11 Plus Commonly Asked Questions

Here are few common questions and their answers. 11 Plus exam Papers is happy to answer any further questions if you have.

When to apply for 11 plus exam?

Applications for 11 plus exams are to be made when the child is in year 5 of their school education. For the specific dates, please visit each school’s website or click https://11plusexampapers.co.uk/11plus-exam-registration-details.html

When did the 11 plus end?

Many politicians felt that it was unfair for the less academically inclined children and thus, in 1976 the Labour Government gave Local Education Authorities the option to discontinue Grammar Schools in favour of a Comprehensive School which treated all children equally- without the use of an 11+ exam.

When do the 11 plus results come out?

Most of the 11 Plus exams results will be posted in mid-October 2021. However, depending on when the exam occurs in your county, this may differ. Also, it depends on the stages of exams conducted by a school. For example, The TIFFIN School conducts 11 Plus exam in 2 stages. The first stage results are out by October end and the selected students are invited for the second stage. But Second stage results will be known to you only on 1st march of following year when the seats’ location are announced for each school and each student.

What score do you need to pass 11 plus / what is the pass mark for 11 plus?

Some grammar schools select candidates by ranked order. Places are given to the children who performed best on the test. Other schools have a minimum pass mark and use other criteria, such as distance, faith, siblings, to select candidates. In conclusion, it is impossible to say exactly what percentage you need to pass the 11-plus. However, as an approximate figure, a child will need to score about 80—85% to pass.

What percentage do you need to pass 11 plus ?

An approximate figure is that a child should need to score about 80—85% to pass. Although, in more competitive areas this figure may be higher.

What is 11 plus?

The eleven-plus (11+) is an examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academic selection.

What is 11 plus exam?

The eleven-plus (11+) is an examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to the Grammar schools and other secondary schools which uses academic selection.

How hard is the 11 plus exam?

Although English and Maths in the 11plus exam follow the National Curriculum, the verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not taught as a part of their academics in school. The sheer number of questions and the time limit of solving around two – three questions in a minute raises the bar of toughness for this exam as compared to any other test.

How to become an 11 plus tutor?

If you enjoy working with younger students, then specializing in Eleven Plus tuition can be a very rewarding career move. Helping students gain entry to the UK’s top grammar schools is a challenging job but one that can command a significant fee. Now, there are no official accreditations for private tutors in the UK, so in theory, anyone can start a private tutoring business. However, at 11 Plus level, parents generally look for tutors to be qualified to degree level, or at least be undergraduates As an 11 Plus tutor, you’ll need to have a bank of resources that you can use with your students. Practice papers and other subject specific exercises are particularly useful in preparing children for the 11 Plus exam. When it comes to tutoring students under the age of 18, it’s recommended that you obtain a DBS certificate. Although not a legal requirement, at 11 Plus level, parents generally expect tutors to have had a criminal background check.

When is 11 plus exam?

The eleven-plus (11+) is an examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academic selection.

What is the pass rate for 11 plus?

The pass mark for the exam varies across exam boards, schools and from year-to-year. Typically, the pass mark for the 11 Plus is over 80 percent.

In regions with more grammar schools such as Kent, Buckinghamshire or Lincolnshire, the pass rate may be lower than in areas with fewer grammar schools like Greater London. For more popular schools with higher competition, the pass mark will be higher: in some cases, the competition can be as high as thirty students competing for one place. Pass rates are usually publicly available on each school’s website.

When did the 11 plus end in England?

A The exam was first introduced in 1944, when under the Butler Education Act the schooling system in the United Kingdom was rearranged. All children aged between 5 and 15 were entitled to free education, attending Primary School up to the age of 11 and then on to secondary school. There were three types of secondary school: Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical. Places in these schools were allocated dependent upon how well children did in the 11+ exam. Children who successfully passed the exam would gain a place in a Grammar School, whereas those who were unsuccessful went on to either a Secondary Modern School or a Technical Schools.

While the aims of the examination system was to provide education for all, many politicians felt that it was unfair on the less academically minded children and so in 1976 the Labour Government gave Local Education Authorities the option to discontinue Grammar Schools in favour of a Comprehensive School which treated all children equally- without the use of an 11+ exam.

The change in schools varied from LEA to LEA, with some Grammar Schools opting to turn into Comprehensive Schools, some becoming Private Grammar Schools and some remaining Grammar Schools.

