How to improve your child’s 11 plus test score
Welcome to our passing the 11 plus exam guide, including links to extensive free 11 plus past papers. That encompasses maths 11 plus practice tests, verbal reasoning 11 plus test practice and English test practice 11 plus past papers. It also includes the 11 plus CEM Select.
11 plus practice tests – Free sample 11 plus tests
SEARCH for replica 11 plus practice papers FOR ANY SCHOOL.
Your child can then practice with a very close replica of the actual exam. That’s perfect practice!
Our own FREE 11 plus practice tests
Why recommend this 11 plus test practice?
- Firstly, because they mirror your real 11 plus test content.
- Secondly, they can provide your child with several mock 11 plus test exams to improve their score.
- Also, your child’s 11 plus strengths and 11 plus weaknesses are accurately identified.
- You will be shown which 11 plus question types your child needs to focus on going forward.
- There are detailed Correct 11 plus and Incorrect 11 plus question explanations for every 11 plus answer option.
- Comparative 11 plus performance statistics are shown. In other words, how your your child’s 11 plus scores compare to their 11+ peers who are applying to the same selective 11 plus school(s).
Our own FREE 11 plus practice tests
More FREE 11 plus past papers for grammar schools entry
- 2020 11+ Grammar School at Leeds English Writing
Our FREE 11 plus exam practice resources
- Which grammar schools are nearby?
- 11 plus past papers
- What will this year’s 11 plus pass mark be?
- Key 11 plus exam dates
- All our 11 plus test practice resources
- How to get into grammar school
THE TOP 2024 grammar schools
Step-by-step guide to using THE LATEST grammar school league tables.
Additional 11+ Grammar school entry past papers 2020
School entrance tests are 11+ test practice specialists.
Ask any 11 plus question
Then ask ourexam design expert your questions by emailing passedpapers@gmail.com An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests. Rob has consulted for many of the top school entrance test publishers, including the ISEB, Cambridge Assessment; Hodder Education, and GL, the CAT4 publishers.
FREE 11 plus prep resources
School Entrance Tests offer a wide selection of 11 plus test practice resources.
11 Plus Maths Sample Paper and 11 Plus Maths practice-papers.
Why are these 11 plus practice tests the most effective?
We recommend buying your 11 plus exam practice papers from the above partner for many reasons. In particular, because they…
- Mirror the actual entrance exam for each independent school you search for.
- Include explanations for each and every question.
- Provide the most accurate entry exam preparation for this reason.
- Cover the full range of question formats which we know reduces exam anxiety.
Our free 11+ past papers
- We recommend that you SEARCH and purchase the exam papers plus 11 plus test practice packs above for your targeted grammar schools.
- First though review our FREE grammar school entry papers. We offer hundreds on this site. Find those that are at your child’s entry age for prep school.
- Check how your child feels about committing to passing your local grammar school’s region-specific 11 plus exam.
When to start 11 plus tuition?
Most parents start 11+ tuition from Year 4 or Year 5.
Our popular 6- Step Guide to the 11 Plus*
Specially designed for busy parents!
1) Ask yourself, is now the best time to start your 11+ Prep?
2) If so, here are some useful Grammar School application tips.
– If you are considering those grammar schools in Outer London then we have a useful London Grammar school list.
– Otherwise, England’s other grammar schools are accessed from this regional grammar school list.
3) Are the grammar schools of interest CEM 11+ exam Grammar schools. If so focus on School Entrance Tests’ 11 plus practice tests of CEM 11 Plus type.
4) Otherwise it’s likely you are considering Grammars using GL Assessment. Thus you should focus on School Entrance Tests’ 11 plus practice tests of GL 11 Plus type.
5) So, select the most relevant 11 plus exams from our comprehensive list of 11 Plus Past Exam Papers.
6) Schedule regular practice with these 11 plus practice papers, our free online 11 plus papers and free 11 plus papers with answers.
Top FREE PRACTICE 11 plus past papers
- Firstly, SEARCH our FREE 11 plus grammar school prep resources.
- Secondly, our top 11 plus non-verbal reasoning tips.
- Plus, our recommended parents guide to passing the 11 plus.
London grammar schools by Borough
There are 19 grammar schools in London and Greater London, located in the following boroughs. Barnet: 3 selective schools (1 boys, 2 girls’ schools.) Bexley: 4 selective schools (1 boys, 1 girls, 2 mixed schools.) Bromley: 2 selective schools (1 boys. 1 girls’ school.) Enfield: 1 selective school (mixed.) Kingston upon Thames: 2 selective schools (1 boys, 1 girls’ school.) Redbridge: 2 selective schools (1 boys, 1 girls’ school.) Sutton: 5 selective schools (3 boys, 2 girls’ schools.)
- And then also, 11 plus Sutton grammar schools entry.
Have an 11 plus query?
An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests.
Rob has consulted for many of the top school entrance test publishers, including the ISEB, Cambridge Assessment; Hodder Education, and the actual GL CAT4 publishers themselves.
What do grammar school league tables really mean?
- These are typically based on national key standards. In the case of primary school league tables then the national education standards being used are the SATs.
- Although each publisher will apply their own, more subjective criteria.
- We would advise parents to always remember that school league tables can only provide indications of your local schools’ performance levels. In fact, if you’re lucky you may well be within the school catchment areas of several high performing schools.
- Rather than adding to the national obsession with school league tables, we would advise parents not to overanalyse over their local school league tables.
