The 11 Plus exam comes in different structures depending on the consortium, individual schools, and exam boards involved. This diversity makes the evaluation process of 11 Plus unique and diverse.
GL Assessment is a major provider of 11 Plus entrance tests used by grammar and independent schools. CEM was previously another major provider but withdrew from the paper-based 11 Plus market in 2023. Schools that formerly used CEM moved to GL Assessment or introduced bespoke entrance tests of their own.
GL 11 Plus Exam Questions and Structure
GL Assessment follows ‘standard’ formats in its four main sections. However, not all schools or regions opt to include all four subjects covered by the GL assessment. This allows them to customise the test content according to their preferences and admission criteria. Here’s a quick look at the questions and structure of its 11 Plus exam.
English
- Encompasses 49–56 questions in 50 minutes.
- Covers reading comprehension and spelling, punctuation, and grammar questions.
- The reading comprehension section involves a passage of around two sides of A4, followed by 20 questions testing the child’s inference, deduction, and vocabulary understanding from the text.
- Spelling, punctuation, and grammar sections each comprise 8-12 questions. They often ask students to spot the mistake or complete the sentence.
Maths
- Consists of 50 questions within a 50-minute timeframe.
- Explores number facts, measurement, data or statistics, algebra, and geometry.
- The majority of questions are presented in a multiple-choice format. Occasionally, there might be a small standard format box for a written answer.
Verbal Reasoning
- Comprises 80 questions to be tackled in 50 minutes.
- Assesses the ability to discern patterns and manipulate verbal information.
- The questions may come in the form of multiple-choice, determine the answer independently, or include structures that can be confusing and time-consuming for students who are unfamiliar with them.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Poses 80 questions, separated into four sections with 20 questions and distinct timings each.
- Guages children’s problem-solving skills using visual information.
- It generally comes in a multiple-choice format where a child is asked to identify the odd pattern among given options, analyse rotations of images, decipher codes and patterns, recognise transformations from one pattern to another, complete a progressive sequence, fill in an array of nine squares, and more.
What Are the Differences Between GL Assessment and CEM
When it comes to the 11 Plus exam, GL Assessment is a major current provider, while CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) was previously another major provider before withdrawing from the paper-based 11 Plus market in 2023. Schools that formerly used CEM moved to GL Assessment or introduced bespoke entrance tests. The comparison below is therefore historical but can still help parents understand references to CEM in older 11 Plus resources.
GL Assessment
Curriculum Coverage: Aligns broadly with the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum, although the exact content tested depends on the school or consortium.
Question Types: Covers areas such as English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning, depending on the test being used.
Format: Commonly uses multiple-choice questions, although the exact structure varies between tests and admissions arrangements.
Exam Time: Varies between schools, regions, and consortia.
Practice Materials: GL Assessment publishes familiarisation and practice materials to help students prepare for its tests.
CEM
Curriculum Coverage: CEM tests historically assessed a broad combination of literacy, numeracy, and reasoning skills, with an emphasis on applying knowledge under time pressure.
Question Types: Tests could combine English and verbal reasoning or maths and non-verbal reasoning, with an emphasis on challenging questions and adaptability.
Format: CEM paper-based tests used varied question formats and were designed to be less predictable than many traditional 11 Plus papers.
Exam Time: Tests typically used shorter timed sections, requiring students to move quickly between different skills and question types.
Practice Materials: CEM historically limited the publication of official practice materials as part of its aim to reduce predictability and excessive preparation.
CEM withdrew from the paper-based 11 Plus market in 2023, so students should not prepare for a current CEM paper. Parents should instead check the latest admissions information for their target school and prepare for its current GL Assessment or bespoke test format.
Tips for Preparing for the 11 Plus Exam
Given the varied question types and formats, preparation for the 11 Plus demands a comprehensive strategy.
English and Verbal Reasoning
Students need to foster a broad vocabulary base and understand word meanings to excel in English and Verbal Reasoning early on.
Maths
Students should focus on rapid recall of number facts for the Maths section.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
For non-verbal reasoning, students should hone their logical thinking skills with logical puzzles.
Parents can support their children by providing them with past papers to get them used to the types of questions and the timing of the actual test. The goal in preparing the students is to instil confidence in them about taking the exam.