Bringing us to what we have today…

Many Grammars and Independent Private Schools choose to examine prospective pupils in their final year of Primary School with an 11+ exam to determine if they should be given a place in the school. Children are usually tested on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning along with KS2 level English and Maths.

When was the 11 plus abolished?

The exam was first introduced in 1944, when under the Butler Education Act the schooling system in the United Kingdom was reformed. All children aged between 5 and 15 were entitled to free education, attending Primary School up to the age of 11 and then on to secondary school. There were three types of secondary school: Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical.

Places in these schools were allocated dependent upon how well children did in the 11+ exam. Children who successfully passed the exam would gain a place in a Grammar School, whereas those who were unsuccessful went on to either a Secondary Modern School or a Technical Schools. While the aims of the examination system were to provide education for all, many politicians felt that it was unfair on the less academically minded children and so in 1976 the Labour Government gave Local Education Authorities the option to discontinue Grammar Schools in favour of a Comprehensive School which treated all children equally- without the use of an 11+ exam. The change in schools varied from LEA to LEA, with some Grammar Schools opting to turn into Comprehensive Schools, some becoming Private Grammar Schools and some remaining Grammar Schools.

Bringing us to what we have today…

Many Grammars and Independent Private Schools choose to examine prospective pupils in their final year of Primary School with an 11+ exam in order to determine if they should be given a place in the school. Children are usually tested on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

When did the 11 plus start?

The 11-plus transfer test between primary and secondary school began in Northern Ireland in 1947. For more than 60 years it was used to decide who qualified for a place at grammar school and who didn't.

When do 11 plus results come out?

Most of the 11 Plus exams results will be posted in mid-October 2021. However, depending on when the exam occurs in your county, this may differ. Also, it depends on the stages of exams conducted by a school. For example, TIFFIN School conducts 11 Plus exam in 2 stages. The first stage results are out by October end and the selected students are invited for the second stage. But Second stage results will be known to you only on 1st march of following year when the seats’ location are announced for each school and each student.

How to apply for 11 plus exam?

The deadline for registration varies greatly, depending on where you are in the country. As a rough guide: registration can open as early as May, but open days can be as late as October. Registration periods are normally open for a couple of months from the start date – so deadlines can be from July – October. For more information on the registration process for your prospective school, contact the school directly to avoid any misunderstanding. If you are applying for more than one Grammar school, then you normally must register separately for every exam your child will be taking unless a set of schools are part of a joint consortium (e.g., Birmingham).

How is the 11 plus marked?

One of the most common causes of confusion about the 11 Plus are the terms "standardised score" and "age standardisation". Parents struggle to understand how, when a paper may have 80 questions on it, the final score they are given can be a figure of, say, 130. What follows here is a very simplified explanation of the process of standardising scores. There is a more technical explanation below for those who wish to learn more on the subject.

Standardisation is a statistical process that is designed to take account of two factors:

Firstly, the number of questions on a test paper and the time allowed for it can differ. If a Verbal Reasoning test has 80 questions and takes 50 minutes, while a maths paper has 100 questions and takes 45 minutes, simply adding the "raw scores" of the two together will not give equal weight to the results of both tests, and nor will an average. Standardisation is a way of giving equal value to the results of each test, regardless of the number of questions and the time allotted for completing them.

Secondly, and possibly of more concern to parents, the test scores must be adjusted to take account of their age at the time they take the 11+. One child taking the test might be born on the first day of the school year (September 1st) while another might be born on the last day (August 31st). With what amounts to a whole year’s difference in their ages, the older child is clearly at an advantage: as just one example they will have a whole additional year’s vocabulary, which the younger child will not. As children are exposed to new vocabulary at the rate of more than 1,000 words per year, the difference can be very significant for the 11+ tests. To remove this unfairness, the marks are adjusted to make them "standard" for all children, regardless of their age. For every three months scores are adjusted by 2.5%. Thus, the oldest possible child needs to score 10% more marks to get the same standardised scores as compared to youngest possible child.

When to start tutoring for 11 plus?

Most of the aspirants start their preparation in their Year 5 with one year study plan. But in recent year, most of the parents wish to start the preparation in year 4 giving two years to prepare. Some of the more serious parents try to start the journey in Year 3 which is very early.

One should make sure that they leave KS1 with sound reading skills (aim for free reading end Y2).

