11 Plus Exam: the Complete Parent’s Guide for 2025

The 11 plus exam is an entrance examination format used by many UK grammar and independent schools to select pupils for secondary education at age 11. Passing the 11 plus opens doors to high-performing grammar and independent schools with strong academic results, extensive extracurriculars and often better university progression. Early, targeted preparation greatly increases chances of success and unlocks academic and personal development opportunities.

So, what does 11 plus exam include? When is a good timing to start preparation? How should parents plan the exam prep schedule? Where can parents find past papers? Here in this article, you can find everything you need to know about the 11+.

Here at Think Academy, we offer a systematic and effective 11+ maths course for top grammar and independent schools’ exams, you can also get a FREE 11+ Maths Assessment with feedback and 11+ practice books

Difference between 11 plus exam and 13 plus exam

Entry age and timing

– 11+ exam

Taken in Year 6 for entry to Year 7.

– 13+ exam

Process spans Years 6–8, for entry to Year 9:

Registration and pre‑tests from Year 5 or Year 6 for conditional offer; Then Common Entrance exam in Year 8.

Difficulty

There is little difference in difficulty or topics between the 11 plus and the Year 6 pre‑tests for 13 plus. The main 13 plus papers in Year 8, however, cover Years 6–7 curriculum to ensure candidates with conditional offers continue to work hard before joining secondary school.

Which one to choose

Choose 11+ exam if targeting grammar schools or early entry to independent schools.

Choose 13+ exam if aiming for senior independent schools that prefer intake at 13, or if you prefer two extra years in prep school for maturation and depth.

When to apply? – Key dates for 11+ exam in 2025

Exact dates vary by school, and by year; parents should check each school’s admissions guidelines or contact their chosen schools directly for detailed scheduling.

What does the 11 Plus exam consist of?

Main Subjects Tested in the 11+ exam

The format of the 11 plus varies by region and school. Therefore, it’s very important to check the arrangements published on the official websites of the schools, and get prepared as early as possible. Usually, the format will only changed slightly for the same school.

Most tests consist of one or more rounds and assess a combination of core skills: English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Some schools add separate assessments (e.g. creative writing, comprehension, or interviews).

Notes: Some schools use provider-specific formats (GL, CEM, CSSE, ISEB) which determine exact paper composition and timing. Always check each school’s admissions pages for precise rounds and subjects.

Stages of exams

– Single-stage selection

Commonly tested subjects: Maths, English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning (all in one or two papers); sometimes a short mental arithmetic section. Example schools: Many grammar schools such as King Edward VI Grammar School (Birmingham), The Tiffin School (Kingston), and schools using GL Assessment papers.

– Two-stage selection (initial test + second assessment)

Commonly tested subjects: Stage 1 – Maths and English plus verbal/non‑verbal reasoning (often standardised); Stage 2 – subject-focused re-tests, extended maths/English, interviews or short classroom assessments. Example schools: Independent schools like St Paul’s Girls’ School, City of London School and some grammar/partially selective schools that shortlist for further assessment.

Also, there could be interviews afterwards for most of the independent schools.

11+ Subjects: NVR, VR, Maths, and English preparation

• Non-verbal reasoning (NVR)

What are usually included: patterns, shapes, sequences, spatial awareness, visual problem-solving. Candidates are advised to learn the typical types of questions and corresponding skills first. And afterwards, substantial and regular practice is needed with shape puzzles, pattern recognition exercises, and sample NVR questions. Focus on visualising shapes and developing logical reasoning skills.

• Verbal reasoning (VR)

Word patterns, analogies, synonyms, antonyms, decoding, logical reasoning with words are the common topics in this subjects. It’s important to plan early, as candidates need time to build vocabulary daily, practice with VR sample questions, and work on analogy and coding puzzles. Reading widely helps improve inference and understanding.

