Eleven Plus Test Questions: Sample 11+ Questions
Understanding the different eleven plus test questions is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the 11+ exam. While the exact format varies between grammar schools and independent schools, most assessments include questions that test Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Becoming familiar with these question types helps children build confidence, improve accuracy and feel better prepared for exam day.
This guide explores the most common eleven plus test questions, explains the skills each question type assesses and shares practical strategies for improving performance. You’ll also discover how 11 Plus Test Papers, 11 Plus Online Tests and 11 Plus Mock Tests can help your child practise a wide range of questions and develop the exam technique needed for 11+ success.
Page Contents
What are eleven plus test questions?
How 11+ questions vary between schools
The format of eleven plus test questions varies between schools because there is no single 11+ exam used across the UK. Grammar schools and independent schools can assess different combinations of Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and they may use different exam providers or create their own papers. This means the types of questions your child encounters will depend on the schools they are applying to.
Some schools place a greater emphasis on mathematical problem-solving, while others focus more heavily on reading comprehension, vocabulary or reasoning skills. The number of questions, time allowed and question formats can also differ, so it’s important to understand the admissions requirements for each target school before beginning focused preparation.
The best way to prepare is to practise a wide variety of question types. Using 11 Plus Test Papers alongside 11 Plus Online Tests helps children become familiar with different exam styles and builds the confidence needed to tackle a range of 11+ assessments.
What skills do 11+ questions assess?
Eleven plus test questions are designed to assess more than a child’s knowledge of the National Curriculum. They evaluate how well children apply what they know, solve unfamiliar problems and think logically under timed exam conditions. This helps grammar schools and independent schools identify pupils who are ready for a more academically challenging environment.
Across the different subjects, children are assessed on a wide range of skills. Maths questions test numerical fluency, problem-solving and logical reasoning, while English focuses on reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and inference. Verbal Reasoning measures the ability to recognise word patterns and relationships, and Non-Verbal Reasoning assesses visual reasoning, spatial awareness and pattern recognition.
Developing these skills takes regular, varied practice rather than memorising answers. Using 11 Plus Test Papers together with 11 Plus Online Tests helps children build confidence across every question type while improving the exam technique needed to perform well in the 11+.
Eleven plus Maths test questions
Arithmetic and number questions
Arithmetic and number questions are among the most common eleven plus test questions and form the foundation of the Maths section. These questions assess how confidently children can work with numbers, complete calculations accurately and apply mathematical knowledge under timed conditions. Strong arithmetic skills also support success in more complex problem-solving questions later in the paper.
Children may be asked to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, decimals or fractions, as well as solve questions involving place value, percentages and negative numbers. Accuracy is just as important as speed, as simple calculation errors can lead to unnecessary lost marks.
Regular practice is the best way to improve performance. Working through a range of 11 Plus Test Papers and 11 Plus Online Tests helps children build number fluency, increase confidence and develop the accuracy needed to succeed in the 11+ Maths exam.
Word problems and problem-solving questions
Word problems are some of the most challenging eleven plus test questions because they require children to apply their mathematical knowledge to real-life situations. Instead of testing a single skill, these questions often involve several steps, encouraging children to interpret information, choose the correct method and solve the problem accurately under time pressure.
Common word problem topics include:
- Fractions, decimals and percentages
- Ratio and proportion
- Money and financial calculations
- Time, distance and speed
- Area, perimeter and measurement
- Multi-step reasoning problems
The key to success is reading each question carefully before attempting a solution. Encourage your child to identify the important information, ignore unnecessary details and work through the problem one step at a time. Regular practice with 11 Plus Test Papers and 11 Plus Online Tests helps children become more confident when tackling unfamiliar problems and improves both their accuracy and problem-solving skills.
Fractions, percentages and ratio questions
Fractions, percentages and ratio questions appear regularly in eleven plus test questions because they assess a child’s ability to apply mathematical concepts in different contexts. Rather than testing simple calculations, these questions often require children to compare values, solve multi-step problems and explain relationships between numbers.
Children should be confident with skills such as converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, simplifying fractions, finding percentages of amounts and solving basic ratio problems. Many questions also combine these topics with word problems, making it important to understand the underlying concepts rather than memorising methods.
These topics can be challenging at first, but regular practice helps children recognise common question patterns and solve them more efficiently. Using a mixture of 11 Plus Test Papers and 11 Plus Online Tests gives children repeated exposure to these question types while improving both their confidence and mathematical reasoning.
Eleven plus Verbal Reasoning questions
Word relationships and codes
Word relationships and code questions are common eleven plus test questions in Verbal Reasoning. They assess a child’s vocabulary, logical thinking and ability to recognise patterns between words and letters. Rather than relying on general knowledge, these questions reward careful observation and systematic problem-solving.