One should make sure that they leave KS1 with sound skills in numeracy: so able to add and subtract at least up to 30, but preferable up to 100. Able to count by 2, 5 and 10 (effectively know those times tables - but not necessarily realise it).

Y3/ Y4 - READ! Really have them read proper fiction, Y3 may be a bit early, but by Y4 they should be reading books like Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc..., Michael Morpurgo (9 lives of Montezuma, Animal Tales) or Classics like Charlotte's Web and Babe (The Sheep Pig is the original title).

Many starts tutoring in Y4 (especially if they have doubts about core skills - numeracy or literacy) but most start seriously with Bond Books/ Practice Exams/ Mocks in Y5.

When was the 11 plus scrapped?

The exam was first introduced in 1944, when under the Butler Education Act the schooling system in the United Kingdom was reformed. All children aged between 5 and 15 were entitled to free education, attending Primary School up to the age of 11 and then on to secondary school. There were three types of secondary school: Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical.

Places in these schools were allocated dependent upon how well children did in the 11+ exam. Children who successfully passed the exam would gain a place in a Grammar School, whereas those who were unsuccessful went on to either a Secondary Modern School or a Technical Schools.

While the aims of the examination system was to provide education for all, many politicians felt that it was unfair on the less academically minded children and so in 1976 the Labor Government gave Local Education Authorities the option to discontinue Grammar Schools in favour of a Comprehensive School which treated all children equally- without the use of an 11+ exam.

The change in schools varied from LEA to LEA, with some Grammar Schools opting to turn into Comprehensive Schools, some becoming Private Grammar Schools and some remaining Grammar Schools.

The change in schools varied from LEA to LEA, with some Grammar Schools opting to turn into Comprehensive Schools, some becoming Private Grammar Schools and some remaining Grammar Schools.

Many Grammars and Independent Private Schools choose to examine prospective pupils in their final year of Primary School with an 11+ exam in order to determine if they should be given a place in the school. Children are usually tested on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning along with KS2 level English and Maths.

When did the 11 plus end in Scotland?

The last tests were sat in November 2008.

How much do 11 plus tutor's cost?

Independent tutors usually charge £17-£25 per hour for individual tuition, depending on your area and the tutor's experience and popularity, but the most in-demand tutors can charge £80 plus per hour. Fees for group tutoring are generally around two-thirds of the price of private sessions.

Tutoring centres typically charge a monthly fee, which can vary from around £50 to £120 per month, usually for two sessions per week.

Online tuition generally costs around £15 per hour.

How much do 11 plus tutor's cost?

Independent tutors usually charge £17-£25 per hour for individual tuition, depending on your area and the tutor's experience and popularity, but the most in-demand tutors can charge £80 plus per hour. Fees for group tutoring are generally around two-thirds of the price of private sessions.

Tutoring centres typically charge a monthly fee, which can vary from around £50 to £120 per month, usually for two sessions per week.

Online tuition generally costs around £15 per hour.

When was the 11 plus exam abolished?

The exam was first introduced in 1944, when under the Butler Education Act the schooling system in the United Kingdom was rearranged. All children aged between 5 and 15 were entitled to free education, attending Primary School up to the age of 11 and then on to secondary school. There were three types of secondary school: Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical.

Places in these schools were allocated dependent upon how well children did in the 11+ exam. Children who successfully passed the exam would gain a place in a Grammar School, whereas those who were unsuccessful went on to either a Secondary Modern School or a Technical Schools. While the aims of the examination system was to provide education for all, many politicians felt that it was unfair on the less academically minded children and so in 1976 the Labour Government gave Local Education Authorities the option to discontinue Grammar Schools in favour of a Comprehensive School which treated all children equally- without the use of an 11+ exam.

The change in schools varied from LEA to LEA, with some Grammar Schools opting to turn into Comprehensive Schools, some becoming Private Grammar Schools and some remaining Grammar Schools.

Bringing us to what we have today…

Many Grammars and Independent Private Schools choose to examine prospective pupils in their final year of Primary School with an 11+ exam to determine if they should be given a place in the school. Children are usually tested on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning along with KS2 level English and Maths.

How can I get my child to pass the 11 plus?

  • 1. Get them familiar with the style of questions.

  • 2. Look over practice questions.

  • 3. Make learning fun.

  • 4. Encourage regular reading.

  • 5. Prepare.

  • 6. Give Mock tests.

