What Is the 11+ Exam?

If you're new to this, "the 11+" can sound like a single, standardised national exam — it isn't. It's an umbrella term for the entrance tests set by grammar schools and selective school consortiums to help decide admissions, usually for entry into Year 7 (the first year of secondary school).

Because England's school system is mostly comprehensive, the 11+ only matters in the minority of areas that still have grammar schools, plus for the small number of academically selective independent schools elsewhere. If there's no grammar school near you, there's a good chance the 11+ simply isn't part of your journey — our guide to areas with grammar schools covers where it applies.

What is it actually testing?

Most 11+ tests assess a combination of:

• English — comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and sometimes creative writing
• Maths — arithmetic and reasoning based on the primary school curriculum
• Verbal Reasoning — word-based logic and pattern questions
• Non-Verbal Reasoning — shape, pattern and spatial reasoning questions

Not every exam tests all four — it depends on the exam board and area. Our subjects & exam boards guide breaks down exactly which boards test what.

When is it taken?

What does "passing" actually mean?

There's no single national pass mark. Instead:

• Fully selective areas (where most secondary schools are grammar schools) typically set a qualifying score — children above it are eligible for a place, subject to availability and catchment.
• Partially selective areas, where grammar schools sit alongside comprehensives, are usually more competitive — children are often ranked and offered places in score order until spaces run out.
• Individual schools, especially academically selective independent schools, may set their own pass mark or interview alongside the test.

In other words: a strong score doesn't automatically guarantee a place everywhere, and a borderline score doesn't automatically rule one out. Catchment area, sibling priority and the specific school's admissions criteria all matter alongside the test result.

What if my child doesn't get an offer?

It's worth going in with a plan either way. Most areas have excellent non-selective comprehensive schools, and many local authorities run a waiting list and appeals process for grammar school places. This is a conversation worth having with your child in age-appropriate, reassuring terms before results day — not just afterwards.