Which subjects actually get tested — and why the exam your child sits can look quite different depending on which exam board a school or local authority uses.
Most 11+ exams draw from a combination of these four areas, though not every test includes all four:
Schools and local authorities don't write their own 11+ papers from scratch — most buy them from one of a small number of specialist exam boards. The exam board used affects the style of question, the balance of subjects, and how much past-paper practice actually helps.
| Exam board | Subjects covered | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning (as separate papers) | The most widely used board across English grammar schools and consortiums. |
| CEM / Cambridge Insight | Verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning, with English and maths skills folded into those papers rather than tested separately | Formerly used by a significant number of grammar schools; its use in state grammar schools has fallen sharply since the test moved to an online-only format in 2022–23. Still used by some independent schools for Year 7 entrance under its current name, Cambridge Select Insight. |
| ISEB Common Pre-Tests | English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning | Widely used by independent (private) senior schools in England, often sat in Year 6 or 7 rather than being a grammar-school 11+ specifically. |
| SEAG transfer test | English and Maths only, across two papers | The single unified test used for grammar school entrance across Northern Ireland, replacing the older separate AQE and PPTC tests. |
It depends entirely on your target school(s) or local authority — there's no substitute for checking directly with them, since a single county can sometimes mix boards between individual grammar schools. See our guide to areas with grammar schools for a starting point, then confirm the specific exam board and format with the school or local authority admissions team.
Whatever the exact board, strong foundations in English, Maths and reasoning skills transfer across all formats — which is why broad, consistent subject practice is a safer long-term strategy than narrowly drilling one board's past papers.
3,000+ questions across English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning today — Non-Verbal Reasoning coming soon.