What is the 11 Plus?

Who sits the 11 Plus and when

The exam is aimed at children in Year 6 applying for a Year 7 place. Pupils typically take it in September of Year 6, so the bulk of preparation falls in Year 4 and Year 5, when children are roughly 8 to 10 years old.

Sitting the 11 Plus is optional. Families choose it when they want a place at a state grammar school or a scholarship route into an independent school.

What subjects are tested

Most regions assess a mix of the following, in a multiple choice format that varies by area:

• English, including reading comprehension and vocabulary
• Maths, covering the primary curriculum and problem solving
• Verbal Reasoning, which tests logic with words and language
• Non-Verbal Reasoning, which tests logic with shapes and patterns

How selection works

Raw marks are converted into age standardised scores so that younger children in the year group are not disadvantaged. Each region sets its own qualifying score, and places are then offered in line with admissions criteria such as catchment and ranking.

Because the format, subjects and pass marks differ by region, the first step is to confirm exactly what your target schools use.