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The Complete Guide to 11+ Entrance Exams (+ Free Sample Paper)

Everything parents need to know about 11+ entrance exams: what they test, how they're scored, when to prepare, and how to give your child the best chance of securing a place at a top grammar school or selective independent senior school.

160+

Schools Using ISEB

~2h 30m

Test Duration

Test Sections

Year 5–6

Typical Age

What is the 11+?

The 11+ is the collective name for a suite of entrance examinations sat by children in Year 5 or Year 6 to secure a place at a selective secondary school. It is used by England’s 163 state grammar schools and by many leading independent senior schools for admission into Year 7. Although often spoken about as a single exam, the 11+ is actually a family of different papers—the exact format, provider, and pass mark depending on the region and the schools being applied to.

Who Takes It

Children in the final year of primary school applying to state grammar schools (such as Tiffin, Henrietta Barnett, Sutton Grammar, Wilson’s, and the Kent and Buckinghamshire grammars) or to selective independent senior schools (such as St Paul’s Girls’, City of London, North London Collegiate, Haberdashers’ Boys’, and King’s College School Wimbledon).

When It's Taken

For grammar schools, the 11+ is almost always sat in September of Year 6, with results returned before secondary-school application deadlines in October. For independent schools, entrance exams typically fall in January of Year 6. Many families sit both, which requires careful preparation planning.

Test Format

Most 11+ papers remain written, timed assessments sat under formal exam conditions at the target school or a designated test centre. An increasing number of independent schools use computer-adaptive pre-tests (ISEB Pre-Test or CAT4) in Year 5 as an initial screen before inviting stronger candidates to main papers.

Test Structure & Sections

The 11+ typically covers four core subject areas, though the exact weighting varies by region and school. Understanding what each section demands is the single most important factor in planning effective preparation.

Verbal Reasoning

Candidates read unseen passages—often from 19th and 20th century literature—and answer questions on meaning, inference, and literary technique. Most papers also test spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary through discrete questions. A creative or discursive writing task (15–30 minutes) is increasingly common, particularly at independent schools.

Mathematics

Covers the full Key Stage 2 mathematics curriculum: arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, algebra, geometry, and data handling. Questions frequently extend beyond standard KS2 demands, particularly at super-selective schools. Many papers include a mental arithmetic section where questions are read aloud with tight time limits.

Verbal Reasoning

Assesses the ability to reason with words—synonyms, antonyms, analogies, word codes, letter sequences, and logical word problems. Verbal reasoning is heavily coachable through practice, making it one of the most score-responsive sections with good preparation.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Evaluates pattern recognition and logical reasoning using shapes, sequences, matrices, and transformations. Because it is language-independent, this section is considered a fair measure across different educational backgrounds. Strong spatial intuition and systematic approach both help.

How the 11+ is Scored

The 11+ uses age-standardised scoring to ensure fairness across the full Year 6 cohort, which spans nearly twelve months of age difference between September-born and August-born candidates. Understanding how this works is crucial to setting realistic expectations.

Raw marks are converted into Standard Age Scores (SAS), typically ranging from 69 to 141
SAS 100 represents the age-adjusted national average
Most grammar schools require a minimum standardised score of around 111–121 to qualify for consideration
Super-selective grammars (such as Tiffin, Henrietta Barnett, and Wilson's) often require scores of 125+, effectively the top 5%
Pass marks vary significantly by region and year—Buckinghamshire, Kent, and Essex all operate different thresholds
Scores are age-standardised to the month, so a younger candidate is compared fairly with an older one
Many grammar-school areas use a catchment-weighted offer system—a strong score alone does not guarantee a place if the school is oversubscribed within catchment
Independent schools typically make offers based on overall performance across papers plus interview and school reference

Worried Your Child Won't Pass?

With a 98% success rate,our 11+ preparation programme is trusted by families targeting the UK's most competitive grammar and independent senior schools. We guarantee results or we continue tutoring free.

Preparation Timeline

The 11+ rewards long-term, structured preparation far more reliably than late intensive cramming. Because grammar-school exams fall in September of Year 6, the effective preparation window closes earlier than many parents assume. Here is our recommended timeline, developed from years of successfully preparing students for 11+ success.

12-18 Months Before

Foundation Building

Focus on core academic skills: reading widely from classic and contemporary literature, extending mental arithmetic speed, and introducing basic verbal and non-verbal reasoning through puzzle books and games. This is not formal test prep—it is about strengthening the underlying academic foundations that the 11+ genuinely rewards.

