The 11+ and other Common Entrance Exams
This page provides useful information on the the 11+ other Common Entrance Exams tips and advice for parents to help prepare your child.
What is the 11+?
The 11+ is a selective entrance exam for Year 7 entry at state grammar and independent (fee-paying) secondary schools. The exam is taken by pupils in their last year of primary school. Independent schools and grammar schools use different versions of the 11+. Comprehensive secondary state schools do not require an entrance exam.
Most independent schools use the Common Entrance Exam (CEE) set by the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board). Some independent schools create their own exams which they adapt each year.
Depending on the region, most grammar schools will use the GL Assessment. Other grammar schools may use the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) or a mixture of GL and CEM. Grammar schools in Kent have their own version - the Kent Test.
What is included in the 11+?
Regardless of the version, the majority of 11+ exams will cover these 4 subjects:*
English: comprehension, spelling, word choice and grammar, punctuation, vocabulary.
Maths: time tables, number equation, mental arithmetic, graph reading, shapes, spaces and measures, graphic data, number logic.
Verbal reasoning: processing verbal information, selecting words, sorting words, identifying patterns, codes and sequences, verbal and numerical logic.
Non-verbal reasoning: identifying shapes, use of spatial awareness, logical thinking and problem-solving, mathematical skills (rotation, reflection and symmetry).
*Most independent schools now include Science as part of the testing process.
The English and Maths tests tend to follow the KS2 National Curriculum.
When do the 11+ exams take place?
The ISEB Common Entrance exams are taken by pupils in Year 6. There are two sessions each year, in November and January, with most pupils sitting it in January. Pupils are usually entered by their prep school. If your child goes to a state comprehensive primary school then you will need to register for the 11+ online. There is a fee for taking the exam.
Most grammar schools open for registration in April or May with a deadline of June or July for parents to register. This will vary depending on the region. Most students will then take the 11+ in the first two weeks of September with results available to view the following month.
How can I prepare my child for the 11+?
The 11+ exams can be a stressful process for your child, so providing plenty of encouragement, positivity and support is vital. Most prep-schools will help prepare students and set practice papers for the ISEB, but most parents look for extra support for their child. This often involves using an experienced tutor who can specialise in a particular area of the 11+ that your child might need extra assistance with.
It is worth checking the website of independent schools that set their own 11+ exam as they may set out their requirements for entry and post past exam papers. Their website will also provide information on registration, scholarships and financial aid.
The list below may be useful for preparing your child for the 11+:
the ISEB website
Atom Learning has a range of practice papers and resources
the GL assessment website
There are numerous practice papers available online and you can buy practice books on amazon and in local book shops.
Remember to check the admission criteria and deadlines for each school that you are applying for.
What happens if my child does not pass the 11+?
The 11+ is an extremely selective process with hundreds of applicants competing for limited places. There are numerous factors that can affect your child’s chance of being selected which are beyond your control, and however prepared your child is - things can simply just go wrong on the day.
The most important thing is to remain positive and supportive. Children develop academically at different stages of their education. Your child may also now have the chance to receive an outstanding state comprehensive education and will be taught by highly qualified, dedicated and experienced practitioners.
Some grammar schools offer late entry via the 12+ and 13+. Independent schools will use the 13+ CEE for Year 9 entry (see below.)
The 11+
What is the 13+?
The majority of independent schools offering places to students in Year 9 will use the 13+ Common Entrance Exam. The content and structure of these exams are taken at different levels and will vary depending on the school. All CE exams will have papers for the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, and exams are typically between 40-90 minutes long depending on the subject. Most schools will include further tests covering verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, and candidates can take extensions or exams in optional subjects such as Languages and the Humanities.
Similar to the 11+, schools will either follow the Common Entrance Exams (CEE) set by the ISEB, or use their own entrance exams. Increasingly more prestigious schools are setting their own exams which are adapted each year and are more difficult than the CEE. The pass mark varies each year depending on the number of applicants and available places.
There is an interview process that covers a range of areas including: favourite and least favourite school subjects, current reading, hobbies, achievements and extracurricular activities. In longer interviews there may be test questions such as discussing the meaning of an unseen poem, or working out quick mental arithmetic on the spot.
The ISEB provides a syllabus and past papers for the CEE. Check the website for registration and exam dates.
Similarly check the websites for schools that set their own exams to find out more information on their syllabus and entrance requirements. They will also provide information on scholarships.
The ISEB English exam:
Comprehension skills: read a range of different texts including prose (fiction and non-fiction), verse and poetry, practice writing longer analytical responses, develop a mastery of reading skills in explanation, analysis, inference, interpretation and evaluation, develop a wide range of ambitious vocabulary, work out the meanings of challenging/unusual words.
Composition: effectively plan and structure an extended piece of writing, understand how to write for different purposes (analytical, creative, informative etc), show a strong technical accuracy including accurate use of SPaG, discourse markers, paragraphs and vocabulary, use a range of literary devices for effect (e.g. metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration), clear handwriting.
The ISEB Maths exam:
The Maths exam covers a range of topics including: numbers, algebra, ratio and proportion, statistics and probability, and geometry and measures.
When are the 13+ exams taken?
13+ exams are sat in Year 8 with assessment sessions taking place in November, January and May/June. There are different levels for the papers (Levels 1-3 for core papers) and which vary according to student birth dates. Most ISEB papers are sat at Level 2/3 which covers the breadth of the DfE Key Stage 3 National Curriculum up to the type of knowledge and skills that students would be expected to master in Year 10 (for state schools this is the first GCSE year.) The pass mark varies between schools and schools mark the papers subject to their own discretion, so it is difficult to compare CE scores across schools.
The registration for the 13+ takes place a number of years before the intended entry, usually 2-3 years in advance, but varies depending on the school. During this time most schools will use ‘pre-testing’ to filter down the number of prospective applicants. Increasingly these are computerised with a strong focus on verbal and non-verbal reasoning. If successful, students may be presented with a conditional offer, subject to passing the tests outlined above.
Preparing for the exam
Developing a mastery of the knowledge and skills for each core subject studied at Key Stage 3 and beyond is essential. An experienced tutor will be able to help your child with any particular subject areas of development. Encouraging your child to read widely and pursue a range of hobbies and extracurricular activities is also important.
The ISEB provides a syllabus, resources past papers on their website.
There are a range of resources and past papers online. Respected tutoring agencies provide information and example papers on their websites.
As always, speaking to other parents who have gone through this process, particularly for independent schools that set their own exams, is vital for building up more information.
Please get in touch if you would like to enquire about tuition for your child for the 11+ or other common entrance exams.