- Always keep in mind that a holistic education is ultimately the most important factor. Ask yourself and your child what are the most important factors (pastoral support, extra-curricula opportunists, sporting facilities). Factors in additional to exam success.
Check Ofsted Reports
Always check the latest Ofsted reports for each of those schools on your local schools shortlist. These are something that you must check for each indepdnet school of interest. Each Ofsted report is an analysis of that school’s teachers’ professional competence. Plus, how well performance standards have been met across the independent school. There are three possible outcomes: under-achieving; achieving; or outstanding.
Tips when applying for top school places
For example, with sixth from applications there is no limit to how many sixth form colleges you can apply to. Whereas, primary school applications:
- Depending on your local authority you can submit between three and six school preferences.
- Primary school places are then allocated by the school’s governing body, an academy trust or the local authority.
- Each primary school will have its own admissions criteria. This must be within the national framework for primary school entry. Hence, on school offer day parents will be offered only one primary school place for their child.
- Then shortlist all those schools you and your child like. Consider all those schools falling within your catchment area. You now have a shortlist of schools which can review at your leisure.
- Provided this is a relatively short list, then visit each school for yourself and your child.
- Check the latest Ofsted reports for each school. Prepare questions on any school topic that is unclear. Do you have any reservations? Why can’t you see your child at this school.
- Such introspective self questioning will help you to prepare questions for school open day visits.
- When attending a school open day, ask yourself whether the school atmosphere and ethos are a good fit for your child.
- We certainly recommend shortlisting schools based on national standard statistics. More specifically, the percentage of students meeting the expected standards. For example if the national standard is 60%, then you need to check whether each of your selected schools exceeded that in their latest Ofsted inspections.
Our FREE 11 Plus exam papers
- Firstly, our recommended 11 plus practice past papers.
- Secondly our Step-by-step guide to passing the 11 plus.
- Try out our helpful 11 Plus Guide for parents.
- You may also find useful our guide called Where is my local grammar school?
GL Assessment’s 11+ spatial reasoning explained
- Spatial Reasoning is one of the topics that could be assessed in GL Assessment 11+ Grammar School Exams.
It focuses on assessing your child’s ability to interpret patterns within shape and space, often with a three-dimensional component.
Questions are presented in a multiple-choice format where students are required to choose the single correct answer from a variety of options provided.
Often Spatial Reasoning is often not explicitly mentioned as a separate topic in the syllabus. Instead, it is included as a subset of Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Furthermore, GL themselves do not provide any official preparation material for Spatial Reasoning.This has lead to unwelcome surprises in the past where students faced question types in the 11+ Exam that they had never seen before.
Why Choose a Grammar School?
Equality and Opportunity
Grammar schools offer a level playing field for students within the class. Admission is contingent on clearing an entrance test, ensuring that the most capable students get the chance to study there. Pupils selected from grammar schools tend to be more proactive and successful. These schools provide a valuable and knowledgeable education source accessible to parents and students from lower-income backgrounds, promoting inclusivity and fostering outstanding academic outcomes.
Diverse Student Success
Grammar schools cultivate high-achieving individuals who often excel in various fields, including politics and entertainment. This environment offers opportunities to any eager and capable learner, providing access to high-quality education systems. Many observe a professional and respectful culture in grammar schools that promotes a sense of safety and encourages students to engage in continuous learning.
Intensive Knowledge and Skill Building
Admission to grammar schools demands intensive knowledge and ability. This can create pressure for students. Although it enables grammar school students to develop a strong academic foundation.
Preparing for the 11 plus entrance exam from an early age equips students with extensive skills and knowledge.
Comparing Grammar Schools and Independent/Private Schools
Here’s our YouTube video Grammar schools vs Private schools.
Access to Education
Grammar schools offer free public education, while independent/private schools have their fee structures. Grammar schools typically have a uniform 11 plus entrance exam, while private schools set varied entrance tests and criteria for admission. Independent/private schools generally offer more advanced infrastructure and technologies, smaller class sizes, and individualized attention.
Academic Focus
Grammar schools are highly selective and prioritize students’ academic achievements. Independent/private schools often provide a more intimate learning environment with focused attention on each student.
Historical Roots and Modern Context
The history of grammar schools dates back to the 12th to 14th centuries when they primarily taught Latin.
The curriculum expanded over time to include subjects like English, mathematics, natural sciences, liberal arts, and European languages. Originally for primary education, grammar schools evolved into secondary education institutions.
Advantages and Disadvantages
While grammar schools have numerous advantages, it’s essential to consider potential drawbacks. Some criticize the funding of grammar schools, suggesting that wealthier families have an advantage due to private tutoring.
Grammar school critics argue that the 11 plus exam is unfair and stressful for young students. Suggestions for improvement include providing free teaching to economically disadvantaged students and delaying the selection process.
Holistic Assessment
Assessing students solely on English proficiency and mathematics skills might not capture their full potential. A more comprehensive evaluation that accounts for various abilities and interests could be more equitable and beneficial.
Delayed Selection Process
Postponing the entrance exam to later ages, like 12 or 13, would provide students more time to develop their interests, strengths, and understanding. This approach could yield better outcomes and help students thrive.
Towards a Better Educational System
Implementing measures like free tuition programs, holistic assessments, and delayed selection can promote uniformity and equality among students in grammar schools. Grouping students based on ability can accelerate their development and progress. With thoughtful improvements, grammar schools can provide an attractive and promising path toward an enhanced education system.
Here’s our YouTube video on Grammar school entry.