The 11 Plus is a selective entrance examination taken by some school pupils in their last year of primary school to get into grammar and independent schools. All children took the 11+ exam up until the 1970s. However, the 11+ exam Is no longer compulsory, but it is used in those areas with grammar schools and by selective independent schools to identify the most academically able children. There are now over 160 Grammar Schools remaining in England.
The format of the 11+ exam varies between different areas of the country, but each generally tests for Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The Maths and English tests usually follow the National Curriculum, the verbal and non-verbal tests are not school-based subjects and will not be taught as part of the curriculum in public schools. Therefore, your child will need additional support and exam preparation practice to familiarise themselves with verbal and non-verbal exam-style questions.
The 11+ examination can only be taken once. There is no option for resetting tests if the outcome is not what is expected. This is different to GCSEs and A level exams, where tests can be taken again and again if necessary.
At what age do the students sit the 11+ exam?
Pupils will sit these exams at the start of Year 6, their final year of primary school, when they are ages 10 or 11.