  • 7. Enrol them into a good tuition centres like Champs Learning ( https://champslearning.co.uk/index.html )

Who are the Celebrities who failed the 11 plus exam?

When you're in the middle of exams, it can feel like they're taking over your whole life. However, plenty of people who we now consider to be incredibly successful didn't do too well at school.

Everyone knows the stories about how Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of university to become two of the richest people in the world, but many other successful people didn't even get that far.

Branson never had much interest in school, dropping out at 16 to start his first business -- a magazine called "Student."

In the music industry, very few opinions matter more than those of Simon Cowell.

Cowell left school with just one O level -- the equivalent of GCSEs -- and dropped out at just 16. Drew Barrymore is now an incredibly successful actor, producer, and businesswoman.

Clare Balding is one of the UK's best-known broadcasters, hosting the likes of Wimbledon and Crufts.

According to Biography.com, Spielberg was an amateur filmmaker as a child. However, when he was older, he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theatre, Film, and Television three times. It didn't prevent him from achieving world-wide acclaim, though.

When did 11 plus start?

The 11-plus transfer test between primary and secondary school began in Northern Ireland in 1947. For more than 60 years it was used to decide who qualified for a place at grammar school and who didn't.

What is 11 plus test?

The eleven-plus (11+) is an examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academic selection.

What replaced the 11 plus?

It was left it up to the local politicians to find a solution to what should replace the official 11-plus. However, they cannot agree and so Northern Ireland is without a regulated test, although grammar schools are still permitted to use academic selection.

Association of Quality Education (AQE) and a group of Catholic grammar schools therefore drew up separate grammar school entrance tests.

How to revise for the 11 plus?

Each week children should continue to work on core skills. Each week children should do one paper on each of the topics they face at the end of the process there will be some mock activity.

Remember that throughout the revision process keeping calm, developing confidence, and not allowing stress to develop, are very important. Do not be tempted to overwork children as it is always counter-productive.

How do I know if my child should sit the 11 plus?

To stand a good chance of passing the 11+, your child should be on course to achieve Level 5 in Literacy and Maths at the end of KS2.

How is 11 plus marked?

One of the most common causes of confusion about the 11 Plus are the terms “standardised score” and “age standardisation”. Parents struggle to understand how, when a paper may have 80 questions on it, the final score they are given can be a figure of, say, 130. What follows here is a very simplified explanation of the process of standardising scores. There is a more technical explanation below for those who wish to learn more on the subject.

Standardisation is a statistical process that is designed to take account of two factors:

Firstly, the number of questions on a test paper and the time allowed for it can differ. If a Verbal Reasoning test has 80 questions and takes 50 minutes, while a maths paper has 100 questions and takes 45 minutes, simply adding the “raw scores” of the two together will not give equal weight to the results of both tests, and nor will an average. Standardisation is a way of giving equal value to the results of each test, regardless of the number of questions and the time allotted for completing them.

Secondly, and possibly of more concern to parents, the test scores must be adjusted to take account of their age at the time they take the 11+. One child taking the test might be born on the first day of the school year (September 1st) while another might be born on the last day (August 31st). With what amounts to a whole year’s difference in their ages, the older child is clearly at an advantage: as just one example they will have a whole additional year’s vocabulary, which the younger child will not. As children are exposed to new vocabulary at the rate of more than 1,000 words per year, the difference can be very significant for the 11+ tests. To remove this unfairness, the marks are adjusted to make them “standard” for all children, regardless of their age. . For every three months scores are adjusted by 2.5%. Thus, the oldest possible child needs to score 10% more marks to get the same standardised scores as compared to youngest possible child

How to apply for 11 plus?

The deadline for registration varies greatly, depending on where you are in the country. As a rough guide: registration can open as early as May, but open days can be as late as October. Registration periods are normally open for a couple of months from the start date – so deadlines can be from July – October. For more information on the registration process for your prospective school, contact the school directly to avoid any misunderstanding. If you are applying for more than one Grammar school, then you normally have to register separately for every exam your child will be taking unless a set of schools are part of a joint consortium (e.g. Birmingham).

How many people pass the 11 plus exam?

With many perceiving grammar schools as private education without the fees, the number of people sitting the exam continues to increase and with little change in the supply (given the ban on the creation of any new grammar schools), competition for places is fierce. Broadly speaking, the pass rate i.e. achieving a standardised score of 121 or more, is approximately 30%.

