Breaking Down 11+ Exam Questions: What You Need to Know
The 11+ exams are a crucial step for students aiming to secure a place in grammar schools. It is essential to know the types of questions your child will face and how to approach them. Thorough preparation is the key to getting your child into the best grammar schools.
This guide is designed to break down the different types of 11+ exam questions, providing clarity and strategies to tackle them effectively.
Let’s dive right in.
Related: How to Get Ready for 11+ Exams: A Complete Guide for Parents
Types of questions in the 11+ exam
The subjects covered in the 11+ exam can differ depending on your location in the UK, but they typically include a mix of the following four areas:
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Maths
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English
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Verbal Reasoning
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Non-Verbal Reasoning
Maths
The 11+ Maths exam is a critical component, assessing your child's numerical and problem-solving skills, often over 50 minutes with 50 questions.
These tests are aligned with Key Stage 2 national curriculum content and are typically in a multiple-choice format, occasionally requiring written answers.
Key areas covered include:
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Number Fluency: Questions on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as fractions, decimals, percentages, prime numbers, prime factors, highest common factor, and lowest common multiple.
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Measurement: Topics include money, time, the metric system, perimeter and area, distance, speed and time, and the volume of cubes and cuboids.
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Statistics: Your child will encounter questions on averages, simple ratios, column graphs, pie charts, and coordinates.
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Geometry: This section involves angle calculations, reflection and rotation, and nets of shapes.
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Algebra and Patterns: Questions will assess understanding of algebraic concepts and patterns.
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Probability: Basic probability questions.
Example of worded problems:
Photo taken from Atom Learning
Familiarity with rapid recall of number facts and strong problem-solving skills will be beneficial. Preparing for these topics thoroughly will help your child excel in the 11+ Maths exam.
English
The 11+ English exam, created by GL Assessment, is crucial for evaluating your child's language skills and preparedness for more advanced studies. This test generally includes the following sections:
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Reading Comprehension:
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Your child will read a text around two pages long.
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They will answer 18 questions about the text, testing their ability to infer, deduce, and understand vocabulary in context.
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Texts can range from fiction and non-fiction to poetry, both traditional and contemporary. Familiarity with a variety of genres is beneficial.
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Questions may be multiple-choice (most common) or require written answers.
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Vocabulary and Word Meaning:
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Four questions assess your child's understanding of word meanings.
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Grammar:
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Three questions test your child's grasp of grammar rules.
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Spelling and Punctuation:
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Eight questions require identifying spelling errors in sentences.
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Another eight questions focus on spotting errors in the use of capital letters and punctuation.
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Sentence Completion:
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Eight questions where your child selects the best word from a list to complete a sentence.
Example question. Photo taken from Atom Learning
Verbal Reasoning
The 11+ Verbal Reasoning exam by GL Assessment measures your child's ability to understand, connect, and manipulate verbal information. This 50-minute test typically includes 80 questions and assesses:
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Vocabulary: A broad vocabulary base and understanding of word meanings in and out of context. Knowledge of synonyms and antonyms is crucial.
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Problem-Solving: Questions involve solving puzzles, breaking codes using words and numbers, and following instructions.
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Verbal Information Processing: Your child will be tested on their ability to process and manipulate verbal information.
Below is an example question:
Letter Move: One letter from the word on the left must be moved into the word on the right to make two new words. The letters must not be rearranged. Both new words must make sense.
START TRIP
Answer: S - TART and STRIP
Non-Verbal Reasoning
The 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning exam assesses your child's ability to solve problems using visual information and logical thinking. This test is particularly useful for STEM subjects like Maths and Science. The exam typically lasts between 40 minutes and 1 hour and is divided into four sections, each containing 20 questions. Each section is separately timed, so your child will need to move on to the next section when instructed.
Key areas covered in the Non-Verbal Reasoning exam include:
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Identifying the Odd One Out: Your child will need to determine which shape doesn't belong in a set.
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Sequences: Identifying which diagram comes next in a sequence.
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Cube Nets: Understanding how shapes will look when folded.
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Mirror Images and Reflections: Working with symmetrical shapes and reflections.
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Identifying Identical Shapes: Finding two identical shapes in a series.
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Rotations and Symmetry: Recognising shapes that are rotated or symmetrical.
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Visual Problem-Solving: Using visual maths skills to identify patterns and relationships between shapes and objects.
See an example question below
Photo taken from: Explore Learning
Non-verbal reasoning questions can be confusing and time-consuming, so it's important to familiarise your child with these types of questions early on.
Note that not all areas include non-verbal reasoning in the exam, so check the specific requirements of your location before preparing for this section.
What is GL Assessment?
GL Assessment is the organisation behind the 11-plus exams. These tests are widely used by UK grammar schools and some independent schools to select students for admission.
Typically, GL Assessment exams for grammar schools are paper-based and non-adaptive. This means the questions remain at the same difficulty level, regardless of how your child answers.
The 11-plus exam is meant to be tough, aiming to identify children who will do well in a selective school environment. It targets the top 25% of students, including questions on topics that might not have been covered in their current school curriculum.
How long does the 11-plus exam take?
