What is the 11+? A plain-English guide for parents

The short version

The 11+ is an entrance test taken by children in Year 6 (and in some places Year 5) to compete for a place at a selective school: a grammar school, or an independent school with its own entrance exam. Passing it does not guarantee a place by itself; it is usually one step in an admissions process.

There is no single national 11+. Each area or school group chooses its own test, so what your child sits depends on where you live and which schools you apply to.

What is in the test?

Most 11+ tests draw from some combination of these four areas:

• Verbal reasoning: working with words, letters and meaning.
• Non-verbal reasoning: spotting patterns in shapes and diagrams.
• Maths: usually up to roughly the end of Year 5 or early Year 6 content.
• English: comprehension, and sometimes writing, spelling and grammar.

Who sets the test?

Exam providers such as GL Assessment set many 11+ tests, while some areas, such as Essex with the CSSE, and many independent schools use their own. Which subjects appear, how long the papers are, and whether they are multiple choice or written all vary. Check the format on the website of each school you are considering.

Our exam types page explains the main ones in more detail.

How is it scored?

Raw marks are normally converted to an age-standardised score, so that younger children are not disadvantaged. The mark needed for a place varies by area and year, and entry also depends on how many children apply and on each school's admissions rules, such as distance or catchment for those who qualify.

When do we need to act?

Registration deadlines and test dates differ by area and are often in the summer before Year 6, with tests in the early autumn. Look up your schools' dates early, because missing a registration deadline can't usually be fixed. Our when to start guide covers how to plan the preparation itself.