The 11 Plus is one of the most talked-about exams in UK primary education, yet many families only begin to understand what it actually involves once they are already deep into the preparation process. If your child is approaching Year 5 or Year 6 and you are considering a grammar school or selective independent school place, this guide explains clearly what the exam is, what it covers, and what realistic preparation looks like.
The 11 Plus is a selective entrance exam taken in Year 6, typically when children are aged 10 to 11. It is used by grammar schools and some independent schools to assess whether a child is academically suited to a selective secondary education. Results usually determine entry to Year 7, meaning children sit the exam in the autumn term of Year 6 — often as early as September — for a school place beginning the following September.
The exam is not a national qualification like SATs or GCSEs. There is no single, standardised 11 Plus. Instead, the format, content, and difficulty vary significantly depending on the school or consortium running the test and which test provider they use. This is one of the most important things to understand from the outset: the 11 Plus your child sits in Kent will look quite different from the one used in Birmingham or Buckinghamshire.
Grammar schools are state-funded selective schools that use the 11 Plus as their primary admissions criterion. England currently has around 163 grammar schools, concentrated in specific areas including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Birmingham, Trafford, and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire. In Northern Ireland, the transfer test (sometimes called the GL or AQE test) serves a similar purpose, though it operates under a separate system.
Some independent schools also use their own version of the 11 Plus or a closely related entrance exam at 11+. These schools may set their own papers or use a standardised test alongside an interview. If you are targeting an independent school, it is worth checking directly with the admissions team whether they use GL Assessment, CEM, or a bespoke paper.
While the exact content varies, most 11 Plus exams assess children across some combination of the following four areas:
Not every exam includes all four components. Some areas test only verbal and non-verbal reasoning; others place greater emphasis on maths and English. This is why knowing exactly which test your target school uses is essential before you begin preparing.
GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, part of Durham University) are the two main test providers used across England. Understanding the difference matters because the style of questions and the way children need to approach them differs between the two.
GL Assessment papers tend to have a more traditional format, with clearly defined question types that children can practise repeatedly. Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and English are often tested in separate papers. GL Assessment is used in areas including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Essex, and many grammar schools in the North West.
CEM tests are generally considered less predictable. Questions are mixed across subjects within a single paper, and the format changes more frequently — partly by design, to reduce the advantage of intensive drilling. CEM is used in areas including Birmingham, Warwickshire, and parts of Yorkshire.
Some local authorities and grammar school consortia commission their own bespoke papers that draw on elements of both providers. Familiarising yourself with the specific test used by your target school is the single most important step in planning preparation effectively.
Preparation typically starts in Year 4 or early Year 5, giving children 12 to 18 months before the exam. This does not mean intensive daily drilling from age eight — it means building strong foundations in core skills gradually, then introducing exam-specific practice as the exam approaches.
A sensible preparation timeline might look like this:
Many families choose to work with a tutor during this period, particularly for verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which are not formally taught in most primary schools. A good tutor will tailor preparation to the specific test format used by the target school rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. 11+ tuition with Leading Tuition is structured around exactly this kind of targeted, school-specific preparation.
It is also worth keeping perspective. The 11 Plus is a significant exam, but it is not the only route to an excellent secondary education. Children who do not pass still have access to strong local schools, and many go on to achieve outstanding GCSE and A Level results through other routes.
When should my child start preparing for the 11 Plus?
Most families begin structured preparation in Year 4 or at the start of Year 5, around 12 to 18 months before the exam. Starting earlier allows time to build skills steadily rather than cramming. However, children who begin in Year 5 can still prepare effectively with focused, consistent work — particularly if their core maths and English skills are already strong.
What is the difference between GL Assessment and CEM?
GL Assessment papers follow a more predictable format, with separate papers for verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and English. CEM papers mix question types within a single paper and change format more regularly, making them harder to prepare for through repetitive drilling alone. The test provider used depends entirely on the school or local consortium, so always check with your target school directly.
Is there an official pass mark for the 11 Plus?
There is no single national pass mark. Each grammar school or consortium sets its own qualifying score or standardised threshold, and in many areas the exam is competitive rather than pass/fail — meaning children are ranked and places are offered to the highest scorers. Some areas, such as Kent, publish a qualifying score, while others simply rank all applicants. Contact the school's admissions team or check their admissions policy for the most accurate information.
How do I find out which test my child's target school uses?
The most reliable source is the school's own admissions page or prospectus, which should state whether they use GL Assessment, CEM, or a bespoke paper. Your local authority's secondary admissions guidance may also list this information for grammar schools in the area. If it is not clear, contact the school's admissions office directly — they are usually happy to confirm the format and point you towards sample materials.
Understanding the 11 Plus properly — what it tests, how it varies, and what preparation genuinely involves — puts families in a much stronger position from the start. Whether your child is just entering Year 4 or already in Year 5, there is time to prepare thoughtfully and build the skills and confidence the exam requires. For support with the maths component specifically, our specialist Maths tutoring can help consolidate the KS2 topics most commonly tested.
11+ tuition with Leading Tuition — structured, school-specific preparation for the 11 Plus exam.
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