When to start preparing for 11 plus?

Most of the aspirants start their preparation in their Year 5 with one year study plan. But in recent year, most of the parents wish to start the preparation in year 4 giving two years to prepare. Some of the more serious parents try to start the journey in Year 3 which is very early.

One should make sure that they leave KS1 with sound reading skills (aim for free reading end Y2).

One should make sure that they leave KS1 with sound skills in numeracy: so able to add and subtract at least up to 30, but preferable up to 100. Able to count by 2, 5 and 10 (effectively know those times tables - but not necessarily realise it).

Y3/ Y4 - READ! Really have them read proper fiction Y3 may be a bit early, but by Y4 they should be reading books like Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc..., Michael Morpurgo (9 lives of Montezuma, Animal Tales) or Classics like Charlotte's Web and Babe (The Sheep Pig is the original title).

Many starts tutoring in Y4 (especially if they have doubts about core skills - numeracy or literacy) but most start seriously with Bond Books/ Practice Exams/ Mocks in Y5.

What is 11 plus verbal reasoning?

The scope and content of an 11+ verbal reasoning exam differs from region to region as there are a wide range of question types that can be included. However, the tests will usually require children to:

  • Process verbal information.

  • Apply logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • Find and follow patterns and rules.

  • Determine word meaning.

  • Spell accurately.

  • Apply basic maths skills.

  • Work systematically.

How long does the 11 plus exam take?

11+ exam papers are timed and usually last between 90 minutes to 180 minutes. Children should practise with timed 11+ mock test papers, as well as working through non-timed practice, so they can see what they are able to do within a given time frame.

CEM Papers normally have two section – each one for 45 minutes

GL papers normally have four section – each one for 45 minutes

How difficult is the 11 plus exam?

To pass an 11 plus exam most kids need preparation. This does not necessarily mean paid for tuition, but it does mean doing extra work outside school, e.g., Bond papers. Most 11 plus exams contain verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Most bright kids can answer these, but prepared bright kids have the edge. They can answer the questions quickly, because they have seen them before and have practised on speed. You will find many 11 plus exams are tight for time and being in the top group of a primary is not a guarantee of success. Lots of prep school children will be competing for places too.

For counties that take top 20-25% most bright children will pass if prepared, but borderline children will narrowly fail if they don't work hard over the summer. For schools that take top 5% or above, no end of preparation will work for an averagely bright child. They must be extremely bright and well prepared.

What age do you take the 11 plus?

The 11+ is a selective entrance examination for secondary school, used by both state-funded grammar schools and many private schools to identify the most academically able children. The exam is taken towards the end of Year 5 or beginning of Year 6 of primary school.

How many people passed 11 plus?

A. With many perceiving grammar schools as private education without the fees, the number of people sitting the exam continues to increase and with little change in the supply (given the ban on the creation of any new grammar schools), competition for places is fierce. Broadly speaking, the pass rate i.e., achieving a standardised score of 121 or more, is approximately 30%.

When will my child take the 11 plus?

The 11+ is a selective entrance examination for secondary school, used by both state-funded grammar schools and many private schools to identify the most academically able children. The exam is taken towards the end of Year 5 or beginning of Year 6 of primary school.

What country is plus 11?

The eleven-plus (11+) is an examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academic selection. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years.

Why was the 11 plus abolished?

The exam was first introduced in 1944, when under the Butler Education Act the schooling system in the United Kingdom was reformed. All children aged between 5 and 15 were entitled to free education, attending Primary School up to the age of 11 and then on to secondary school. There were three types of secondary school: Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical.

Places in these schools were allocated dependent upon how well children did in the 11+ exam. Children who successfully passed the exam would gain a place in a Grammar School, whereas those who were unsuccessful went on to either a Secondary Modern School or a Technical Schools.

While the aims of the examination system were to provide education for all, many politicians felt that it was unfair on the less academically minded children and so in 1976 the Labour Government gave Local Education Authorities the option to discontinue Grammar Schools in favour of a Comprehensive School which treated all children equally- without the use of an 11+ exam.

The change in schools varied from LEA to LEA, with some Grammar Schools opting to turn into Comprehensive Schools, some becoming Private Grammar Schools and some remaining Grammar Schools.

Bringing us to what we have today…

Many Grammars and Independent Private Schools choose to examine prospective pupils in their final year of Primary School with an 11+ exam in order to determine if they should be given an place in the school. Children are usually tested on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning along with KS2 level English and Maths.

