11 Plus Exam Sample Questions

The 11 Plus is not your typical test. Its questions are designed to test children’s academic ability and intelligence in the areas of Verbal Reasoning, Non-verbal Reasoning, Maths, and English.

We’ll show you sample questions from each subject covered to make it less confusing for your child.

What Type of Questions Are in the 11 Plus Exam?

11 Plus Exam Sample Questions

Let’s break down what the 11 Plus exam questions are like.

English Questions

  • English papers focus on testing a child’s comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and language skills.
  • Reading comprehension passages may be accompanied by questions to evaluate understanding.
  • Some schools may even include a creative writing component.

Maths Questions

  • These questions assess a child’s mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
  • Examples may involve arithmetic, numerical reasoning, and logic puzzles.
  • Expect a variety of topics, including basic calculations, algebraic concepts, geometry, and data interpretation.

Verbal Reasoning Questions

  • These questions evaluate a child’s ability to understand and manipulate information using words.
  • Examples may include word analogies, breaking a code, and identifying patterns in words.
  • Verbal reasoning assesses linguistic skills beyond what is typically taught in the regular school curriculum.

Non-Verbal Reasoning Questions

  • Non-verbal reasoning questions assess problem-solving using shapes, patterns, and spatial relationships.
  • Examples include completing sequences, identifying the odd one out in a series, and solving visual puzzles.
  • This section is designed to measure a child’s ability to think logically without relying on language skills.

Different sections of the 11 Plus include the following question formats:

  • Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
  • Fill in the Blanks
  • Short Answer Questions
  • Matching Questions
  • True/False Statements

The exact format and content of 11 Plus questions can vary between different regions, grammar schools, and exam boards. To prepare for the 11 Plus, it helps to practice a variety of sample questions, familiarising yourself with the different question types and sharpening your skills in each area.

What Are Sample Questions Asked in the 11-Plus?

The following sample questions are taken from practice papers provided by exam boards such as GL Assessment, past papers from individual grammar schools, and other resources of free 11 Plus papers— all to give you an idea of what the real test might be like.

English

1. Which word in this sentence is an adjective? Circle the correct letter.

“Don’t be cross, uncle!” said the nephew.

  • A. Don’t
  • B. be
  • C. cross
  • D. uncle
  • E. said
  • F. the

2. In this extract there are several spelling mistakes. Circle the letter where the spelling mistake is underlined or, if there isn’t a spelling mistake, circle the letter X.

[He caught sight of the house] [beyond, but, when he drew nearer,] [it disappeared sudenly] [behind the neighbouring hedge.]

3. Choose the right word or phrase to complete the passage. Circle the letter which matches the correct word.

Today was my first day at my new school and it [be] [was] [does] [went] [were] awful.

Maths

1. If you need 6 apples to make a pie, how many pies can be made with 125 apples?

Answer: __________

2. Which of the following is most likely to be the weight of a small can of baked beans?

  • A. 250 g
  • B. 2.5 kg
  • C. 2.5 g
  • D. 2500 g
  • E. 25 g

3. What is 45.952 rounded to the nearest tenth?

  • A. 45.9
  • B. 46.0
  • C. 45.95
  • D. 45.96
  • E. 45.10

4. Use the formula below to find the size of angle m if n = 46°.

m = (180 – n) ÷ 2.

Answer: ___________ °

Verbal Reasoning

1. Read the following information, then find the correct answer to the question and mark it on the answer sheet.

At the shops, Darren bought 8 oranges. Laura bought 3 oranges fewer than Chris. Rosario bought 3 oranges fewer than Darren and 1 fewer than Chris. How many oranges did Laura buy?

  • A. 1
  • B. 9
  • C. 3
  • D. 5
  • E. 2

2. Underline the two words, one from each group, which are closest in meaning.

  1. (funny, happy, silly) (clown, foolish, sad)
  2. (reception, enquiry, equip) (appoint, apparatus, investigation)
  3. (trunk, oak, branch) (acorn, tree, chest)

3. Find the word that means the same, or nearly the same, as the word on the left.

  1. brave – noble fearless capable tough
  2. guess – consider estimate belief idea
  3. worth – payment value expensive reward

Non-verbal Reasoning

Sample Question
Sample Questions
Sample Questions

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