11+ Exam Preparation 2026: A Parent's Guide

If you have started researching the 11+ and come away more confused than when you began, you are not alone. The single most important thing to understand is that the 11+ is not one standard exam — it varies by region, by exam board and by school. Get clear on your local arrangements first, and the preparation falls into place much more easily.

What is the 11+ exam?

The 11+ is a selective entrance exam sat in Year 6 by children hoping to win a place at a grammar school — and, in some areas, at independent schools that use a similar test. It is taken near the start of Year 6 (typically in September), with successful children starting their new school the following September in Year 7.

Grammar schools are state-funded but academically selective, so places are limited and competition is often fierce. The 11+ is the tool they use to decide who gets in. It is worth saying clearly: not every area has grammar schools, and the 11+ is entirely optional — it sits alongside, not instead of, the normal secondary school admissions process. If your child does not sit it, or does not pass, they still have a school place through the usual route.

How the 11+ landscape works in 2026

This is the part that trips up most parents, so it is worth being precise. There is no single national 11+ exam. Instead, different exam boards and consortia provide tests, and which one your child sits depends entirely on the school and region.

In 2026, GL Assessment is the dominant provider, used by the large majority of grammar schools across England. If you are preparing your child for the 11+, GL-style material is the most likely to be relevant — but you must confirm this for your specific target school.

A common source of out-of-date advice is CEM. For years, parents talked about "GL or CEM" as the two big boards. That is no longer the case: CEM exited the standard 11+ market around 2022/23 and no longer provides the traditional 11+ test. If you read older guides or forum posts referring to the "CEM 11+" as a current option, treat them with caution.

Beyond GL, several regions and schools use their own arrangements:

• CSSE — used in Essex, with its own format and registration process
• ISEB — used by some independent schools (the ISEB Common Pre-Tests)
• Newer regional tests — for example Quest Assessment, adopted by some consortia

The practical takeaway: do not assume. Before you buy a single practice book or commit to a study plan, contact your target school or local authority and confirm which board sets their test, which subjects are included, and the exact format. Everything else in your preparation flows from that one answer.

The four assessment areas explained

The 11+ can test up to four areas. Which ones appear, and in what proportion, depends on your region and board — so use this as a map, not a fixed syllabus.

1. English (comprehension)

Children read a passage and answer questions that test understanding, inference and vocabulary. Some tests also include spelling, punctuation, grammar and a short writing element. A strong reading habit and a wide vocabulary are the foundations here.

2. Maths

This builds on the Key Stage 2 curriculum but often pushes further into multi-step problem solving and applying knowledge under time pressure. Fluency with number, fractions, percentages, and word problems matters more than memorised tricks.

3. Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning uses words, letters and language-based puzzles — codes, analogies, hidden words and logic problems. It rewards vocabulary and pattern-spotting, and it is highly trainable: children improve noticeably once they recognise the common question types.

4. Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-verbal reasoning uses shapes, sequences and spatial patterns rather than words. It tests the ability to spot relationships and rotations visually. Like verbal reasoning, familiarity with the question types makes a big difference, so exposure and practice are key.

How registration actually works

Here is where the 11+ differs sharply from exams like GCSEs or driving theory: there is no central booking website where you pay a fee and pick a date. Instead, registration happens through your child's school or, more commonly, the local authority or grammar school admissions process for the area you are applying to.

In broad terms, the process looks like this:

1. Identify your target schools and the local authority that administers their 11+, ideally during Year 5
2. Register for the test via that authority's or school's admissions process — usually through an online form opened over the summer
3. Meet the deadline, which often falls in late June or early July of the summer before Year 6 (this varies, and some areas close earlier)
4. Sit the test in September of Year 6, then receive results that feed into your secondary school application

Because dates and processes differ so much from one authority to the next, the single most important admin task you have is to check your local deadlines carefully and early. Missing a registration deadline is one of the most heartbreaking — and entirely avoidable — ways for a child to lose the chance to sit the exam at all.

You can find the main provider, GL Assessment, at gl-assessment.co.uk for background on the test materials — but remember that registration is always done through your school or local authority, not through the exam board, and the arrangements vary by area.

A realistic preparation timeline

The healthiest approach is steady, little-and-often preparation starting around 12 months ahead, in Year 5. This avoids cramming and keeps the experience positive.

• 12 months out (start of Year 5): Confirm your target board and format. Build reading and vocabulary, and shore up Key Stage 2 maths and English. No formal "11+ practice" yet — just strong foundations.
• 6–9 months out: Gently introduce verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types so they become familiar rather than alarming. Keep sessions short — 20 to 30 minutes a few times a week is plenty.
• 3–6 months out: Move into mixed practice across all four areas. Start light timing so your child gets used to working at pace without panic.
• Final 6–8 weeks: Full timed practice papers in the relevant format, reviewing mistakes calmly. Taper off in the last few days — rest matters more than last-minute cramming.

How to prepare each area

English: Read widely together and discuss what you read. A child who reads for pleasure builds comprehension and vocabulary almost effortlessly. Solidify the basics with our KS2 SATs English practice.

Maths: Secure number fluency and problem solving first. The KS2 SATs Maths practice is an excellent base because the 11+ builds directly on Key Stage 2 content before stretching further.

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning: These are the most "trainable" areas. The single biggest gain comes from your child recognising the recurring question types, so regular short bursts of practice pay off more than occasional long sessions.

Avoiding over-pressuring your child

It is easy for the 11+ to become a source of stress for the whole family, and that rarely helps performance. A few principles keep it healthy:

• Keep sessions short and regular rather than long and exhausting. Consistency beats intensity.
• Frame it as practice, not a verdict on your child. A grammar place is one route among several, not a measure of their worth or intelligence.
• Watch for burnout. Reluctance, tears or anxiety are signals to ease off, not to push harder.
• Have a positive plan B. Knowing the alternative is a good school they will be happy at takes the fear out of the exam — for both of you.

Common mistakes parents make

Assuming the wrong exam board. Preparing with CEM-era material, or the wrong regional format, wastes months. Confirm the board first.

Missing the registration deadline. Because there is no central reminder, families sometimes prepare brilliantly and then miss the summer cut-off. Diarise it the moment you know it.

Starting too late and cramming. Intense last-minute preparation raises stress and rarely fixes gaps in core maths or vocabulary. Start gently, well ahead.

Neglecting reasoning. Parents often focus on maths and English because they are familiar, and overlook verbal and non-verbal reasoning — which are highly trainable and can be the deciding margin.

Over-coaching. Drilling endless papers can leave a child exhausted and put off learning. Balanced, varied, enjoyable practice serves them far better.

Frequently asked questions

What year do children take the 11+?

It is taken at the start of Year 6, usually in September, for entry the following September in Year 7. Registration deadlines fall in the summer before Year 6 — check yours carefully.

Is the 11+ the same everywhere?

No. The board, subjects and format vary by region and school. GL Assessment is the most common provider in 2026, but always confirm the arrangements for your target school.

Do we have to pay to sit the 11+?

For state grammar schools the test itself is generally free, though you cover any preparation materials or tutoring you choose. Independent schools may charge an assessment fee. Check with each school.

How long should daily practice be?

Short and regular wins. For most children, 20 to 30 minutes a few times a week is far more effective — and far kinder — than long, draining sessions.