Children may be asked to:
- Identify synonyms and antonyms
- Complete word analogies
- Solve letter or word codes
- Recognise alphabetical patterns
- Find the missing word in a sequence
The best way to improve is through regular practice and vocabulary building. Encourage your child to look for patterns instead of guessing, and remind them to check every answer carefully before moving on. Practising with 11 Plus Online Tests and 11 Plus Test Papers helps children become faster and more accurate when tackling Verbal Reasoning questions.
Letter and number sequences
Letter and number sequence questions are designed to test a child’s ability to recognise patterns and predict what comes next. These eleven plus test questions are a common feature of Verbal Reasoning papers and require logical thinking rather than advanced mathematical knowledge.
A sequence might increase, decrease, alternate between patterns or follow alphabetical rules. Children must identify the relationship between each item before selecting the correct answer, often while working against the clock.
To improve performance, encourage your child to:
- Look for simple patterns before assuming the sequence is complicated.
- Check whether numbers increase or decrease by a consistent amount.
- Watch for alternating or repeating sequences.
- Consider alphabetical order when working with letters.
- Eliminate answers that clearly don’t fit the pattern.
Regular practice helps children recognise these patterns more quickly and reduces the time spent on each question. Using 11 Plus Online Tests alongside 11 Plus Test Papers provides plenty of opportunities to build confidence and improve accuracy with sequence questions.
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonym and antonym questions are among the most common eleven plus test questions in Verbal Reasoning. They assess a child’s vocabulary by asking them to identify words with similar meanings (synonyms) or opposite meanings (antonyms). A strong vocabulary not only helps with these questions but also supports success in English comprehension and other areas of the 11+ exam.
These questions may ask children to choose the word that is closest in meaning to a given word or identify the word with the opposite meaning from a list of options. While some answers are straightforward, others require children to recognise less familiar vocabulary or understand how words are used in different contexts.
The best way to improve is through regular exposure to new words. Reading widely, discussing unfamiliar vocabulary and practising with 11 Plus Online Tests and 11 Plus Test Papers will help children expand their vocabulary and answer synonym and antonym questions with greater confidence.
Eleven plus Non-Verbal Reasoning questions
Shapes and pattern recognition
Shapes and pattern recognition questions are a key part of eleven plus test questions in Non-Verbal Reasoning. Instead of using words or numbers, these questions assess a child’s ability to identify visual patterns, spot relationships between shapes and apply logical thinking to solve problems.
Children may be asked to recognise:
- Repeating or changing patterns
- Missing shapes in a sequence
- Rotations and reflections
- Mirror images
- Similarities and differences between figures
Success comes from carefully analysing each shape before choosing an answer. Encourage your child to look for one change at a time, such as movement, rotation, size or shading, rather than trying to solve the whole pattern at once.
Regular practice helps children recognise common visual patterns more quickly and improves their confidence under timed conditions. Working through 11 Plus Online Tests alongside 11 Plus Test Papers provides valuable experience with the wide range of Non-Verbal Reasoning questions used in the 11+ exam.
Rotations and reflections
Rotation and reflection questions are common eleven plus test questions in Non-Verbal Reasoning. They assess a child’s ability to visualise how shapes change when they are turned, flipped or mirrored. These questions test spatial awareness and logical thinking rather than mathematical calculation.
Children should be able to recognise:
- Shapes rotated clockwise or anticlockwise
- Mirror images across a horizontal or vertical line
- Objects that have been flipped rather than rotated
- Patterns that combine both rotation and reflection
A useful strategy is to focus on one feature of the shape, such as a corner, arrow or shaded section, and mentally follow how it moves. This makes it easier to spot the correct answer and avoid common mistakes caused by confusing a rotation with a reflection.
Practising a wide variety of 11 Plus Online Tests and 11 Plus Test Papers helps children become more confident with these visual reasoning skills and improves both their speed and accuracy in the 11+ exam.
Visual sequences and odd-one-out
Visual sequence and odd-one-out questions are designed to assess a child’s ability to identify patterns and spot differences between shapes. These eleven plus test questions require careful observation and logical thinking, making them an important part of many Non-Verbal Reasoning papers.
In visual sequence questions, children must determine how a series of shapes changes and predict which shape comes next. Odd-one-out questions require them to compare several shapes and identify the one that does not follow the same rule or pattern as the others.
When answering these questions, encourage your child to look for changes in:
- Shape size or position
- Rotation or reflection
- Shading and colour patterns
- The number of shapes or sides
- Repeating sequences or movements
Rather than guessing, children should check each possible pattern one at a time until they find the rule that explains the sequence. Regular practice with 11 Plus Online Tests and 11 Plus Test Papers helps build the speed and confidence needed to solve these questions accurately under exam conditions.
