What is the 11+ exam?

What is the 11+ exam? It is a selective entrance examination taken by children in Year 6, typically at the age of 10 or 11, used by grammar schools and some independent schools in England and Northern Ireland to identify academically able pupils. If you are new to the process, this page is the 11+ exam explained in plain language — how does the 11+ work, who sits it, and what parents need to know before preparation begins. Passing the 11+ is not required for all secondary schools, but for families aiming at selective schools it is one of the most important academic hurdles their child will face.

A brief history

The 11+ has its roots in the 1944 Education Act, which introduced a tripartite system of secondary education: grammar schools for academically able children, technical schools for those with practical aptitude, and secondary modern schools for the rest. The exam was designed to slot children into the right track at age 11.

By the 1960s and 70s, most of England moved away from selective education in favour of comprehensive schools, and the 11+ was phased out in most areas. However, a number of local authorities retained their grammar schools — and with them, the exam. Today, around 163 grammar schools remain in England, concentrated in specific regions.

Where is the 11+ still used?

The 11+ is not available everywhere. It is used in areas that have retained grammar schools, including:

• Kent and Medway
• Buckinghamshire 11+ exam guide
• Lincolnshire
• Trafford grammar schools 11+ guide
• Wirral and parts of Cheshire
• Slough and parts of Berkshire
• London grammar schools — Sutton and Kingston guide
• Warwickshire grammar schools 11+ guide
• Birmingham grammar schools 11+ guide

Many independent (fee-paying) schools across England also set their own entrance exams at 11+, which may differ significantly from the grammar school tests.

If you live outside these areas, your child may still sit the 11+ — some grammar schools accept out-of-catchment applications — but competition is fierce and distance can affect your chances.

Regional formats at a glance

Subjects and exam providers vary by area. The table below is a starting point — always confirm with your target school.

Trafford uses CEM but does not test non-verbal reasoning — unlike Birmingham and Warwickshire. See the Trafford grammar schools 11+ guide for how the three-subject format affects preparation.

For the Kent 11+ exam — full details on the Kent Test, registration, schools and results, see our dedicated Kent guide.

What does the exam test?

The 11+ tests a child's ability across up to four subject areas, depending on the school or region:

• English — reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and sometimes creative writing. Children must show they can understand and analyse text at a high level.
• Mathematics — arithmetic, number work, fractions, percentages, geometry, and problem-solving. The level broadly exceeds the standard Year 6 curriculum.
• Verbal reasoning — logical thinking using words. Questions test a child's ability to find patterns in language, complete analogies, decode word codes, and identify relationships between words.
• Non-verbal reasoning — logical thinking using shapes and diagrams. Children must identify patterns, sequences, and spatial relationships without any reliance on language or numbers.

Not all schools test all four areas. Some focus only on English and Maths; others place heavy emphasis on reasoning. Knowing which subjects your target school tests is one of the first things to establish in your preparation.

GL Assessment vs CEM: the two main formats

This is one of the most important things for parents to understand, because the format of the test significantly affects how you prepare for it.

GL Assessment

GL Assessment (formerly Granada Learning) is the older and more widely used provider. Its papers are structured with clear, separate sections per subject. Because the format is consistent year on year, there is a large bank of practice papers available, and children can become very familiar with the question types.

CEM

CEM (produced by Durham University’s Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) was introduced partly to reduce the advantage of intensive tutoring. Its papers mix subject areas within the same test, and the format changes more frequently. This makes it harder to “teach to the test” — broad reading ability and genuine reasoning skills tend to matter more. Major CEM areas include Birmingham grammar schools 11+ guide and the Warwickshire grammar schools 11+ guide — see those regional guides for how mixed papers and vocabulary emphasis affect preparation.

Some schools and regions use neither GL nor CEM, setting their own bespoke exams. Always check directly with your target school.

How is the 11+ marked?

Most grammar schools use a process called standardisation to produce a final score. Raw marks are adjusted to account for a child's age — a child sitting the exam in September who was born in August (one of the youngest in the year) is at a natural disadvantage compared to a September-born child. Standardisation attempts to level this playing field.

The resulting standardised score is typically expressed on a scale of around 60–140, with 100 representing the average. Schools then set a pass mark — sometimes called a qualifying score — above which children are considered for a place. This threshold varies by school and year, depending on how many children apply and how competitive the cohort is.

In some areas such as Kent and Buckinghamshire, passing the 11+ grants entry to any grammar school in the area. In others, passing simply makes a child eligible — they still need to be offered a place based on oversubscription criteria such as catchment area, siblings, and distance.

Grammar schools vs independent schools: what's the difference?

Grammar schools are state-funded and free to attend. They select pupils on academic ability using the 11+. Competition for places can be intense — in some areas, ten or more children apply for every available grammar school place.

Independent (private) schools charge fees and are not bound by the same admissions rules. Many set their own 11+ or 13+ entrance exams. Some use GL or CEM papers; others write their own. Entry to independent schools at 11 typically involves an exam, a report from the current school, and sometimes an interview.

For families weighing up both routes, the considerations are very different — cost, catchment, selectivity, and the type of education offered all vary significantly. This guide focuses primarily on grammar school entry, but much of the preparation advice applies to independent school 11+ exams too.

Is the 11+ right for your child?

The 11+ is not the only route to an excellent secondary education. Grammar schools are academically strong, but so are many comprehensive schools, and a child who is pushed into high-pressure exam preparation before they are ready can find the experience damaging rather than beneficial.

The exam tends to suit children who:

• are genuinely curious and enjoy reading widely
• can work independently for sustained periods
• cope reasonably well with timed, formal test conditions
• are motivated — whether by their own interest or by understanding the opportunity

It is worth having an honest conversation as a family about whether grammar school is the right environment for your child's temperament, learning style, and interests — not just their raw academic ability.

Key facts at a glance