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The 11 Plus (11+) is an exam used in parts of the United Kingdom to assess students' academic ability for admission into grammar schools and some independent secondary schools. It's typically taken by children in their last year of primary school (Year 6), when they are 10 or 11 years old—hence the name "11 Plus."
Key features:
Format:
Exams are paper-based. The format and content differ depending on the local authority or school consortium.
Areas that Use It:
Common in counties like Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Kent, Lancashire & Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Medway, Northern Ireland, West Midlands.
Not used in Scotland or Wales, and many parts of England no longer use it.
The 11 Plus exam is designed to evaluate a child's academic ability and suitability for selective grammar and independent schools. It typically assesses four key subject areas that reflect a combination of core knowledge, reasoning skills, and problem-solving ability.
English
Tests comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and sometimes includes elements of creative or descriptive writing (depending on the school or exam board).
Mathematics
Covers numerical reasoning, arithmetic, and problem-solving based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. It may include multi-step word problems and mental maths questions.
Verbal Reasoning
Assesses logical thinking and language-based problem solving. This includes identifying patterns, sequences, word associations, and applying vocabulary knowledge in new ways.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Involves visual reasoning using shapes, patterns, and diagrams. It tests a child's ability to identify visual relationships and solve problems without relying on language.
The 11 Plus exam varies depending on the region and the school your child is applying to. While the core skills tested remain similar, different exam boards structure and deliver these assessments differently. The most commonly used formats are GL Assessment, CEM, and the newer FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise). Some schools may also include a Creative Writing component.
Widely used in: Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and several other regions.
GL exams are well-structured and follow a predictable format, making them ideal for focused and targeted preparation.
Subjects typically covered (in separate papers):
English (comprehension, spelling, grammar, vocabulary)
Maths (aligned with the Key Stage 2 curriculum)
Verbal Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Key Features:
Separate timed papers for each subject
Format allows for structured revision and practice
Closely aligned with school curricula
Previously used in: Birmingham, Warwickshire, parts of London and beyond.
CEM exams were designed to reduce predictability and tutor-led preparation by mixing question types and changing formats frequently.
Subjects typically covered:
Verbal Reasoning (comprehension, cloze, vocabulary)
Numerical Reasoning (mental arithmetic and problem-solving)
Non-Verbal Reasoning (codes, sequences, patterns)
Key Features:
Mixed-format papers (subjects often combined)
Varying time limits per section
Strong focus on vocabulary and quick-thinking
Note: CEM officially ceased producing 11 Plus exams in 2023, but their format and principles live on in FSCE and some private schools use them.
Currently used by: Some grammar schools formerly using CEM.
FSCE was created by the original CEM developers to offer a fair, challenging, and accessible 11 Plus alternative. FSCE tests maintain a similar approach to CEM, with a continued focus on reasoning and comprehension, but also aim to evolve and innovate testing methods.
Subjects typically covered:
Verbal Reasoning & Comprehension
Numerical Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning
In some cases, Creative or Extended Writing
Key Features:
Mixed-section papers to test a range of skills
Less predictability, similar to CEM
Emphasis on fairness, accessibility, and reducing excessive tutoring
Some selective and independent schools require a creative or descriptive writing task, typically used to assess:
Imagination and originality
Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure
Vocabulary use and narrative flow