Strong Verbal Reasoning skills are built through consistent practice and expert guidance. If your child is ready to take the next step, book a free trial and experience a live Think Academy maths lesson designed to strengthen problem-solving skills, build confidence and prepare for success in the 11+ exam.
How to improve your performance on eleven plus test questions
Practise regularly with different question types
The best way to improve performance in eleven plus test questions is through regular practice across a wide range of question types. Focusing on just one subject can leave gaps in preparation, so it’s important to develop confidence in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning throughout your child’s revision.
A balanced study routine might include:
- Maths to strengthen arithmetic and problem-solving skills.
- English to improve reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary.
- Verbal Reasoning to build logical thinking and word pattern recognition.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning to develop visual reasoning and spatial awareness.
Mixing different question types also helps children become more adaptable during the real 11+ exam, where they may need to switch quickly between different styles of thinking. Using both 11 Plus Test Papers and 11 Plus Online Tests provides varied practice that strengthens subject knowledge while improving overall exam technique.
Review mistakes after every paper
Reviewing mistakes is one of the most effective ways to improve performance in eleven plus test questions. Rather than moving straight on to the next paper, take time to understand why each answer was incorrect. This helps children learn from their mistakes and prevents the same errors from appearing again in future practice.
When reviewing a paper, ask your child:
Did I misunderstand the question?
Was it a gap in knowledge or a careless mistake?
Did I run out of time or rush the answer?
Would I solve this question differently next time?
Once you’ve identified the cause of each mistake, revisit similar questions until your child can answer them confidently without help. Combining regular review with 11 Plus Test Papers and 11 Plus Online Tests turns every practice session into a valuable learning opportunity and helps build confidence ahead of the 11+ exam.
Build speed with timed practice
Accuracy is important, but speed also plays a major role in answering eleven plus test questions successfully. Many children understand the content but lose marks because they spend too long on difficult questions or fail to finish the paper. Timed practice helps develop the pace and confidence needed to complete more questions within the exam time limit.
To improve speed effectively:
- Start with short timed sections before attempting full papers.
- Skip difficult questions and return to them if time allows.
- Keep an eye on the clock without letting it become a distraction.
- Review unanswered questions after each practice session to understand why they were missed.
The goal isn’t to rush—it’s to work efficiently while maintaining accuracy. Regular practice with 11 Plus Online Tests and 11 Plus Test Papers helps children develop strong time management skills and prepares them for the pace of the real 11+ exam.
Where to find more eleven plus test questions
Online practice questions
Online eleven plus test questions provide a flexible and engaging way for children to prepare for the 11+ exam. They allow children to practise from home, receive instant feedback and become familiar with a wide range of question styles across Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Some of the biggest benefits of online practice include:
- Instant marking to identify mistakes quickly.
- Timed practice to improve exam technique and time management.
- A wide variety of question types to build confidence across every subject.
- The flexibility to practise anywhere, making it easier to fit revision around school and other activities.
For the most effective preparation, combine 11 Plus Online Tests with printable 11 Plus Test Papers. Using both formats helps children strengthen their subject knowledge while developing the confidence and exam skills needed for the real 11+ assessment.
Eleven Plus Test Questions FAQs
Are 11+ questions the same for every school?
No. While many schools assess the same core subjects, eleven plus test questions can vary depending on the admissions process. Some grammar schools focus on Maths and English, while others also assess Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The question format, level of difficulty and exam provider may also differ, so it’s important to check the requirements of each school your child is applying to.
Which type of 11+ questions are the hardest?
The most challenging question type depends on the child. Some children find multi-step Maths problems difficult, while others struggle with inference questions in English or the pattern recognition required for Non-Verbal Reasoning. Rather than focusing on the hardest questions, aim to identify your child’s weaker areas and practise them regularly using 11 Plus Test Papers and 11 Plus Online Tests.
How many question types should my child practise?
Children should practise all of the question types included in the exams for their chosen schools. A balanced approach that covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning helps develop a wide range of skills while preventing gaps in preparation. Using a variety of resources also ensures children become familiar with different question styles and levels of difficulty.
When should children start practising 11+ questions?
For most children, introducing 11+ question types during Year 4 provides plenty of time to build confidence and strengthen core skills before the exam. Begin with untimed practice to develop accuracy, then gradually introduce timed papers as confidence grows. Combining regular practice with 11 Plus Mock Tests closer to the exam helps children prepare for the pace and pressure of the real 11+ assessment.
