What is the 11+ Exam?
Executive Summary: The 11+ is a selective school entrance exam (usually for grammar and independent schools) that tests core skills in English, maths and reasoning. There are four main 11+ formats covered by Exam Tutor: GL Assessment, CEM, Independent School papers and the NI SEAG Transfer Test. Each has a distinct structure and emphasis, but all assess Year 6 (age 10–11) skills for grammar school entry.
The 11+ (Year-7 entry exam) is used by UK selective schools to identify pupils ready for an accelerated curriculum. It focuses on key curriculum areas and reasoning ability. Children usually sit it in Year 6 (age 10–11), and the result helps determine admission to grammar or independent schools. The four main exam types differ in format and focus, as summarized below:
| Exam Type | Primary Distinguishing Feature |
|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Four separate papers (English, Maths, Verbal, Non-Verbal) in a fixed format. |
| CEM | Two mixed-subject papers (usually English+Verbal and Maths+Non-Verbal) with varied sections and tight timing. |
| Independent | Similar to GL style (English, Maths, Verbal, Non-Verbal) tailored to private school entry, often including a writing task. |
| SEAG Transfer | Northern Ireland test: two papers combining English and Maths (no separate reasoning sections). |
GL Assessment
- Description & purpose: GL Assessment is the traditional grammar-school exam covering four subjects. It is widely used by UK grammar schools (replacing older tests in many regions) and tests English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
- Subjects tested: English (comprehension, grammar, vocabulary), Mathematics (arithmetic, fractions, geometry, data handling, etc.), Verbal Reasoning (word puzzles, analogies, letter/word manipulation) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (spatial/visual logic, shapes and patterns).
- Format & timing: Typically 4 papers (one per subject) each around 40–50 minutes. The English and Maths papers have ~50 questions (often multiple-choice with some short answers) and last ~50 min. Verbal Reasoning papers are usually about 80 multiple-choice questions in 50 min. Non-verbal papers last ~40 min and include shape/diagram problems.
- Key skills emphasized: Reading comprehension and writing skills (English); calculation and problem-solving (Maths); vocabulary and logic (Verbal Reasoning); spatial awareness and pattern recognition (Non-Verbal Reasoning). Strong literacy, mathematical fluency and logical thinking are essential.
- Difficulty/age: Designed for Year 6 pupils (age 10–11). Difficulty is moderately high – pupils should be comfortable with advanced primary topics and timed reasoning tests.
- Administration: Usually a paper exam in school or at test centres (some schools now also offer online formats). Each paper is fixed-format (non-adaptive) with multiple-choice and written answers. Scores are standardised by age within the cohort.
- Practice mapping: Our GL practice tests mirror the official format and content exactly. Each English, Maths, VR and NVR practice paper comes with fully worked video solutions to build confidence.
- Free samples: Download a free GL Assessment sample test paper and watch a GL Assessment sample video solution on our site.
CEM
- Description & purpose: The CEM (Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring) exam is an alternative grammar-school test developed by Durham University. CEM is designed to be “tutor-proof” by mixing subjects and question types. It is used in various UK regions (often alongside or instead of GL) for Year-7 selection.
- Subjects tested: CEM tests English (verbal skills), Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, but not as separate papers. Rather, English language and reasoning topics are combined. For example, one CEM paper often blends verbal reasoning/comprehension with vocabulary, and another blends maths problems with spatial reasoning.
- Format & timing: Usually 2 papers, each roughly 45–60 minutes. Each paper contains many short sections (mix of multiple-choice and written answers) covering mixed topics. Timing is tight – children often cannot finish every question. For instance, each paper may switch quickly between English, maths and reasoning questions, with strict time limits per section.
- Key skills emphasized: Strong reasoning and problem-solving are crucial. Pupils need good reading comprehension, a wide vocabulary, grammar/spelling skills and maths ability. Adaptability and quick thinking (especially under timed conditions) are tested. The focus is on natural ability and logic rather than purely rote-learned techniques.
- Difficulty/age: Aimed at the same Year 6 age. CEM is generally considered very challenging due to its speeded, mixed-format nature. It’s intended to be unpredictable, so exam practice focuses on broad skill-building.
- Administration: The CEM test is usually paper-based (some areas may pilot computer delivery, but traditional tests use pen-and-paper). Questions are mainly multiple-choice, with scoring standardised by age. There is no fixed pattern of marks; raw scores are converted to standardised scores.
