If you've heard the phrase "the 11+" thrown around at the school gates and felt a quiet panic, you're in good company. The 11+ is a selective entrance test taken in Year 6 by children hoping to win a place at a UK grammar school or selective independent school. It sits outside the National Curriculum, which is why most pupils need dedicated practice — and why families look for the right resources early. Practice now with our free trial to see exactly what the questions feel like.
Who takes the 11+?
Around 100,000 children sit some version of the 11+ each year — most in early Year 6 (age 10 turning 11). Some children take it for grammar schools, others for independents, and a handful do both. Each region and each school has its own quirks, but the test itself is broadly similar in structure.
What's on the paper?
Almost every 11+ paper covers four core areas: English (comprehension, vocabulary, grammar), Maths (number, geometry, problem solving), Verbal Reasoning (word logic and codes), and Non-Verbal Reasoning (shapes, sequences, rotation). Multiple-choice is the most common format.
How do schools score it?
Schools convert raw marks into a "standardised score" between roughly 70 and 141. A pass at most grammar schools sits around 121 — that's about 80% accuracy at a brisk pace.