Most parents outside selective areas have no idea what the 11+ is until it suddenly becomes very relevant to their lives. Here's what you need to know.
What is the 11+ exam?
The 11+ is an entrance test used by grammar schools to decide which children to offer places to. It's called the "11 plus" because children historically sat it at age 11 - though most now sit it in September of Year 6, when they're still 10.
There are around 163 grammar schools left in England, mostly in Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Birmingham, Trafford, and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire. If you've recently moved from somewhere without grammar schools, it can feel like you've landed in a different educational system - because in some ways, you have.
Who sets the exam?
There isn't one standard 11+ exam. Different areas use different providers, and the format varies significantly.
- GL Assessment - the most widely used provider. Tests verbal and non-verbal reasoning alongside maths and English.
- CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) - used in Birmingham, Wiltshire, and parts of the North. Designed to be less "coachable," though this hasn't stopped the tutoring industry from trying.
- CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) - covers selective schools in Essex with its own format.
- SET (Sutton and Kingston Selective Eligibility Test) - south London and Surrey schools. Highly competitive, applied to separately from school applications.
- ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) - some independent schools, with pre-tests that can happen as early as age 10.
Before buying any preparation materials: find out which exam board your target schools use. Most school websites will tell you. The format directly affects how you should prepare.
What subjects does it cover?
- Maths - up to Year 6 curriculum level. Arithmetic, fractions, problem-solving, data handling.
- English - comprehension, grammar, spelling, punctuation. Some papers include writing.
- Verbal Reasoning - the one that surprises most parents. Spotting patterns in words and letters: analogies, codes, sequences. Think IQ-test-meets-English.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning - visual pattern recognition. Shapes, sequences, matrices. No reading involved, which can suit children who think spatially.
Not every exam includes all four - some CEM tests blend verbal and English, some schools only test maths and verbal reasoning. Check the specific schools you're applying to.
When does it happen?
Most 11+ exams take place in September of Year 6, when your child is 10. Registration deadlines are often in June or July of Year 5 - which catches a lot of parents off guard. The window closes faster than you'd expect.
How do schools use the scores?
Each school sets its own pass threshold. Hitting it doesn't guarantee a place - it means your child is considered academically suitable. Actual offers then depend on oversubscription criteria, usually distance from the school.
In oversubscribed areas (looking at you, Kent), a child can pass and still not get in because they live too far away. Worth knowing before you invest too much emotional energy in the process.
Two myths worth clearing up
"You can't prepare for the 11+" - not true. You'll hear this most from people who are already prepared or have given up. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning improve with practice. Children who've done 50 practice papers perform better than children who walk in cold.
"Tutoring is cheating" - it's widespread, which does create an uneven playing field. But it's a more intensive version of what any parent might do at home. Preparation works best when it's consistent, low-pressure, and started early enough that it doesn't become a panic in the final weeks - whether you're using books, an app, a tutor, or all three.