11+ guides
Free, detailed guides covering exam boards, subjects, timing by year group, and regional grammar school systems across England — written for parents navigating the 11+ for the first time.
Guides
New to the 11+? A clear, complete guide to what it is, who sits it, how registration works, and how results and offers happen.
An honest, evidence-based look at grammar vs comprehensive schools in England, so you can weigh what actually matters for your child.
Honest guidance on when to start 11+ prep, why earlier isn't always better, and what to do if you're starting late in Year 6.
A clear, honest breakdown of what 11+ tutoring typically costs in the UK, from private one-to-one to group tuition and online platforms.
A general guide to the typical 11+ registration, exam and results timeline in England, and why you must check your local dates.
How 11+ standardised scoring actually works, why there's no single universal pass mark, and why scores vary by area and year.
A practical comparison of GL Assessment and CEM-style 11+ exams, covering format, question style, and how to prepare for each.
Exam boards
What GL Assessment 11+ exams cover, how they're structured, which areas use them, and how to focus your child's practice for the best results.
What a CEM-style 11+ exam actually is today, how it differs from GL Assessment, and how to prepare for its mixed-subject, vocabulary-heavy format.
How the ISEB Common Pre-Test works, which subjects it covers, when it's sat, and how it differs from grammar school 11+ exams.
How independent schools that set their own bespoke 11+ papers differ from ISEB Common Pre-Test schools, and how to prepare for interviews too.
By subject
A complete guide to the 11+ Maths exam — every topic covered, the most common mistakes children make, and how to structure effective practice.
Everything the 11+ English exam covers — comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, spelling and writing — plus how to build these skills over time.
A clear guide to 11+ Verbal Reasoning: every common question type explained, why children find it hard, and how to build real familiarity.
A practical guide to 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: the main question types, why practice matters more than raw ability, and mistakes to avoid.
By year group
Thinking about the 11+ in Year 3? Here's what genuinely helps at this stage and what to leave until later, from a realistic timeline perspective.
What Year 4 11+ preparation should look like: light exposure to question types, building on foundations, without high-intensity practice yet.
Year 5 is when serious 11+ preparation usually starts. Here's a sensible weekly structure, all four subjects, and a first diagnostic assessment.
Year 6 is exam year. How to structure the final months, use mock exams well, manage nerves, and what an 8-week emergency plan looks like.
By region
A clear guide to the 11+ in Birmingham and the King Edward VI Foundation grammar schools, how the test works, and how to prepare with confidence.
Everything Buckinghamshire parents need to know about the 11+ test, the county's grammar school system, and how to prepare effectively.
A complete guide to the Kent Test, one of England's largest grammar school systems, covering format, timing, Medway, and preparation tips.
A clear guide to the 11+ in Essex, covering Southend, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and how the county's patchier selective system works.
A full guide to the 11+ in Lincolnshire, one of England's largest county-wide grammar school systems, covering format, timing and preparation.
A guide to the 11+ in Warwickshire, covering the county's small number of grammar schools, how the test works, and how to prepare effectively.
How the 11+ works in Trafford, Greater Manchester: the test, timing, grammar schools, and how to prepare your child with confidence.
A clear guide to the 11+ on the Wirral: how the selective system works, test format, key dates, and how to prepare your child.
Gloucestershire's county-wide grammar school system explained: how the 11+ works, key dates, test format, and preparation tips.
How the 11+ works in Berkshire and Slough: grammar school options, test format, timing, and how to prepare your child effectively.