maths (old level 5 and 6, now a score of 105+) and NVR. The difficulty is tailored for GL 11+ (Grade Level 11+).

Children`s Educational Material for the 11+ has constructed seven practice mock exams. These mock test packs consists of two 50-60 minute papers as well as answers and are available from the shop.

These are NOT endorsed or associated with CEM Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring^® who do not provide preparation material. They are also suitable for the new GL Assessment® and ISEB selection tests.

Warwickshire and Birmingham Consortium

From 2016, Warwickshire shares Birmingham 11+ Consortium test, so 5000 Birmingham students and 2000 Warwickshire students can pass on content to late Warwickshire sitters. The shared test will now require students to mark answers on a separate answer sheet and no longer write answers in a booklet, increasing the chances of marking answers in the incorrect place as has occurred numerous times in other regions. If a test is shared, with other regions, always tick a box to share results with another areas as a backup plan. You have nothing to lose by doing so, and it could prove useful. You never know what may happen.

In 2013, the Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby unlawfully withdrew a place of a child days before the end of year 6 despite the local authority refusing to withdraw the place on four occasions. Luckily the child was offered a place at Schools in two different areas (Walsall and Birmingham) as opposed to be left unplaced because of serious failings of this school. Unfortunately, the child displaced other innocent children, through no fault of his own when he moved straight to the top of waiting lists and was offered places. Play safe and share results with other schools and areas even if you have no intention of taking up a place in other areas.

Free Mock Exams

Taking a "free mock" will cost the school money. But one would expect financially astute schools to consider the financial implications of setting an early test date. Common sense dictates an earlier test is likely to be used as a "free mock" and this has been well known to occur for many years.

We recommend all children, where possible, register for the Warwickshire 11+ tests.

Mock tests are the best way to prepare. What better than using a real test as a mock? This is your legal right.

We believe there is no evidence that any 11+ tests are resistant to prepping and practise will simply improve performance.

NVR

Non-verbal Reasoning

Prepare for different types of NVR questions using

ULTIMATE NVR

over 30 different types of NVR question examples
with explanations.

Available to download from the shop.

Free Practice Papers for CEM

Verbal Reasoning - CEM
Test    Answer sheet Answers

Non-verbal Reasoning - CEM
Test Answer sheet    Answers

Maths - CEM
Test    Answer sheet    Answers

London Borough of Bexley
CEM 11+ practice paper

Free Practice Papers for GL Assessment

Verbal Reasoning - GL Assessment
Test    Answer sheet Answers

Non-verbal Reasoning - GL Assessment
Test Answer sheet    Answers

Maths - GL Assessment
Test    Answer sheet    Answers

English - GL Assessment
Test    Answer sheet    Answers

WordBuilder for 11+ & SATs
Endorsed by 11plus.uk

WordBuilder is a recommended online 11+ preparation tool for English, Comprehension & Verbal Reasoning which includes:

Vocabulary building
Synonyms
Antonyms
Odd word out
Cloze passages
Jumbled Sentences
Comprehension
SATs Spelling tests
SATs KS2 Year 6 Grammar tests

11+ Practice Material & Courses
for tests from CEM & GLA

11+ Practice Papers from Children’s Educational Material for the 11+ are available from the shop.

Word lists, lesson notes and `Ultimate NVR` questions are available from the shop.

Free 11+ material on this website.

Free SATs Papers

Year 5 course for CEM 11+ tests with 100% money back

CoolCleverKids for 11+ & SATs
Endorsed by 11plus.uk

CoolCleverKids.co.uk is a recommended 11+ online preparation tool which includes:

Maths lesson notes and online maths exercises
Comprehensive times tables for speed
KS2 SATs and 11+ maths tests marked online with explanations
NVR tests for 11+
SATs Spelling tests
KS2 year 6 Grammar tests
KS2 year 6 Science tests

How to prepare for 11+ tests

1. Read different books, magazines and view CBBC news online.
2. Cover the entire KS2 maths syllabus.
3. Practice KS2 year 6 Maths SATs papers (all can be done online with CoolCleverKids.co.uk or downloaded from www.SATsPapers.org.uk free of charge).
4. Learn NVR/Spatial reasoning concepts including rotation, reflection, cube nets and counting concepts.
5. Practice as much NVR as possible. Many children peak at consistent high scores of 85%, at which stage the cost-benefit of continued practice is minimal.
6. Verbal reasoning booklets and mock papers are available at low cost from the shop on this site. SATsBooks.com provide low cost books CEM tests and GL tests
7. If taking a CEM 11+ test consider the 100% money-back course from the shop on this site. It includes unlimited access to WordBuilder & CoolCleverKids as well as mock tests.
8. These 11+ tests are effectively speed tests. Practice time management and working under pressure at speed. Mocks are invaluable.
9. Use actual 11+ tests as free mocks for practice. Register early, e.g. for the Warwickshire 11+ test, if it is held before your test. They cannot stop you taking their test.
10. Try the WordBuilder and CoolCleverKids demos.

Cambridge University have now withdrawn CEM paper based 11+ tests. Cambridge spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees to refuse to answer basic questions including which schools shared the same tests. They answered such questions to a Caucasian women after refusing to answer the same question posed by an Asian man. They were aware of the ethnicity of both.

CoolCleverKids
11+ Maths and NVR
CoolCleverKids.co.uk

The Maths site with NVR (Non-verbal reasoning) for Sats and 11+ preparation. Ideal for primary school education and selective school exams. Maths lesson notes; worksheets; presentations; games, & tests auto marked with explanations.

WordBuilder
11+ English & VR
www.WordBuilder.co.uk

Verbal reasoning and English for the 11+, Sats and private/independent school entrance exams as well as primary school. Spellings; definitions; meanings; synonyms; antonyms; cloze passages; jumbled sentences & comprehension.

Sats Papers
Year 2-6 & 11+
www.SatsPapers.org.uk

Information relating to Sats Tests. Free downloads of Sats papers covering Year 2 to 6 with no registration. Prepare for Year 6 level 3-5, level 6 & 11+ tests. Download the latest phonics tests.

ATA React
Free Android App
Google Play

Fun FREE Android App to test your thinking and reaction speed. Four fun games: colours; shapes; numbers and next letter. Stores score history. Ideal for Sats & 11+ fun whilst you prepare. Download from Google Play.

11+ tourists, take the Warwickshire 11+. Tick the box to share results with Birmingham & Warks.

Download FREE SATs papers. No registration & no annoying popup adverts.

11+ English (Verbal Reasoning)
online preparation with

Spellings; Vocabulary; Synonyms; Antomyms; Conundrums; Cloze Passages; Comprehension, and Jumbled up sentences. Ideal for 11+ tests set at the CEM Centre, at Durham University^®.
www.WordBuilder.co.uk

11+ Maths (Numerical Reasoning)
and NVR online preparation with

Free maths question generator
Lesson notes; presentations (videos); worksheets; games; Sats style tests from Year 2 to 6 including mental maths audio tests; private school 11+ tests, and CEM style past questions.
Now includes Non-verbal Reasoning.
Ideal for 11+ tests set at the CEM Centre, at Durham University^®.
www.CoolCleverKids.co.uk