What subjects are in the 11 Plus (English, maths, verbal, non-verbal)?

Overview of 11 Plus Exam

The 11 Plus exam, taken by over 100,000 Year 6 pupils annually in the UK, tests English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning to determine entry into 163 grammar schools and hundreds of independent schools.

Exams follow a standard format with four core subjects, each in 45-60 minute papers. Questions appear in multiple choice or short answer styles, depending on the provider.

Pass marks vary by region, often ranging from 110-121 on the GL scale or around 80%+ on CEM tests. Major providers include GL Assessment, which covers many areas, and CEM, used in others.

• GL Assessment: Focuses on structured questions in all subjects.
• CEM: Emphasises speed and less familiar formats.
• Other local variations for specific grammar schools.

Parents can review past papers from these providers to understand the exam format. Practice with timed mock tests builds familiarity for Year 5 and Year 6 pupils.

Exam Format and Timing

The 11 Plus typically splits into separate papers for each of the four subjects. Each paper lasts 45-60 minutes, testing stamina under timed conditions.

Multiple choice questions dominate in Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, while English and Maths mix short answers with selections. This setup mirrors Key Stage 2 curriculum demands.

Some regions combine subjects into fewer, longer tests. Check local grammar school guides for exact question types and marking schemes.

Experts recommend starting exam preparation in Year 5 with short daily sessions. Use 11+ practice papers to simulate real test pressure.

Scoring and Pass Marks

Schools set their own pass mark or score thresholds, often 110-121 on the GL scale. CEM uses percentage-based scores around 80% or higher for selection.

Standardised scores adjust for difficulty, ensuring fairness across test sittings. Higher scores improve chances at top grammars.

Review sample score reports from GL Assessment and CEM providers. Track progress with mock tests to aim above typical cut-offs.

Parents should note regional differences in transfer tests. A study plan targeting weak areas helps reach required levels.

Major Providers and Coverage

GL Assessment designs tests for about 60% of 11 Plus regions, focusing on core skills. CEM covers the rest with adaptive, speed-focused papers.

Both include the 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Local consortia may tweak formats slightly.

• Practice Bond papers for GL-style questions.
• Use CEM-specific revision guides for unique puzzles.
• Access free sample worksheets online for both.

Familiarise with provider styles early via past papers. This targeted approach suits grammar schools and independent schools.

English Subject Breakdown

11+ English papers test comprehension (40%), vocabulary/spelling (30%), and grammar/punctuation (30%), typically in a 45-55 minute exam with 25-35 questions. These align with GL Assessment and CEM syllabus standards, focusing on Year 5 and 6 National Curriculum skills. Common pitfalls include rushing comprehension or misspelling common words.

Scoring often awards 1 mark per question, with multiple-choice or short-answer formats. Practice reveals patterns in 11+ English exams for grammar schools and independent schools. Parents should note time pressure as a frequent challenge.

Techniques like reading questions first help manage time. Resources such as Bond Papers and CGP workbooks match exam styles. Regular mocks build confidence for this core 11+ subject.

Understanding the marking scheme aids preparation. Inference questions trip up many, so targeted practice is key. This section breaks down each area with strategies.

Comprehension Skills

Comprehension questions require extracting main ideas from 400-600 word passages, with 8-12 questions per passage testing inference (30%), main idea (25%), and vocabulary in context (20%). These appear in GL Assessment and CEM formats. Passages cover fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.

Try these five specific techniques: read questions first to save time, underline key phrases while reading, practice with Bond Papers Book 1 featuring 15 passages, time passages at 6 minutes each, and learn 12 inference question types like "author's attitude".

• GL Assessment sample: What does the phrase "storm in a teacup" suggest? This tests idiomatic meaning.
• Focus on reading skills for summary and inference in eleven plus exam.
• Use 11+ practice papers to simulate timed conditions.

Common errors include missing subtle inferences. Regular practice with transfer test resources strengthens extraction of details. This builds speed for the 11+ English section.

Vocabulary and Spelling

Vocabulary questions test 800 most common 11+ words through synonyms, antonyms, and cloze tests; spelling covers Year 5/6 National Curriculum words like 'accommodate' and 'conscious'. These follow GL Assessment and CEM standards. Scoring gives 1 mark per correct answer.

High-frequency question types include:

• Synonyms: benevolent = kind
• Antonyms: transient = permanent
• Word pairs: fish/fowl
• Odd one out: identify the unrelated word
• Claze procedures and word completion
• Analogy-style pairs
• Contextual usage

A sample spelling list from CGP 11+ book: accommodate, achieve, aggressive, apparent, bargain, category, cemetery, chauffeur, column, diarrhoea. Use Vocabulary Ninja daily lists covering 200 words for steady progress.

Avoid pitfalls by practising verbal reasoning overlaps in 11+ subjects. Daily review of synonyms aids retention for grammar school entrance.

Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar tests identify parts of speech, sentence types, and tense usage; punctuation covers speech marks, commas in lists, and apostrophes in 10-15 targeted questions. These match National Curriculum Year 6 objectives and 11+ syllabuses. Questions are often multiple-choice.

