The Beginner's Guide to the 11+
Everything you need to know about starting your 11+ journey, from exam formats to preparation timelines.
What is the 11+?
The 11+ is a selective entrance examination for secondary schools in the UK, taken by students in their final year of primary school (Year 6). It is used by grammar schools and selective independent schools to identify academically capable children.
When Should You Start Preparing?
Most educators recommend starting structured, gentle daily practice around the beginning of Year 5 (giving about 10–12 months). Daily 15-minute micro-habits keep learning light, enjoyable, and sustainable.
The 4 Key 11+ Subjects
1. Maths
Covers Key Stage 2 curriculum plus multi-step problem solving and speed arithmetic.
2. English
Tests comprehension passages, vocabulary context inference, and grammar accuracy.
3. Verbal Reasoning
Assesses word codes, synonyms, antonyms, and letter-sequence logic.
4. Non-Verbal Reasoning
Evaluates spatial visualization, 3D block counting, and visual pattern recognition.
Beginner 11+ FAQs
Essential starter questions parents ask when beginning the 11+ journey in Year 4 or Year 5.
What is the 11+ exam?
The 11+ is a selective entrance examination taken by primary school pupils in the UK at the start of Year 6 (typically September). It determines admission into state-funded selective grammar schools and certain partially selective academies for Year 7 entry at age 11.
What does the '11+' stand for?
The '11+' refers to the age of the child on entry to secondary school (11 years or older). It was originally established under the Education Act 1944 as part of the Tripartite System to allocate students to grammar, secondary modern, or technical schools.
Is the 11+ exam compulsory for all UK children?
No. The 11+ exam is 100% voluntary and opt-in. In almost all areas of the UK (except Buckinghamshire, where an opt-out system is used), parents must actively register their child with the grammar school consortium or local authority by early summer of Year 5.
What school year is my child in when they take the 11+?
Children sit the 11+ exam in September of Year 6, when they are 10 or 11 years old. Registration opens and closes earlier, during the summer term of Year 5 (between May and July).
Do UK grammar schools charge tuition fees?
No. All 163 state grammar schools in England are state-funded and 100% tuition-free. They operate as academies or maintained schools funded by the Department for Education. Fee-paying schools are independent schools, not state grammar schools.
What is the difference between a grammar school and an independent school?
Grammar schools are state-funded, non-fee-paying secondary schools that select pupils based solely on academic entrance test scores. Independent schools are privately funded, charge tuition fees (£15,000–£30,000+ per year), and use their own admissions assessments (such as the ISEB Common Pre-Test) combined with interviews and school reports.
When should my child start preparing for the 11+?
The recommended preparation window begins in the autumn term of Year 5 (giving 10 to 12 months of structured study). Year 4 is ideal for building wide reading habits, strong times-tables automaticity, and vocabulary foundations. Starting earlier than Year 4 can cause burnout and anxiety without improving test-day outcomes.