The 11+ is a selective assessment sat by children in the final year of primary school (Year 6, usually aged 10–11) to determine entry into grammar schools and some independent schools. It exists because those schools have more applicants than places, so the test is used to rank and select candidates rather than to check whether a child has met a basic standard.
For families new to the process, the confusing part is usually not the exam itself but the sheer number of different versions of it. There is no single "the 11+" — the subjects tested, the exam board used, and whether a school runs one stage or two all vary by area and by school. This guide is the starting point for making sense of that variety before diving into the detail.
The four subjects it can cover
Most 11+ tests draw from up to four subjects, though not every school or area uses all four. English and Maths are built on the Key Stage 2 curriculum, so they overlap with normal schoolwork. Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not taught as part of the national curriculum, which is why they usually need dedicated practice rather than just "more schoolwork".
- English: comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling, sometimes with a writing task
- Maths: KS2 curriculum content with an emphasis on problem-solving and mental arithmetic
- Verbal Reasoning: word-based logic and pattern questions, not covered in normal school lessons
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: shape and pattern-based visual reasoning, also outside the school curriculum
Who sits the 11+, and why it varies so much by area
In fully selective areas — counties such as Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire, and cities including Birmingham — most or all state secondary schools are grammar schools, so a large share of the local Year 6 cohort sits the test as standard practice. In partially selective areas, such as much of London, only specific grammar schools are selective, so families choose to enter individual schools or consortium tests rather than sitting one area-wide exam.
Independent schools add a further layer: many run their own entrance exams that resemble the 11+ in structure, sometimes alongside interviews, but are set and marked entirely by the individual school rather than a shared regional board.
See exactly where your child stands
The free diagnostic pinpoints the weakest areas in minutes, so the advice on this page turns into a concrete plan rather than guesswork.
Exam boards and school-specific tests
Where a shared test is used, it is normally set by an external exam board or provider, which standardises papers and scoring across many schools. GL Assessment is the most widely used, but several areas and consortia use their own systems, and some schools run entirely bespoke tests. This is exactly why "the 11+" cannot be prepared for as one fixed format — the right preparation depends on knowing which version your target schools actually use.
- GL Assessment: used widely across many grammar school areas
- CSSE: the Essex-area consortium test, with its own distinct paper structure
- Sutton SET and similar consortium tests: a shared first stage feeding into school-specific later stages
- Bespoke, school-set tests: used by some superselective and independent schools instead of a shared board
One stage or two
Some schools make their decision from a single exam day. Others use a two-stage process: an initial eligibility test that most local candidates sit, followed by a second-stage test only for those who progress, sometimes run directly by the individual school. Two-stage processes usually mean the real competition happens at the second stage, even though the first stage understandably feels high-pressure at the time.
Suggested next steps
Once you understand the shape of the process, the next useful steps are finding out exactly what your target schools test, checking whether your child is genuinely ready to start, and understanding how the scoring actually works so a practice score means something concrete.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions parents usually ask first.
Is the 11+ the same everywhere in England?
No. Fully selective areas use the 11+ for most state secondary admissions, while other areas only use it for specific grammar schools. The subjects tested, the exam board, and the number of stages all vary by area and by school.
What age do children sit the 11+?
Most children sit the 11+ in Year 6, usually at age 10 turning 11, with tests typically held in September of that school year for entry the following September.
Do all grammar schools test the same four subjects?
No. Some schools test all four (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning), while others, such as Queen Elizabeth's School Barnet, test only English and Maths. Always check the specific requirements for each school you are considering.