What is the Grammar School Entrance Exam?

Grammar schools admit students into Year 7 at the age of 11. To secure a place, applicants must pass an exam known as the 11+, designed to measure their academic ability. This exam is almost always held in September of Year 6, a year before admission. Participation is voluntary, and parents must register their child for the appropriate exam depending on the school they are applying to. One exception is Buckinghamshire, where everyone attending a state primary school is automatically registered.

The test itself differs from school to school, but it usually consists of one or two papers testing English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning. Schools often form consortiums to set the test together or have the local authority administer it; despite this, there are around 70 unique 11 plus tests for grammar school entry across the country every year. Two big exam providers, GL and CEM, set the test for most schools, but they provide unique tests each year for every school or consortium. This makes the 11+ exam challenging to prepare for, but there are still some things you can do to prepare your child for the 11+ Maths exam – here are our top tips!

Also, it is recommended for 11+ students to take 11 plus mock exams on a daily basis. We have free 11 plus mock exams prepared for you!

How to Prepare for the Grammar School Entrance Exam: 15 Expert Tips for Parents

Make sure you know which exam your child is taking!

The 11+ exam structure and the subjects that are tested vary from school to school. Ensure you know what subjects your child will be tested on and how much time they will have for the maths exam. You should also find out whether your school uses GL or CEM assessment or whether they set their exam, as these exams are slightly different from each other and require you to use different resources as you prepare. You can find a guide to GL and CEM here.

Make the most of the practice materials available

GL and CEM make limited practice materials available free of charge, and there are some additional materials available for purchase. Some schools also provide familiarisation and sample papers on their websites. Still, there isn’t a huge number of past papers available. Therefore, use the materials you have wisely as you approach the test date as a way to familiarise your child with the layout of the exam and the types of questions they feature rather than as a way of improving their maths skills. We have produced a free guide to help you structure your revision.

Exams vary in length and structure.

GL and CEM papers are generally between 45 minutes and an hour in length, but this isn’t set in stone! Remember that your school may choose to use only some parts of the exam provided by CEM or GL – always check with your school what the structure is, and prepare accordingly. Try also to have your child complete some sample or familiarisation papers as you near the test date!

And your child may not finish all questions!

Regardless of the length of the maths exam, 11 plus papers are generally designed so that not even the ablest students will finish all questions in the time allotted. This means it’s essential not to get stuck on one question but instead move on to the next and return to any unfinished questions at the end if there is time.

Exams are usually multiple-choice.

All GL and CEM exams are multiple-choice – this means applicants do not have to show their work, though they can use the question paper for any calculations they need to make.

Problem-solving ability is key. 

The 11+ maths exam is intended to measure innate maths ability and how well the student would do in a challenging academic environment. This means that strong problem-solving skills are needed. These help your child understand the questions in the paper and quickly know what calculations are required. In this area, practice makes perfect – look at sample papers for the kind of questions your child may need to solve!

But your child also needs solid maths knowledge!

Still, remember that the 11+ maths exam is just that – a maths exam. Your child will need a solid grasp of the maths they have been taught at school to do well. From algebra to geometry, it is important that your child feels confident about the topics he has been learning at school. That way, they will be able to apply their knowledge quickly in exam conditions.

The exam does not go beyond the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum…

Preparation is essential but remember that no 11+ exam tests math skills or topics beyond the Key Stage 2 topics your child has learnt at school. You will not benefit by going beyond the curriculum or introducing topics your child hasn’t learned at school. Instead, make sure your child’s knowledge of the topics they have been taught about is rock solid.

But the questions may be unfamiliar!

It is also handy to introduce to as many sample or past papers as you can. While the question’s level of difficulty should be no more complex than the style candidates are used to from KS2, verbal and non-verbal reasoning often differ from the national curriculum, so it’s good to get some practice! Study the different kinds of questions carefully, and make sure your child knows how to unpack them and apply their maths knowledge.

Focus on your child’s key skills, not the most difficult questions.

The 11+ exam can include some challenging and complicated questions, especially towards the end of the exam. Don’t focus on these in your Preparation – your child may not have time to attempt them anyway, or questions similar to them may not appear at all in the exam that your child sits. Instead, make sure your child can solve the more straightforward questions in the paper quickly and consistently.

Help your child visualise and understand word problems.

Graphs and diagrams feature in some 11+ exams, and your child needs to be able to read and understand them. However, an even more valuable skill to master is visualising questions presented in text form. Teach your child to note down the key facts from these questions or draw a diagram to help them before attempting to solve the question.

Make sure you practice your child’s algebra, and they can save a lot of time in the exam!

Practising the core skills of addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division can help your child quickly navigate the more straightforward parts of the exam. Algebra is an important part of all grammar school 11+ exams. It is an excellent chance for well-prepared students to pick up easy marks and save time for the more challenging problem-solving questions that usually come later in the exam.

Practice calculating the area and perimeters of shapes.

Out of the maths topics your child will need to master, geometry might be the most important one other than algebra. It is especially useful to be familiar with calculating the area and perimeter of shapes of various kinds. These questions are generally straightforward, and a well-prepared student can solve them quickly.

Make sure your child knows their fractions and percentages.

Questions about fractions are very common 11+ maths exams. These, however, tend to be relatively straightforward and limited to adding fractions together and occasionally subtracting them from each other. It can be helpful to be able to do this quickly. Many questions also involve percentages, so make sure your child is familiar with how they work and how they relate to fractions.

Learn to recognise and tackle problem-solving questions

Many questions are problem-solving questions. When solving these questions, usually presented as text or diagram or image, students first need to figure out what calculation they will need to make before using their maths skills to find the answer. Use past papers to see the range of questions that can appear as you prepare!

We hope you find this guide helpful as you prepare for the grammar school 11+ maths exam. It’s important to be well-prepared to give your child the best chance of winning a place at your chosen school, but the exam is nothing to be scared of – it’s simply s chance for your child to showcase what they know and to cement their maths knowledge. Good luck!

2022 Grammar School Entrance Exams 

Now that you’ve read through our must-have guide for parents, you’re well equipped to help your child as best you can in getting prepared for this year’s exam. But there are lots more you need to know, and below, we’re sharing some additional resources with you. 

11 Plus Registration Deadline 2022

The majority of grammar schools in England belong to a consortium. Therefore, it’s essential to know which consortium the grammar schools you’re applying to are in (if any) and when to apply for the 11+ test. Below you can find a table detailing the registration deadlines for each consortium. Don’t worry if the school you’re applying to isn’t part of a consortium; most schools will share details specific to their registration process under the admissions tab on their website.