How does 11 plus scoring work?

One of the most common causes of confusion about the 11 Plus are the terms “standardised score” and “age standardisation”. Parents struggle to understand how, when a paper may have 80 questions on it, the final score they are given can be a figure of, say, 130.

What follows here is a very simplified explanation of the process of standardising scores. There is a more technical explanation below for those who wish to learn more on the subject.

Standardisation is a statistical process that is designed to take account of two factors:

Firstly, the number of questions on a test paper and the time allowed for it can differ. If a Verbal Reasoning test has 80 questions and takes 50 minutes, while a maths paper has 100 questions and takes 45 minutes, simply adding the “raw scores” of the two together will not give equal weight to the results of both tests, and nor will an average. Standardisation is a way of giving equal value to the results of each test, regardless of the number of questions and the time allotted for completing them.

Secondly, and possibly of more concern to parents, the test scores have to be adjusted to take account of their age at the time they take the 11+. One child taking the test might be born on the first day of the school year (September 1st) while another might be born on the last day (August 31st). With what amounts to a whole year’s difference in their ages, the older child is clearly at an advantage: as just one example they will have a whole additional year’s vocabulary, which the younger child will not. As children are exposed to new vocabulary at the rate of more than 1,000 words per year, the difference can be very significant for the 11+ tests. To remove this unfairness, the marks are adjusted to make them “standard” for all children, regardless of their age. For every three months scores are adjusted by 2.5%. Thus, the oldest possible child needs to score 10% more marks to get the same standardised scores as compared to youngest possible child

How to prepare child for 11 plus?

  1. Get them familiar with the style of questions.

  2. Look over practice questions.

  3. Make learning fun.

  4. Encourage regular reading.

  5. Prepare.

  6. Enrol them into a good tuition centre.

What is the pass mark for Kent 11 plus?

The Kent Test results have produced a pass mark with an aggregate score of 332, slightly higher than last year, with an additional requirement to score 108 on each of the three sections - English, mathematics, and reasoning. This is slightly lower than 2019’s requirement for 110 on each paper. The level of pass marks is no indication of difficulty in the Test, rather a complex standardisation of raw scores against a national sample of children, comparing like ages with each other.

What percentage of students pass the 11 plus?

With many perceiving grammar schools as private education without the fees, the number of people sitting the exam continues to increase and with little change in the supply (given the ban on the creation of any new grammar schools), competition for places is fierce. Broadly speaking, the pass rate i.e., achieving a standardised score of 121 or more, is approximately 30%.

When do you register for the 11 plus?

The deadline for registration varies greatly, depending on where you are in the country. As a rough guide: registration can open as early as May, but open days can be as late as October. Registration periods are normally open for a couple of months from the start date – so deadlines can be from July – October. For more information on the registration process for your prospective school, contact the school directly to avoid any misunderstanding. If you are applying for more than one Grammar school, then you normally must register separately for every exam your child will be taking unless a set of schools are part of a joint consortium (e.g., Birmingham).

When to start preparing for 11 plus exams?

Make sure that they leave KS1 with sound skills in numeracy: so able to add and subtract at least up to 30, but preferable up to 100. Able to count by 2, 5 and 10 (effectively know those times tables - but not necessarily realise it).

Y3/ Y4 - READ! Really have them read proper fiction Y3 may be a bit early, but by Y4 they should be reading things like Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc..., Michael Morpurgo (9 lives of Montezuma, Animal Tales) or Classics like Charlotte's Web and Babe (The Sheep Pig is the original title).

Many starts tutoring in Y4 (especially if they have doubts about core skills - numeracy or literacy) but most start seriously with Bond Books/ Practice Exams/ Mocks in Y5.

How many questions are there in the 11 plus?

The GL 11 Plus Exam splits the subjects into papers typically lasting about 45 minutes each.

The GL English exam paper is normally 50 minutes long and has the following structure:

The GL Maths exam paper typically contains 50 questions to be completed in under 50 minutes. The GL Verbal Reasoning exam usually consists of 80 questions to be completed in 50 minutes.

The GL Non-Verbal Reasoning exam normally contains 4 sections of 20 questions and students normally spend 10 minutes per section. Students are typically given 40 minutes to complete the paper.