6-9 Months Before

Structured Practice Begins

Start working through 11+-style questions systematically across all four subjects. Establish the region-specific exam format your child will be sitting—GL Assessment, FSCE, or bespoke school papers—and calibrate practice accordingly. A routine of 30–45 minutes, 4–5 times per week works well at this stage.

3-6 Months Before

Intensive Preparation

Focus heavily on weaker areas while maintaining strengths. Complete full timed mock papers under realistic conditions. Begin sustained creative writing practice with regular feedback on structure, vocabulary, and technical accuracy. Work with a specialist tutor to address persistent gaps.

1-3 Months Before

Exam Technique & Confidence

Simulate full exam conditions with complete mock tests for every target school’s format. Build speed, accuracy, and resilience under time pressure. Refine the creative writing component—this is where marginal candidates are separated from strong ones. Address final gaps and focus on mental preparation.

Final Week

Rest & Review

Light revision only. Ensure your child is well-rested, confident, and familiar with the exam logistics—including the test centre location and timing. Avoid cramming—anxiety and fatigue on exam morning cause more lost marks than a missed revision session ever could.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-prepared students underperform on the 11+ due to avoidable errors. Here are the most common pitfalls we see and how to prevent them.

Starting preparation too late

The Solution

Because grammar-school papers are sat in September of Year 6, meaningful preparation needs to begin no later than mid-Year 5—ideally earlier. Families who begin in the summer before the exam often find they have built knowledge but not exam stamina. Start early and preparation can be calm and steady rather than rushed and stressful.

Preparing for the wrong exam format

The Solution

11+ papers are not standardised nationally. Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Essex, and the London consortiums all use different formats, providers, and question styles. Independent schools frequently use bespoke papers of their own design. Identify every target school's exam format early and calibrate practice to the specific paper your child will actually sit.

Neglecting creative writing

The Solution

The written composition is the most coachable yet most ignored element of the 11+, and many independent schools weight it heavily. Regular timed writing practice with structured feedback on planning, paragraphing, vocabulary, and technical accuracy can lift marks substantially. Do not leave writing until the final month.

Ignoring mental arithmetic speed

The Solution

Many maths papers include a timed mental arithmetic section where slow processing costs marks regardless of true mathematical ability. Daily mental arithmetic practice—ten minutes a day from mid-Year 5—builds the automatic recall that frees thinking time during the paper itself.

Not practising under timed conditions

The Solution

Untimed practice produces a misleading sense of readiness. Children who can answer every question correctly when untimed often freeze when faced with a ticking clock. Replicate real conditions from the six-month mark: full duration, no breaks, no parental prompts. Time pressure is a skill that must be trained.

98% of Our Students Pass the 11+

Join hundreds of families who trusted our expert tutors. If your child completes our programme and does not pass, we continue tutoring free of charge.

How Elite British Admissions Can Help

Our specialist 11+ preparation programme is designed around the specific demands of the grammar schools and selective independent schools your child is targeting. With our pass guarantee, you can be confident in their preparation.

Diagnostic Assessment

We identify your child’s specific strengths and weaknesses across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning—matched precisely against the exam format of your target schools.

Expert Tutors

Our tutors specialise exclusively in 11+ entrance exams and know the subtle differences between GL Assessment papers, FSCE formats, London consortium papers, and each independent school’s bespoke style.

Practice Materials

Access to 500+ 11+-style questions, full-length timed mock papers in every major exam format, creative writing prompts with detailed feedback, and targeted mental arithmetic drills.

Progress Tracking

Weekly reports so you can see your child’s improvement across all four subject areas, projected standardised scores, and identification of precisely where further focus is needed before exam day.

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https://elitebritishadmissions.com/cat4-guide/

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Get a head start on your preparation with our comprehensive free sample paper.

11+ Entrance Preparation

Our students achieve a 98% pass rate. If your child does not pass after completing our programme, we will continue tutoring free of charge until they do.

98%

Pass Rate

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Students Helped

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Personalised study plan based on diagnostic assessment
Weekly 1-to-1 tutoring with exam specialists
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“My daughter was struggling with the verbal reasoning section. After just 8 weeks with Elite British Admissions, she scored in the top 10% nationally. The guarantee gave us peace of mind throughout.”

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James P.

ISEB Pre-Test, 2025

The Complete Guide to 11+ Entrance Exams (+ Free Sample Paper)

12-18 Months Before

Foundation Building

6-9 Months Before

Structured Practice Begins

3-6 Months Before

Intensive Preparation

1-3 Months Before

Exam Technique & Confidence

Final Week

Rest & Review

The Solution

The Solution

The Solution

The Solution

The Solution

James P.

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