11+ maths 2026: Paper Format + 9-Month Prep Plan
Preparing for 11+ maths can feel overwhelming, especially when different grammar and independent schools use different exam formats, timelines and scoring systems. This guide explains everything parents need to know for 2026 entry, including the most common paper styles, when to start preparing, what topics matter most and how to build an effective month-by-month revision plan.
If you’re just beginning your 11+ journey, start with our Complete 11+ Exam Guide for a full overview of the admissions process. Once you’re familiar with the exam, you can strengthen your child’s preparation using our 11+ Maths Topics Checklist and 11+ Practice Papers to build confidence through targeted practice.
Whether your child is aiming for a grammar school or a highly selective independent school, this guide will help you focus on the skills that make the biggest difference on exam day—improving mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and exam technique, rather than simply completing more questions.
Page Contents
11+ Selection Exams Breakdown: Format & Timeline (2026 Entry)
For most families, the deciding factor isn’t “does my child know the Year 6 curriculum?” It’s whether they can handle 11+ maths under time pressure, with multi-step word problems, unfamiliar formats, and strict accuracy. Grammar schools commonly use GL Assessment-style multiple choice papers or their own standard-format papers; many independents use ISEB pre-test earlier, then a school-set maths paper later.
Registration windows vary by region and school, so confirm each target school’s dates directly. As a rule of thumb: registration often opens in the summer term of Year 5, closes early in Year 6 (sometimes before the exam), and exams sit in September of Year 6. For independent schools, testing can start earlier (often Year 6 autumn for 11+ entry, sometimes late Year 5/early Year 6 depending on the school’s process).
Here is your exam subject layout and key skills comparison table.
| Subject | Time Allowed | Question Type | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 45–60 mins | Multiple Choice or Standard | Fractions, ratio, arithmetic, word problems, time, money, area, data |
| English | 45–60 mins | Multiple Choice or Standard | Comprehension, SPaG, vocabulary-in-context, sentence accuracy |
| Verbal Reasoning | 45–50 mins | Usually Multiple Choice | Vocabulary, codes, sequences, logic, speed reading |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | 30–45 mins | Usually Multiple Choice | Pattern recognition, rotations, symmetry, sequences, spatial logic |
Strategic Preparation Roadmap
The parents who get reliable offers treat 11+ maths as two parallel builds: curriculum strength and exam logic. Curriculum strength means your child can do the Year 5/6 core quickly and accurately; exam logic means they can spot the method, choose an efficient route, and avoid traps under time pressure. Think Academy’s approach focuses on mastering the logic using CPA (Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract), so children can solve unseen problem types rather than memorising templates.
Year 4 (Spring–Summer): build the “no gaps” base for 11+ maths
Start here if your child is currently in Year 4. By the end of Year 4 summer term, you want fast times tables recall, confident written methods, and calm handling of fractions. In practical terms, aim for accuracy first, then speed.
Non-negotiables to secure in Year 4 for 11+ maths:
- Times tables and related division facts to 12×12 (instant recall).
- Fractions: equivalence, simplifying, comparing, fraction of an amount (including non-unit fractions).
- Place value and decimals (tenths/hundredths), money calculations without losing pounds/pence.
- Multi-step word problems: underline the question, list known/unknown, choose operations in order.
Year 5 (Autumn–Spring): add reasoning + start timed practice
Year 5 is where many children “know the content” but still underperform in 11+ maths because timing and problem selection are weak. The fix is structured timed sets from autumn onwards, not daily papers. Use 10–15 minute drills to build pace, then longer mixed sets to build stamina.
What to add in Year 5 for 11+ maths performance:
- Ratio and proportion in primary form (e.g., sharing in a ratio; scaling recipes; simplest ratio).
- Percentages as fractions/decimals (common conversions like 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%).
- Area and perimeter (rectangles/compound shapes built from rectangles; no advanced 3D surface area).
- Data: mean (where included), reading charts/tables quickly, multi-step interpretation questions.
