The 11+ explained: a straight-talking guide for parents

What is the 11+?

The 11+ is a selective entrance exam used to decide which children are offered places at academically selective secondary schools in England. Two kinds of school use it: state grammar schools (free, but academically selective) and some independent schools (which charge fees). It takes its name from the fact that children are around eleven years old when they sit it.

It's worth being clear about what the 11+ is not. It isn't part of the National Curriculum, it isn't used in every area, and it isn't compulsory. It's a separate, optional exam that families opt into when they're hoping for a selective-school place.

Is the 11+ compulsory?

No — the 11+ is entirely optional. Most children in England move up to non-selective (comprehensive) secondary schools without ever sitting it. You would only enter your child if you're hoping for a place at a grammar or selective independent school in your area.

Schools don't enter children automatically. You register your child yourself, usually through an online form run by the school, the local authority, or a consortium of schools — and the deadlines are firm, so it's worth finding your area's dates early.

When do children take the 11+?

Most children sit the 11+ right at the start of Year 6 — commonly in September, sometimes stretching into October. Registration usually opens and closes the summer before (often around June or July), well ahead of the exam itself.

Results typically arrive in mid-to-late October. That timing matters: it lands just before the 31 October national deadline for applying to secondary schools, so families know their result before they submit their school preferences.

What does the 11+ test?

The 11+ draws on up to four skill areas:

• English — reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary, and sometimes a piece of writing.
• Maths — the Key Stage 2 maths your child covers at school, usually with an emphasis on problem-solving.
• Verbal reasoning — word- and language-based logic puzzles: codes, hidden words, analogies and the like.
• Non-verbal reasoning — puzzles using shapes and patterns, testing spatial and logical thinking rather than words.

Which of these your child actually sits depends entirely on where you live. Some areas test all four; others test only maths and English. This is one of the biggest reasons to check your specific area rather than assume.

Who sets the 11+, and which exam board is used?

This varies by region. GL Assessment is the most widely used provider, and some areas use bespoke tests written specifically for a local consortium of schools. Because providers and formats have changed over the years and differ from place to place, the single most reliable step is to confirm the current test — and any official sample papers — directly with your target school or local admissions authority.

How is the 11+ scored, and what counts as a "pass"?

There is no single national pass mark. Scores are usually age-standardised — adjusted for your child's exact age in months, so a summer-born child isn't disadvantaged against an older classmate. Each area then sets its own qualifying score, or ranks children, for a fixed number of available places.

One thing that surprises many parents: reaching the qualifying score doesn't always guarantee a place. In competitive areas, more children meet the standard than there are places, and places may then go to those living closest to the school or with the highest scores. As ever, the exact rules are local.

How competitive is the 11+?

It varies enormously by area, but in many grammar-school regions the 11+ is very competitive, with several strong applicants for each place. That's worth knowing for two reasons: it's why steady preparation helps, and it's why keeping the whole process low-pressure for your child matters just as much. A calm, confident child tends to do themselves justice on the day; an anxious one often doesn't.

How can I help my child prepare?

Preparation works best little and often, spread over months rather than crammed at the end. A few sensible principles:

• Build real understanding, not just test tricks. Children who understand a method can handle an unfamiliar question; children who've only memorised patterns get stuck.
• Cover all the skills your area tests — including the reasoning papers, which schools rarely teach directly.
• Add timed practice closer to the exam, so the format and pace feel familiar.
• Protect confidence and wellbeing. Short, positive sessions beat long, tearful ones. Praise effort, keep perspective, and don't let the 11+ take over family life.

Tutors, workbooks and free online resources can all play a part — none is essential, and the right mix depends on your child and your budget.