The 11+ is a selective entrance examination sat by children at the end of Year 6 (age 10–11) for entry to grammar schools and independent schools in Year 7. The "11" refers to the age at which most children sit it, though some schools now test in the autumn of Year 6 when children are still 10.
Which schools use the 11+?
There are two distinct uses of the 11+ examination:
- Grammar schools — state-funded selective secondary schools, concentrated in areas such as Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, parts of Birmingham and several London boroughs including Barnet and Kingston.
- Independent (private) schools — most selective independent schools have their own 11+ entrance examinations, set in-house or via ISEB (the Independent Schools Examinations Board). Schools such as Westminster, St Paul's, Latymer Upper and City of London use highly competitive 11+ entry papers.
London families most commonly encounter the independent school version, which tends to be more demanding than the grammar school 11+.
What does the 11+ test?
The exact subjects vary by school, but most 11+ examinations cover some combination of:
- English — reading comprehension, creative writing or essay writing
- Mathematics — arithmetic, problem-solving and reasoning
- Verbal reasoning — word relationships, sequences and logic
- Non-verbal reasoning — pattern recognition and spatial reasoning
Grammar school 11+ papers (often from GL Assessment or CEM) lean heavily on verbal and non-verbal reasoning. London independent schools tend to weight English and Maths more heavily, and several schools also interview shortlisted candidates.
When do children sit the 11+?
Grammar school 11+ exams are almost always held in September or early October of Year 6. Independent school entrance exams are typically held in January of Year 6, with registration deadlines the previous autumn. A few schools — including City of London and Emanuel — hold exams in November of Year 6.
This means registration deadlines often fall when your child is still in Year 5. It is worth researching your target schools at least 18 months before the exam date.
How selective is the 11+?
Selectivity varies enormously. Grammar school entry typically goes to the top 25–30% of applicants. London independent day schools such as St Paul's Boys, Westminster and North London Collegiate are significantly more competitive — some accept fewer than 10% of registered candidates.
How to prepare
Most children benefit from a structured preparation programme starting in Year 4 or early Year 5, covering the four core areas tested. Working with a specialist tutor allows preparation to be targeted: building genuinely weak areas rather than drilling topics the child already knows.
Beyond subject knowledge, exam technique matters: working accurately under time pressure, checking answers and managing exam nerves are skills that need practice just as much as the content itself.
A note on tutoring
The most effective 11+ tuition is tailored to the specific schools a child is targeting. A tutor who has worked with children preparing for North London Collegiate will have a very different approach to one whose students mostly sit for grammar schools. When choosing a tutor, ask which schools their previous students have been successful at.