Key areas with examples:

1. 1Identify nouns/pronouns in sentences: The cat chased its tail.
2. 2Choose correct tense: past perfect as in She had eaten.
3. 3Spot sentence fragments: incomplete like Running through the park.
4. 4Add punctuation to dialogue: "Hello," she said.
5. 5Fronted adverbials: Suddenly, the door opened.
6. 6Relative clauses: using who, which, that.

Practice with CGP Grammar Workbook exercises on pages 45-67. Common errors involve mixing its/it's. Focus on these for selective schools prep.

Timed drills improve accuracy in entrance exam conditions. Link grammar to comprehension for holistic 11+ English success. Revision guides reinforce these skills.

Maths Subject Breakdown

11+ Maths covers Number (50%), Measurement/Geometry (30%), and Data/Statistics (20%) across 40-50 questions in 50 minutes, emphasising mental arithmetic and problem-solving. Parents should note this weighting when planning revision for the eleven plus exam. Focus on timed practice to build speed for CEM and GL formats.

Questions demand quick mental calculations and logical steps. Children tackle arithmetic basics alongside shape properties and data interpretation. Regular 11+ practice papers help familiarise with the pressure of a timed exam.

Timing varies by provider, but aim for under a minute per question overall. Use resources like Bond papers for mixed practice. This prepares for selective schools' entrance exam demands in Year 6.

Break study into daily sessions on core topics. Combine with mock tests to track progress. Parents can support through supervised drills on weak areas like fractions or angles.

Number and Arithmetic

Number questions test BODMAS, fractions, decimals, percentages, and ratio through 20-25 problems requiring mental calculation speed, aim for 1 minute per question. These form the bulk of 11+ Maths papers in both CEM and GL styles. Mastery here boosts overall scores in the timed exam.

Core topics include eight key areas with practical examples. Fractions like 3/4 + 2/5 = 19/20 test equivalence. Percentage increase, such as 20% of 450 = 90, checks proportional thinking.

• Ratio sharing, e.g., £240 in 3:5 split.
• Long multiplication, like 28 × 37.
• Decimals to fractions conversion.
• Prime factors and multiples.
• Order of operations with BODMAS.
• Negative numbers in calculations.
• Exponent basics, squares and cubes.
• Divisibility rules for quick checks.

Build speed with 10 mental maths strategies: count in multiples, round for estimates, use number bonds, break down multiplications, visualise fractions on number lines, practise skip counting, recall square roots, apply inverse operations, chunk large numbers, and verbalise steps aloud. Aim for 45 seconds per problem with timed drills. Bond Maths Book 11 offers 200 questions for targeted practice.

Geometry and Measurement

Geometry tests perimeter, area, angles, and basic algebra through 12-15 questions; measurement covers time, speed, and conversion units. These appear in GL and CEM 11+ Maths formats, often with diagrams. Children must apply formulas accurately under time pressure.

Key formulas include these essentials:

Common question types feature angle chasing on a 180° straight line, area of compound shapes by splitting into rectangles, and unit conversions like 3.2 km = 3200 m. Others include net folding for 3D shapes and scale drawings. A frequent error is forgetting π = 3.14, so practise approximations.

Use CGP Geometry worksheets for drills. Time 5 questions per session at 1.5 minutes each. Review errors to strengthen spatial reasoning for the eleven plus exam.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning tests pattern recognition in words and letters through 80 questions in 40 minutes, focusing on analogies (25%), synonyms (20%), and code-breaking (20%). This 11+ subject appears in both GL and CEM formats for grammar schools and independent schools. Parents often find it challenging, as it demands quick thinking under timed conditions.

Children need to spot relationships between words, decode letter patterns, and complete sequences. Practice builds speed for the eleven plus exam, where accuracy matters in multiple-choice questions. Expect a mix of word puzzles and logical deductions.

Common question types include synonyms, antonyms, and letter shifts. Familiarity with 11+ Verbal Reasoning techniques helps year 6 pupils tackle the pressure. Use timed mock tests to simulate exam day.

Experts recommend daily practice with resources like Bond papers. This strengthens vocabulary and logic for selective schools. Focus on weak areas through targeted worksheets.

Word Analogies and Synonyms

Word analogies test relationships like 'glove is to hand as hat is to head'; synonyms require identifying closest meaning from 4 options. These appear frequently in 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning papers from GL and CEM. Spotting the link quickly saves time in the exam.

To solve, first identify the relationship type. Common types include: part-whole like wheel:car, tool-worker such as pen:writer, and cause-effect like rain:umbrella. Other patterns cover opposites, function, and degree.

For synonyms, match words like calm:serene, happy:joyful, begin:start, end:finish, large:big, small:tiny, quick:fast, hot:scorching, cold:freezing, brave:courageous. Practice lists build recognition. Aim for high accuracy through repetition.

Use the method: eliminate wrong options, test the relationship. Resources like Schofield & Sims Verbal Reasoning Book 1 offer 100 questions for skill-building. Regular drills boost confidence for grammar school entrance.

Code-breaking and Sequences

Code-breaking involves deciphering letter shifts (A→C, B→D pattern) and number sequences (2, 4, 8, 16 → ×2 rule) across 20-25 questions. This tests logic in 11+ exam formats for both GL and CEM. Quick pattern spotting is key under time limits.