Year 5 (Summer Term) to Year 6 (September): convert ability into marks
This is the highest-return window. The goal is exam readiness: fewer unforced errors, better guessing strategy for multiple choice, and consistent timing. For 11+ maths, the common mark losses are: misreading one word, choosing a slow method, and dropping easy marks late due to fatigue.
Run a simple weekly structure:
- 2× short timed sets (10–15 mins): arithmetic + fractions/decimals/percent conversions.
- 1× problem-solving set (25–35 mins): mixed word problems and multi-step reasoning.
- 1× review session (20 mins): correct mistakes, write the “why”, and redo similar questions.
Reading about 11+ maths is only the first step—real progress comes from applying the right techniques with expert guidance. If you’d like a personalised study plan based on your child’s current ability and target schools, book a free trial with Think Academy. We’ll identify strengths, highlight areas for improvement and recommend the most effective preparation strategy to help your child maximise their 11+ maths score.
How to Choose the Right Paper Style for Your Target Schools
Parents waste time when they prepare for the wrong format. GL-style multiple choice rewards speed, elimination, and managing tricky distractors; standard-format papers reward clear workings and structured reasoning. Independent schools vary widely: some set demanding maths with fewer questions but deeper reasoning; others look for broad coverage and neat method.
Do this in 30 minutes:
- List your target schools and note whether they use GL Assessment-style tests, consortium papers, or school-set papers.
- Find one sample paper type and check whether your child loses marks from time or from method.
- Match your practice: multiple choice technique if that’s the exam; written workings practice if it’s standard format.
For official guidance and test-provider background, use root-domain sources such as GL Assessment (test information) and individual school websites.
People Also Ask: 11+ maths Questions
Q1: What is a good score in 11+ maths?
Most grammar-school tests report standardised scores (often called SAS), so “good” depends on cohort performance, age standardisation, and the school’s cut-off. In practice, competitive schools often require your overall score to sit comfortably above the pass mark because offers then depend on rank order and (for many grammars) priority rules such as catchment distance. Ask the school for last year’s cut-off or historic ranges; if they won’t publish it, use ranked mock results to estimate whether your child is in the top band locally.
Q2: Do I need a tutor for 11+ maths?
Not always, but many families use tuition because the exam is not just Year 6 content; it is time-pressured problem solving with unfamiliar styles. If your child is consistently accurate but slow, you need timed technique and method choice. If your child is fast but inconsistent, you need error-pattern fixes and structured review. Small-group tuition works best when it includes targeted feedback and repeated exposure to mixed reasoning, not just more papers.
Q3: Is it too late to start 11+ maths in Year 6?
If the exam is in September of Year 6, starting in late Year 5 or early summer is far safer. Starting in Year 6 can still help if you focus on high-yield areas (fractions, percentage/fraction/decimal conversions, arithmetic accuracy, word problems, and timing strategy), but you must triage: stop chasing every topic and instead fix the biggest mark leaks. A diagnostic test plus a 6–8 week sprint plan is usually the minimum viable approach.
Q4: What topics come up most in 11+ maths?
Across GL-style and many school-set papers, the repeated core is: fractions (including fraction of an amount), decimals and money, percentages (common conversions), ratio/sharing, time, perimeter/area, and interpreting data. The differentiator questions are usually multi-step word problems where the method is not obvious, so children need bar modelling or structured reasoning rather than guessing.
Conclusion & Next Steps
The fastest way to lift results is to align the right paper format with a realistic 9-month plan, then build 11+ maths marks through timing, accuracy, and problem-solving logic. If your target list includes both grammar and independent schools, don’t blend prep blindly: map each school’s format, then prioritise the shared core and practise the specific exam technique needed.
For a personalised roadmap and the quickest route to fewer mistakes in 11+ maths, book a free trial and skills evaluation with Think Academy UK. We teach children to master the logic using the CPA method, so they can handle unfamiliar problems calmly and score higher when it counts.