• Maths

This is a large subject, with around 100 subtopics under five modules: number and operations, geometry, word problems, number theory, combinatorics. The first step is to learn all the tested topics systematically and thoroughly. Think Academy, for example will kick off this system prep course from Year 3, get into key topics in Year 4, cover advanced topics and finish all tested topics in Year 5, and review and refine the knowledge in the first half of Year 6. From Year 5 to 6, revise core concepts with practice questions, mental maths drills, and timed exercises. Use past papers to improve calculation speed and apply problem-solving strategies. 

Think Academy offers Free Maths Assessment for 11+ and 13+ preparations , click the link to start and helps your child identify strengths and gaps in maths!

• English

Typically covers reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, creative and written English. Read a wide range of texts—including stories, articles, poems, and informational books—to strengthen understanding of different writing styles, themes, and vocabulary. When reading, make a habit of noting unfamiliar words, look up their meanings, and try to use them in your own sentences to enhance your vocabulary. For creative writing, set aside time to practice writing short essays, stories, or descriptions on various topics. Challenge yourself to write within a fixed time limit, focusing on clear organisation, varied sentence structures, and correct spelling and punctuation.

Preparation timeline for 11+ exam

Based on years of 11 plus prep experience and following last year’s success, where Think Academy UK helped students secure 552 offers from top grammar and independent schools like QE, HBS, Wilson’s School, St Paul’s Girls’, and Westminster, Think Academy has summarise a study cycle for its students from Year 3 to Year 6.

• Note: It’s not about starting intense practice in Year 3, but about cultivating your child’s interest and learning habits early—crucial for both 11+ success and lifelong growth.

Year 3 (ages 7–8): Basis and Habits

– Focus on foundation skills: Develop strong basic literacy and numeracy through engaging activities, games, and daily reading.

– Foster curiosity in reasoning: Introduce simple puzzles, pattern recognition, and problem-solving games to build reasoning skills gradually.

– Build good study habits: Encourage regular practice, organisation, and a positive attitude towards learning.

Year 4 (ages 8–9): Core Tested Topics and Independent Thinking

– Introduce core subjects: Start practising basic maths, English, and reasoning questions more formally using example papers and activities.

– Develop exam skills: Focus on understanding question instructions, time management, and working accurately under timed conditions.

– Identify strengths and weaknesses: Assess which areas need more attention—particularly reasoning or vocabulary—and tailor practice accordingly.

– Practice small tests: Use short mock papers or online quizzes to boost confidence and familiarity with test formats.

– Encourage independent thinking: Include age-appropriate problem-solving puzzles, creative writing, and vocabulary-building activities.

– Develop a study routine: Establish consistent study times and habits, balancing practice with relaxation and fun learning activities.

Year 5 (ages 9–10): Advanced Topics and Mocks for Skills

– Deepen subject knowledge: Strengthen understanding of key topics in Maths, English, and reasoning—focus on problem-solving, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

– Introduce exam strategies: Teach test techniques such as time management, multiple-choice strategies, and working systematically through questions.

– Start regular practice tests: Begin taking practice papers under exam conditions to build familiarity and confidence.

– Identify strengths and weaknesses: Analyse performance to focus extra effort on weaker areas, especially reasoning or writing.

– Build resilience: Encourage a positive attitude towards learning from mistakes and staying motivated through achievable goals.

Specifically, as an expert in 11+ maths, Think Academy has outlined an all-round, detailed and practical preparation plan for 11 plus maths exam.

We also have this Free Maths Assessment , to see how your child measures up across key topics in 11+ exams and 13+ exams!

FREE 11+ past papers and practice tests

The importance of mock tests can never be overestimated in 11 + exam preparation:

1. Mock tests help children become familiar with exam formats and timings;

2. They build resilience and reduce nerves in real exams, and thus stabilise performance;

3. They allow students to explore more contexts for learnt topics;

4. They help candidates identify and improve on their weak areas.

We highly recommend monthly mock exams from Year 5 to Year 6. However, without proper resources, children often struggle to succeed. To support their success, Think Academy has collected and developed a wide range of maths exam materials for our students, including many past papers and mock test resources, most of which are FREE and accessible through our 11+ Maths Assessment by Year Group to give children the best chance to excel.

