One of the most common questions parents ask is: "what exactly will my child be examined on?" The honest answer is that it depends on which school or region you are targeting — but the 11+ draws from four core subject areas. Understanding what each one involves, and how deeply it is tested, is the essential starting point for any preparation plan.
The four subject areas
Most 11+ exams draw on some combination of these four areas. Your target school may test all of them or only a subset — always confirm with the school before you plan preparation.
- English — comprehension, vocabulary, grammar; creative writing at some schools
- Mathematics — arithmetic, problem-solving and topics above standard Year 6 level
- Verbal reasoning — logical thinking using words and language patterns
- Non-verbal reasoning — patterns, sequences and spatial puzzles using shapes
English in depth
English in the 11+ is less about creative flair and more about precision and vocabulary range. See our complete 11+ English guide for comprehension types, vocabulary strategies and creative writing. Most papers include at least one extended comprehension passage — typically a narrative extract or non-fiction article — followed by questions that test whether a child has understood not just the surface meaning, but the author's intent, tone, and use of language.
The vocabulary component is often underestimated. Children are expected to know the meanings of words well beyond their everyday usage — think words like "reluctant," "bewildered," "meticulous," or "melancholy." This is not something that can be crammed; it builds through wide reading over months and years.
In GL Assessment papers, English is typically a standalone paper. In CEM papers, English questions are woven into a mixed paper alongside verbal reasoning, making the time management challenge more complex — especially for families targeting Birmingham grammar schools or the Warwickshire grammar schools 11+ guide, where vocabulary range carries exceptional weight.
What to focus on
Reading widely and regularly is the single most effective preparation for the English component. Fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, and quality children's literature all help. Alongside this, vocabulary exercises, comprehension practice, and grammar drills round out the preparation.
Schools that include creative writing typically give children 25–35 minutes to produce a piece of writing in response to a prompt — a story opening, a description, or a short imaginative piece. Children are marked on structure, vocabulary, and the ability to engage the reader, not just on technical accuracy.
Mathematics in depth
The maths in the 11+ sits above the standard Year 6 curriculum. For a full topic-by-topic breakdown, see our complete 11+ maths guide. Children are expected to work quickly and accurately across a wide range of topics — and the ability to apply knowledge to unfamiliar or multi-step problems is what separates the highest scorers.
Speed is a significant factor. GL Maths papers typically contain 50 questions in 50 minutes — leaving little time for drawn-out working. Mental arithmetic fluency is therefore just as important as conceptual understanding.
Topics that catch children out:
- Ratio and proportion questions worded in unfamiliar ways
- Algebra and simple equations (not always taught in full in Year 5)
- Area and perimeter of compound shapes
- Reading and interpreting data from tables and charts
- Problems involving time, distance, and speed
What to focus on
Times table fluency to 12×12 is non-negotiable. From there, systematic work through each topic area — using 11+ Maths practice books rather than generic KS2 resources — ensures children encounter the style and difficulty of questions they will see in the exam. Timed practice is essential from around six months before the exam date.
Verbal reasoning in depth
Verbal reasoning is often the subject parents are least familiar with, since it does not appear on the standard school curriculum. It tests a child's ability to think logically about language — finding patterns, making connections, and solving puzzles using words.
There are 21 recognised question types in verbal reasoning, and while different exam boards use different selections, most children will encounter the majority of them at some point in practice papers. See our complete guide to all 21 verbal reasoning question types for explanations and worked examples. Some of the most common include:
- Word codes — "If CAT = 3-1-20, what is DOG?" Children must decode and apply a letter-to-number pattern.
- Analogies — "Big is to small as hot is to ___?" Children must identify the relationship and complete the pair.
- Hidden words — A four-letter word is hidden across two words in a sentence: "The parent was kind." Children must find it.
- Letter sequences — A series of letters follows a pattern; children must identify the next in the sequence.
- Odd one out — Four words share a category; one does not belong.
What to focus on
Verbal reasoning is highly practisable. Most children initially struggle with question types they have never seen before, but once they understand the format for each type, improvement is rapid. Working through all 21 types systematically — using a dedicated VR workbook — and then doing timed papers is the most effective approach.
Non-verbal reasoning in depth
Non-verbal reasoning (NVR) is entirely visual. Children must identify patterns, complete sequences, and solve spatial puzzles using shapes and diagrams — with no words or numbers involved. Because it does not depend on language ability, it is sometimes considered the purest test of innate reasoning, though in practice it is very much learnable. Read our complete NVR guide with the SCSNRPL method and all nine question types.
Common question types include:
- Shape sequences — A series of shapes changes in a regular way; what comes next?
- Matrix patterns — A 3×3 or 2×2 grid of shapes follows a rule; what fills the missing cell?
- Reflections and rotations — Which shape is a rotation (not a reflection) of the original?
- Nets — Which 2D net would fold into a given 3D shape?
- Odd shape out — Four shapes share a characteristic; one does not.
Children who enjoy puzzles and visual games often take to NVR naturally. Those who find it initially baffling almost always improve quickly once the question types are familiar.
What to focus on
Work through each question type with clear explanations before attempting timed practice. Many children find that drawing and tracing shapes helps build the mental rotation skills NVR demands. Puzzle books and spatial games — including tangrams and 3D building games — can make this part of preparation feel less like revision and more like play.
Which subjects does my target school test?
This varies significantly by school and region, and getting this right early is one of the most important steps in planning your preparation. Some schools test only English and Maths; others add verbal and non-verbal reasoning; a number of independents and grammar schools in areas such as Sutton also include creative writing.
| Region | Format | Subjects typically tested |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | GL (Kent Test) | English, Maths, VR — not NVR |
| Buckinghamshire | GL (Bucks Test) | English, Maths, VR, NVR |
| Birmingham grammar schools 11+ guide | CEM | English + VR, Maths + NVR |
Always verify the current subjects and format directly with each school you are applying to. Exam formats do occasionally change, and the school's own admissions page is the only authoritative source. For Kent Test preparation focused on English, Maths and VR only, see the Kent regional guide and our preparation strategy guide.
How difficult is the 11+ compared to Year 6 schoolwork?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions — and the answer is: noticeably harder, but manageable with preparation.
The National Curriculum sets expectations for the average child. Grammar schools are selecting from the top 20–25% of the academic ability range (sometimes the top 10% in highly competitive areas). The exam is therefore pitched above curriculum level by design.
In Maths, children will encounter topics such as ratio, simple algebra, and multi-step word problems earlier than they might meet them in class. In English, the vocabulary and comprehension questions target a reading level above the average Year 6 pupil. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are generally not taught in school at all — they require specific preparation.
The good news is that the skills required are well-defined and learnable. Children who begin structured preparation 12–18 months before the exam, work consistently, and complete plenty of timed practice papers are far better placed than those who attempt to cram in the final weeks.
A note on creative writing
Not all schools include a creative writing component, but those that do — particularly many independent schools and some grammar schools in areas such as Sutton — give it significant weight. This is worth checking early, because creative writing preparation requires a very different approach to multiple-choice reasoning practice.
Children who write well do so because they read widely, have a strong vocabulary, and have internalised a sense of how good stories are structured. Exam creative writing is also a skill in its own right: children need to plan quickly, write at pace, leave time to review, and produce something engaging in under 35 minutes.
If your target school includes creative writing, incorporate regular timed writing practice — with feedback — from at least a year before the exam.