The timing for each 11-plus paper varies by region but typically lasts between 45 minutes to one hour. For many children, this can feel quite short, and they may not yet be skilled at managing their time during exams.
To help your child prepare, practice timed tests and teach them to divide the exam into manageable time intervals.
What is the structure of the answers in the test?
The 11-plus exam includes different types of questions, but the most common are multiple-choice and standard-answer questions.
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Multiple-Choice Questions: These often include one "out-of-the-box" answer and several obviously wrong options designed to trick students who don't read the question carefully.
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Standard-Answer Questions: These provide space for students to write their answers, often including room for showing their workings. These questions may be worth two points—one for the correct answer and another for the method used.
Practising with these formats can help your child become more comfortable and efficient on exam day.
What’s the pass rate for the 11-plus exam?
The pass mark for the 11-plus exam varies across different regions, mainly because it depends on the number of available spots at local grammar schools. In areas with fewer places, competition can be fierce.
Generally, though, the pass mark is around 80% or higher.
What will your child need for the 11-plus exam?
Students will usually be provided with the necessary equipment during the test. However, some test centres may give you a list of items to bring.
It's important that your child is comfortable using tools like a protractor and ruler. Also, if they need to correct any answers, ensure they erase them neatly so their final answers are clear and legible.
We’ve discussed the key elements of the 11-plus exam. Now, let's focus on how you and your child can prepare to achieve the best possible results.
Tips for parents to help children prepare for the 11-plus exam
It's crucial to know how to support your child in preparing for the 11-plus exam so they feel self-assured. Here are some key areas to focus on:
Expand their vocabulary
A strong vocabulary is essential for the test, so broadening their word knowledge is important. Use a variety of sources like books, news programs, documentaries, and everyday conversations. This exposure helps them learn new words and better understand the English language.
Practice times tables
Multiplication will be part of the exam, so helping your child become proficient in their times tables is beneficial. You can use quizzes to test their skills or make it fun by creating rhymes to help them remember.
Consider hiring a tutor
If you find it challenging to help your child with test preparation, hiring an 11+ tutor can be very helpful. A tutor can create effective revision strategies and focus on areas where your child needs the most improvement.
Avoid excessive pressure
Exams can be stressful, especially for children aged 10 or 11 who are still relatively new to the examination process. While you want your child to succeed, putting too much pressure on them can backfire and increase stress for both you and your child.
Keep them calm and confident
The best approach is to help them feel calm and confident about the exam, regardless of the outcome.
Tips for children to prepare for the 11-plus exam
Kids at this age often lack experience with exams, so here are some tips to help them prepare effectively:
Read before bed
Reading before bedtime can help with absorbing information in a relaxed setting. Just ensure it doesn’t lead to staying up too late, as being tired can negatively affect performance.
Use practice papers
Regular practice is key to improvement. Many mock tests are available for the 11-plus exam. These tests help children become familiar with the types of questions they'll encounter and improve their time management skills, ensuring they can complete all questions within the given time.
Read all questions carefully
Marks can be lost if questions are misunderstood. Encourage your child to read each question thoroughly and not rush, even if they feel time is running out.
Ask for help when needed
It's common for children to feel unsure about some questions, but they should know it's always okay to ask for help. Teachers and parents are there to provide support, no matter the question.
Double-check answers
If time permits, reviewing answers after finishing the exam can be very beneficial. It’s an opportunity to catch and correct mistakes that might have been overlooked initially.
Our 11+ Course
For thorough and structured support, think about signing up for our 11+ course starting this summer. Our course features expert tutors, customised study plans, and engaging materials, all aimed at helping your child succeed. Register now to give your child the best preparation for the 11+ exams.
To find out more about MyEdSpace 11+ preparation courses, click here.
What happens if you run out of time for the exam?
Running out of time on the 11-plus exam isn’t the end of the world, even though it might feel discouraging. Generally, the pass mark is around 80%, so children don’t need to score perfectly to pass.
Feeling nervous about the questions and time limit is normal, and this can make answering harder. If a question seems too tough, it’s better to skip it and return to it later if there’s time. It’s more effective to get most questions right than to get stuck on the hard ones.
Encourage your child not to leave any answers blank, especially on multiple-choice questions. Even a guess can sometimes earn extra marks.
Help your child establish a good pace for the exam. Practice tests are excellent for this, and the pacing techniques they learn can be applied during the actual 11-plus exam.
How can MyEdSpace help?
If your child could use some extra support for the 11-plus exam, hiring an online 11+ tutor might be beneficial. At MyEdSpace, all our tutors are fully qualified teachers, ensuring they have the proper training and curriculum expertise to help your child excel. For more details on our services, contact our team today at 0800 772 0974, or book a tutor online.
Conclusion
The 11+ exams are a critical milestone for students aspiring to secure a place in grammar schools. By understanding the different types of questions and developing effective preparation strategies, you can empower your child to approach the exams with confidence and achieve their academic goals.
Remember, the key to success lies in building a solid foundation, practising extensively, and utilising the right resources. With dedication and the right guidance, your child can navigate the 11+ exams and unlock a world of educational opportunities.
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