Is 70% enough to pass the 11+ exam? What are the 11 Plus pass marks in 2025

Standardised age score (SAS)

Before exploring pass mark information, it is essential to understand what a standardised age score (SAS) is.

An SAS is an age‑standardised score used by many 11 plus providers (eg GL Assessment, CEM, ISEB common pre-test) to compare pupils of different ages fairly. It combines a candidate’s raw performance (number and difficulty of questions answered correctly) with their exact age in years and months at test time, then scales the result so that the average for any given age is set to 100 (with a typical standard deviation of 15). SAS lets schools compare attainment across pupils born at different times of year and place candidates on a common scale.

Pass marks for 11 plus exam

Some grammar schools or consortiums publish a pass or “qualifying” mark for their 11 plus, but this practice is not uniform nationwide. Many schools instead rank all candidates by SAS and offer places to the top scorers up to their intake limit (for example, the highest‑scoring 180 pupils).

Hitting a published pass mark does not automatically secure a place. For grammar entry it usually only allows you to name the school on your common application. Admissions decisions also consider other factors — for instance catchment location, whether in public care, and eligibility for free school meals.

Historical or released pass marks reference

Below are some consortiums/schools that have set or released historic qualifying marks:

– Kent: Your child will receive three standardised scores — English, Maths and Reasoning — plus a combined total. For Kent grammar entry, schools typically look for a total of at least 332, with no single test score below 109.

– Birmingham: historic thresholds frequently in the SAS 120–125 band.

– Buckinghamshire: Children sitting the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test must attain a standardised score of at least 121 to qualify for consideration for a grammar school place.

– Essex: In past years, the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) has used a minimum combined standardised score of 303 across both papers.

– Kingston-Upon-Thames: In 2022 (the latest traceable data), the Tiffin Schools only offered places to children who achieved the following standardised scores or higher: 103 for Tiffin School, and 107 for Tiffin Girls’ School

– Lincolnshire: qualifying marks have commonly been near the low 120s SAS with a total of 280. 

– Medway: The pass mark has been changing for recent years, with the lowest total weighted score 483. Candidate may calculate this score of daily practice with this formula: (Extended writing standardised score x 2) + (maths & NVR standardised score x 2) + (VR standardised score x 1)

– Some high‑demand grammars and selective schools: historic effective thresholds have been SAS 125+ in competitive years.

– Surrey: historic cut-offs often around SAS 120–125.

Maths checklist of eleven plus exam

The 11+ exam is aimed to select the most potential students and thus is quite challenging, especially if candidates want to get into top grammar or independent schools. The school syllabus alone is often not enough to fully prepare students for these tough exams. At Think Academy UK, we’ve collected every real exam question available, entered them into our question bank, and analysed them by key topics and modules. Comparing this with the UK school curriculum, we found many topics are simply not covered at school.

To help our students excel, we’ve identified all the important exam topics and clearly highlighted the knowledge points that are not included in the school syllabus. The good news is, our systematic courses cover every one of these key areas in depth, and through our regular mock exams, students get the practice they need to master them confidently.

Is your child ready for eleven plus exam? Take an assessment now to find out!

At Think Academy, our expertise in 11 plus mathematics preparation is unmatched. Our carefully crafted curriculum and targeted preparation strategies have led to impressive results, as highlighted by last year’s outstanding achievements. With 552 offers from top UK schools, including 432 from top independent schools and 120 from top grammar schools, our track record speaks volumes.

To evaluate your child’s readiness for the 11+, we invite your child to click the image above to complete a 30-minute assessment. Assessments are tailor-made for different ages, from Year 1 to Year 6. This evaluation will help identify their strengths and areas for improvement, guiding their preparation journey.