Key sequence types include letter position like CAT=3,7,20, vowel/consonant patterns, and +3 letter shift codes. Others cover alphabetical order, reverse sequences, and gap patterns such as BDG next=H (gap +2). Number rules often double or add fixed values.

Solve with a grid: note positions, check shifts, predict next. Limit pattern spotting to 30 seconds max per question. This method works for word puzzles in transfer tests.

Bond Verbal Reasoning papers provide realistic practice. Parents can track progress with mock tests. Consistent work enhances performance in selective school assessments.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning tests visual pattern recognition through matrices, series, and shape manipulation in 40-50 questions over 40 minutes. Parents often focus on building these visual skills for the 11 Plus exam. This section sharpens a child's ability to spot patterns without words.

In 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning, children analyse shapes, rotations, and sequences. Common formats include 3x3 matrices where one cell is missing. Practice helps with spatial reasoning needed for GL Assessment and CEM papers.

Questions demand quick thinking under timed conditions. Children learn to identify rules like shading progression or size changes. Regular drills build confidence for eleven plus exam success in grammar and independent schools.

Use resources like Bond papers for variety. Combine with 11+ practice papers to mimic the real test. This prepares Year 6 pupils for selective school entrance.

Patterns and Shapes

Pattern questions test 9 common transformations: rotation (90°), reflection (horizontal/vertical), enlargement, and shading sequences across 3x3 matrices. These appear in GL Assessment matrices for the 11 Plus. Children must spot the rule to pick the right shape.

Key transformations include rotation, reflection, and translation. A table below outlines them clearly for parents and pupils.

Follow these 7 matrix solving steps for reliable results.

1. 1Examine all shapes in the row or column.
2. 2Check for rotation or reflection.
3. 3Look for size changes or additions.
4. 4Spot shading or colour patterns, like circle → square sequence.
5. 5Test the rule on known cells.
6. 6Apply to the missing cell.
7. 7Verify against options.

Examples include shading from 1 to 3 to 5 to 7 segments. Practice 20 matrices daily with CGP Non-Verbal papers, which offer 15 tests. This builds speed for 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning in timed mocks.

Preparation Strategies

Top 10% scorers complete 25+ full practice papers, study 12 months at 2 hours per day, and use targeted resources like Bond, CGP, and ExamNinja mocks. This approach builds confidence across 11+ subjects including English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Parents can guide children with a structured plan to master exam formats from GL Assessment or CEM.

Focus on consistent daily practice to cover 11+ English skills like comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and creative writing. Allocate time for 11+ Maths topics such as arithmetic, geometry, fractions, and problem solving. Include Verbal Reasoning with synonyms and analogies, plus Non-Verbal Reasoning involving shapes and patterns.

A 12-month study plan divides preparation into phases for steady progress. Track scores weekly to identify weak areas in timed conditions. Combine self-study with optional tuition at £25-40 per hour for personalised support.

Experts recommend resources like Bond Papers (10 books), CGP Workbooks, and ExamNinja (42 mocks) for realistic practice. Daily schedules keep sessions short: 40 minutes Maths, 30 minutes English, 20 minutes Reasoning. This routine fits around Year 5 and Year 6 schoolwork.

12-Month Study Plan

This plan ensures coverage of the eleven plus exam syllabus aligned with Key Stage 2. Adjust based on school assessments or transfer tests. Children gain familiarity with various question types and marking schemes.

During Months 1-3, emphasise reading skills and mental maths for quick wins. In mixed practice, tackle word puzzles and spatial reasoning together. Full mocks in the final phase mimic selective school entrance exams.

Daily Schedule and Score Tracking

Set a daily schedule: 40 minutes on 11+ Maths for measurement and percentages, 30 minutes on 11+ English for summary and creative writing, 20 minutes on Reasoning split between verbal and non-verbal. Total under 2 hours to avoid fatigue. Rotate focus days for vocabulary or logic puzzles.

Use a simple score tracking sheet to monitor progress. List practice papers in columns for English, Maths, Verbal, Non-Verbal scores, plus total percentage. Note patterns, like low scores in algebra, and revisit those topics.

Review weekly to aim for score threshold improvements. Research suggests six months of prep boosts performance. Track against pass marks for grammar or independent schools.

Recommended Resources and Tuition

Stock up on Bond Papers (10 books) for targeted 11+ practice across four subjects. CGP Workbooks offer worksheets on punctuation, decimals, and pattern recognition. ExamNinja provides 42 mocks for full exam simulation.

• Bond: Builds core skills in comprehension and sequences.
• CGP: Detailed revision guides for spelling and 3D shapes.
• ExamNinja: Timed tests matching CEM or GL formats.

Supplement with past papers and online practice for variety. Tuition at £25-40 per hour helps with tutor support on inference or folding nets. Ideal for children needing extra push towards selective schools.

Parental guides recommend mixing resources for balanced prep. Focus on techniques like skimming in reading or eliminating wrong answers in multiple-choice. This prepares for the timed 11+ exam effectively.