There is no exact format for the exam as this changes every year. As CEM exams are designed to be less transparent and to test children on the skills that are not easily able to be practiced, they tend to be the trickier.

Past CEM exams have included two 45-minute papers, four separate papers, or one combined paper covering all the topics above.

The format containing two 45-minute papers is the most common structure seen in the CEM exam. The exam can be either multiple choice or free response depending on the topic.

Each paper will have a combination of topics including Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning. Students will be given different amounts of time for each section, ranging from 6 to 12 minutes. Students are only able to proceed to the next section when they are told to do so.

How many points do you need to pass 11 plus?

11 plus pass marks is standardised using a complex statistical process. Put simply, this means a child’s score is adjusted to reflect their age and the difficulty of the paper. Standardisation ensures fairness because older children would otherwise have an advantage.

Some grammar schools select candidates by ranked order. Places are given to the children who performed best on the test. Other schools have a minimum pass mark and use other criteria, such as distance, faith, siblings, to select candidates. In conclusion, it is impossible to say exactly what percentage you need to pass the 11-plus. However, as an approximate figure, a child will need to score about 80—85% to pass. Obviously, in more competitive areas this figure may be higher.

What is CEM 11 plus exam?

CEM: Developed by the Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring at the University of Durham, the CEM 11+ exam was created in response to fears from some grammar schools that the existing 11+ exam system had become too transparent. The exam was designed to address concerns over question spotting and ‘teaching to the test’.

CEM covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and numerical reasoning. In practice, ‘verbal reasoning’ encompasses many of the skills tested in the GL English exam, including comprehension. Likewise, ‘numerical reasoning’ involves the core maths skills needed for the GL exam.

For both verbal and numerical reasoning, the CEM exam aligns much more closely to the content of the KS2 National Curriculum than GL Assessment does. Again, individual regions and grammar schools can choose what subjects to test as part of their 11+ exam.

One of the key differences between GL and CEM is that CEM papers are mixed, with one exam combining English and verbal reasoning and another combining maths and non-verbal reasoning. Standard Format, Multiple Choice, or a combination may be used depending on school/region.

In addition, the paper may quickly flip between a short maths section, a longer problem-solving exercise, then some logic puzzles. Timings will be allocated to each section, and children will need to carefully manage the time they spend on each section.

In CEM exams, there will typically be more questions than are likely to be answered in the time allocated, and the weighting of each subject for your child’s final mark will be unknown before the exam.

How to help your child pass the 11 plus?

  1. Get them familiar with the style of questions.

  2. Look over practice questions.

  3. Make learning fun.

  4. Encourage regular reading.

  5. Prepare.

  6. Enrol them into a good tuition centre.

How do you get 11 plus results?

A. You may receive your child’s results or school allocation in a few ways – post, email or online (the latter two are only if you applied online.)

When did the 11 plus end in Wales?

In Wales all grammar schools were phased out by the end of the 1970's.

What is it that you need to pass 11 plus

A. The intention was that the Eleven-Plus should be a general test for intelligence (cognitive ability) like an IQ test, but by also testing for taught curriculum skills, it is evaluating academic ability developed over previous years, which implicitly indicates how supportive home and school environments have been to the child’s growth.

What is the average score for 11 plus?

11 plus pass marks is standardised using a complex statistical process. Put simply, this means a child’s score is adjusted to reflect their age and the difficulty of the paper. Standardisation ensures fairness because older children would otherwise have an advantage. Some grammar schools select candidates by ranked order. Places are given to the children who performed best on the test. Other schools have a minimum pass mark and use other criteria, such as distance, faith, siblings, to select candidates. In conclusion, it is impossible to say exactly what percentage you need to pass the 11-plus. However, as an approximate figure, a child will need to score about 80—85% to pass. Obviously, in more competitive areas this figure may be higher.

What is the average score for 11 plus?

11 plus pass marks is standardised using a complex statistical process. Put simply, this means a child’s score is adjusted to reflect their age and the difficulty of the paper. Standardisation ensures fairness because older children would otherwise have an advantage. Some grammar schools select candidates by ranked order. Places are given to the children who performed best on the test. Other schools have a minimum pass mark and use other criteria, such as distance, faith, siblings, to select candidates. In conclusion, it is impossible to say exactly what percentage you need to pass the 11-plus. However, as an approximate figure, a child will need to score about 80—85% to pass. Obviously, in more competitive areas this figure may be higher.