- Practice mapping: Our CEM practice papers include 3 full tests (Maths, Verbal, Non-Verbal) per pack, each with tutor video walkthroughs. They cover all key CEM topics and build timing skills. Each question has a detailed solution video.
- Free samples: Download a free CEM sample test paper and watch a CEM sample video solution on our site.
Independent School Papers
- Description & purpose: Independent (private) schools often have their own 11+ entrance exam. These typically resemble GL-type papers but may include additional tasks. The goal is to select academically able pupils for independent grammar or scholarship places.
- Subjects tested: Usually English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The English section includes comprehension, grammar/vocabulary questions and often a written composition (creative writing) to assess literacy. Maths covers KS2 topics and problem-solving. Verbal/non-verbal sections assess pattern recognition in words and shapes.
- Format & timing: Typically 4 separate papers (one per subject), each around 40–50 minutes, similar to GL Assessment. All questions are normally multiple-choice except for any written composition in English (if included). For example, an independent 11+ English paper may have 30+ questions plus a short writing task. Maths and reasoning papers are usually about 40–50 questions each.
- Key skills emphasized: Broad curriculum skills. English tests reading comprehension and vocabulary/spelling. Maths includes arithmetic, fractions, geometry, etc. Verbal Reasoning questions check logic with words (anagrams, codes, analogies). Non-Verbal Reasoning covers visual/spatial puzzles (shapes, sequences, mirror images). Creativity and writing ability may be tested in English. Strong literacy and numerical skills are essential.
- Difficulty/age: Aimed at Year 6 (age 10–11), but often more demanding content reflecting competitive independent school entry. The reasoning sections can be quite challenging and speeded.
- Administration: Usually paper-based in school or a test center. Scoring is typically by raw marks (often standardised by age/group). All standard subjects are marked, and some schools may include a writing mark.
- Practice mapping: Our Independent School practice papers mirror this format: each pack has 4 tests (Eng/Maths/VR/NVR) with video solutions. They cover all topics above, helping pupils get used to the style of questions used by private schools.
- Free samples: Download a free Independent 11+ sample paper and watch an Independent 11+ sample video solution on our site.
SEAG Transfer Test
- Description & purpose: The SEAG (Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group) Transfer Test is used in Northern Ireland (replacing the old AQE/GL tests). It determines transfer from primary to grammar schools in NI and is taken in P6/P7. The exam tests English and Maths only, in two papers.
- Subjects tested: English and Mathematics only. There are no separate reasoning papers. The English part covers punctuation, grammar, spelling and reading comprehension. The Maths part covers the full KS2 curriculum (number, shape, data, etc.).
- Format & timing: Two test papers (usually one week apart). Each paper contains 56 questions in total and lasts 1 hour. The first 5 questions (not formally scored) are practice questions (some English, some Maths). Then each test has an English section (28 questions: punctuation, grammar, spelling multiple-choice, plus 13-comprehension questions – 7 MCQ + 6 written answers) and a Maths section (28 questions: first 22 multiple-choice, last 6 short-answer). In total each test has 56 scored questions.
- Key skills emphasized: English literacy (vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, creative writing) and maths problem-solving. Children must read passages and answer inference questions, and solve numerical and spatial maths problems. The test demands quick thinking and careful exam technique (every math answer must include workings). There is no Verbal/Non-Verbal Reasoning in SEAG; it focuses on core curriculum knowledge.
- Difficulty/age: For Year 7 entry (Primary 6–7). The new SEAG is considered demanding: it combines many skills in a single hour. Time management is key since candidates must tackle 56 questions in 60 minutes.
- Administration: Paper-based at school test centers (pupils write answers on answer sheets). Both papers have a fixed format (as described). Scores are based on the number correct (there’s no guess penalty). The exam is standardised across NI grammar schools.
- Practice mapping: Our SEAG practice tests simulate the exact structure: two papers of mixed English/Maths questions, complete with full video explanations. This ensures students are familiar with the combined format and question styles.
- Free samples: Download a free SEAG sample test paper and watch a SEAG sample video solution on our site.
Conclusion: Each 11+ exam format has its own style, but all assess key Year-6 skills in English, maths and reasoning. Exam Tutor’s tailored practice papers and step-by-step video solutions cover every topic and question type for GL, CEM, Independent and SEAG tests. Download the free sample papers above and watch the sample solution videos to see how our resources can help your child prepare with confidence.