What are the important 11 plus essay topic and how to write one?

Learning good planning technique is essential to success in an 11+ essay. The elements that need to be planned are:

  • Who are the characters? Can you describe them?

  • Where is the story set?

  • What is the plot – what will happen in the story?

  • How will the story begin?

  • What will happen in the middle?

  • How will it end?

Story titles can be long or short. Here are some examples of story titles which have come up in both Grammar School and Independent School tests.

  • The Day Trip

  • Power

  • The Broken Window

  • The Abandoned House

  • Lost Boy

  • The Voice in the Darkness

  • The Garden

  • Sleeping

  • Write a story with Alone as the title, where you suddenly realise that you are on your own. It may be a true or entirely made up, but it should include your thoughts and feelings as well as what happened.

  • Write a story (true or made up) about a visit you make to some relations of your own.

  • Write a letter to a cousin inviting him to stay with you. You should try and interest him in some of the varied and unusual activities he can take part in.

  • Describe a situation which you have experienced which might also be called A Magical Moment, showing what your thoughts and feelings are.

  • Write a clear description of an animal you know well. Make sure you describe what it does and how it behaves as well as what it looks like.

  • I prefer Winter to Spring.

  • The door and what was behind it.

  • The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman.

  • Ash on an old man’s sleeve.

  • My hobby

  • Write a story that begins with the words – I had been waiting for such a long time for this to happen.

  • Write a description of someone you admire. (You may choose someone you know, or someone you have never met. Describe them and explain why you admire them).

How to teach 11 plus English?

Eleven plus English tests may include some or all these topics:

  • Comprehension

  • Spelling

  • Punctuation

  • Sentence structure

  • Grammar

  • Vocabulary

  • Literacy

In some areas, a writing test is set which is only marked and assessed if the child is a borderline pass/fail in their other tests. It is therefore helpful to ensure that you know which English topics are to be tested in your local exams so you can tailor preparation accordingly.

What are the best 11 plus books?

Bond, CGP and Scofield books are used traditionally. Although certain tuition centres like AE and Champs Learning(https://champslearning.co.uk/index.html) have developed some wonderful concept-based books and workbooks.

How long is 11 plus exam?

11+ exam papers are timed and usually last between 45-60 minutes. Children should practise with timed 11+ mock test papers, as well as working through non-timed practice, so they can see what they are able to do within a given time frame.

How to book 11 plus exam?

The deadline for registration varies greatly, depending on where you are in the country. As a rough guide: registration can open as early as May, but open days can be as late as October. Registration periods are normally open for a couple of months from the start date – so deadlines can be from July – October. For more information on the registration process for your prospective school, contact the school directly to avoid any misunderstanding. If you are applying for more than one Grammar school, then you normally must register separately for every exam your child will be taking unless a set of schools are part of a joint consortium (e.g., Birmingham)

How to tutor for 11 plus / how to teach the 11 plus?

If you enjoy working with younger students, then specializing in Eleven Plus tuition can be a very rewarding career move. Helping students gain entry to the UK’s top grammar schools is a challenging job but one that can command a significant fee. Now, there are no official accreditations for private tutors in the UK, so in theory, anyone can start a private tutoring business. However, at 11 Plus level, parents generally look for tutors to be qualified to degree level, or at least be undergraduates. As an 11 Plus tutor, you’ll need to have a bank of resources that you can use with your students. Practice papers and other subject specific exercises are particularly useful in preparing children for the 11 Plus exam. When it comes to tutoring students under the age of 18, it’s recommended that you obtain a DBS certificate. Although not a legal requirement, at 11 Plus level, parents generally expect tutors to have had a criminal background check.

Where is the 11 plus exam?

11 plus exam for a given school is conducted in the respective school campus.

What is the 11 plus marked out of?

The 11 plus exams for different schools are marked differently.

What is the highest 11 plus score?

“Good” score varies depending on the school for which you are aiming. Scores for the 11 Plus exam are standardised scores, meaning the national average is around 100. The average for some areas can be as high as 111. The lowest score will be around 69 or 70 and the highest score is usually 140 or 141.

How to apply for 11 plus exam in Birmingham?

Parents must register their child for a Year 7 place at a Birmingham grammar school via the Birmingham Consortium before June. Following this, parents should complete a Common Application Form (CAF) before October; this step can be completed online via the Birmingham City Council website. Parents can select more than one preferred school on this form.