About the GL Assessment 11+ Test (11 Plus Exam)
The GL Assessment 11+ exam (also known as the GL 11 plus, or simply the GL eleven plus) is the most widely used 11+ format in the UK — and our 11 plus practice papers are designed by experienced tutors to mirror the real exam format. GL Assessment (formerly NFER-Nelson) produces standardised tests used by the majority of state grammar schools and several independent schools. Unlike CEM, GL papers are subject-specific — separate papers for English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning — with predictable formats year-on-year.
Test provider: GL Assessment (a Renaissance Learning company)
Subjects covered: English (comprehension & grammar), Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning — four separate papers
Who uses GL Assessment: The majority of UK state grammar schools — Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Trafford, Sutton, Bexley, Lincolnshire, Wirral, Essex, Slough and more
Key feature: Subject-specific timed papers using a standardised question bank — predictable, structured, and coachable with consistent practice. Standardised score 121+ is typically the qualifying mark.
Our 8 GL Assessment packs were built by experienced 11+ tutors to mirror the real exam format. Every question comes with a video walkthrough explaining the technique — so your child learns the thinking process, not just the answer.
Looking for a different test format? See our CEM 11+ practice papers, independent school 11+ papers, or SEAG transfer test papers (Northern Ireland).
Free GL Assessment Sample Papers to Get Started
Try our free GL Assessment sample paper (PDF download, no email signup) to preview the quality before buying. Our full GL Assessment practice papers cover all four 11+ subjects in dedicated, separate papers — mirroring the real GL Assessment exam format used across Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Trafford, Sutton, Bexley, Lincolnshire and beyond. Every paper includes a full answer key plus tutor video walkthroughs — available as GL Assessment past papers (PDF) with detailed solutions, plus our GL Assessment sample papers free with answers for new customers.
📚 GL Assessment English
Comprehension passages, grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary. Our GL Assessment English papers include cloze passages, sentence completion, antonyms and synonyms — exactly the question types used in the real GL 11+ English paper.
🔢 GL Assessment Maths
Number, calculation, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, algebra basics, geometry, measurement, data handling and word problems. Our GL Assessment Maths papers match the Key Stage 2 curriculum and the real 11+ Maths question style.
🧠 GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning
Word codes, antonyms, synonyms, letter sequences, missing letters, hidden words, compound words, analogies and cloze passages. Verbal Reasoning is the most vocabulary-heavy paper in the GL 11+ — our videos build the techniques your child needs.
🔷 GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning
Matrix patterns, series completion, codes, analogies, cube nets, 3D shapes, reflections and rotations. Non-Verbal Reasoning rewards pattern recognition — our videos teach the systematic methods that work under time pressure.
GL Assessment 11+ Test Format & Structure
GL Assessment papers are subject-specific and structured. Each subject is tested in its own separate paper under timed conditions. The format is consistent year-to-year, making focused preparation highly effective.
- Subjects: English (comprehension & grammar), Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning — four separate papers
- Paper structure: Typically 45–50 minutes per paper, multiple choice with separate answer sheet
- Question style: Standardised question types — antonyms, synonyms, cloze passages, word codes, number sequences, matrix patterns, cube nets, mathematical reasoning, comprehension passages
- Difficulty curve: Steady increase across each paper; technique and accuracy matter more than raw speed compared to CEM
- Marking: Standardised by age (age allowance for younger pupils); raw scores converted to standardised scores typically 70–140 with 121 the common pass mark
- Test provider: GL Assessment (formerly NFER-Nelson)
Schools That Use GL Assessment 11+ — 228 UK Grammar & Independent Schools
GL Assessment is the most widely-used 11+ test format in the UK. The list below shows 228 schools currently using GL Assessment — including all major grammar school regions: Kent (Kent Test), Buckinghamshire (Bucks 11+), Birmingham (King Edward Foundation), Trafford (Greater Manchester), Sutton & Bexley (London), Lincolnshire, Essex grammars, Wirral, Slough, Reading, Torbay and Gloucestershire.
| School Name | Location | Type | GCSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abercorn School | London, NW8 9XP | Mixed | — |
| Abingdon Prep | Oxfordshire, OX13 5NX | Boys | — |
| Abingdon School | Oxfordshire, OX14 1DE | Boys | 87.1% |
| Alcester Grammar School | Warwickshire, B49 5ED | Mixed | 66.7% |
| Altrincham Grammar School | Cheshire, WA14 2RS | Boys | 82% |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Girls | Cheshire, WA14 2NL | Girls | 86.1% |
| Ashcroft Technology Academy | London, SW15 2UT | Mixed | — |
| Ashlawn School | Warwickshire, CV22 5ET | Mixed | 75-80% |
| Aylesbury High School (AHS) | Aylesbury, HP21 7SX | Girls | 70% |
| Babington House School | Kent, BR7 5ES | Mixed | 70% |
| Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) | Lancashire, BB4 7BJ | Mixed | 62.1% |
| Barnet and Enfield Grammar Schools | — | Girls | 95.0% |
| Barton Court Grammar School | Kent, CT1 1PH | Girls | 47.3% |
| Beaconsfield High School | Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire | Girls | 71.2% |
| Berkshire Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 95% |
| Beths Grammar School | Kent, DA5 1NE | Boys | — |
| Bexley Grammar School | Kent, DA16 2BL | Mixed | 67.3% |
| Bexley Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 85-90% |
| Birmingham Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 87.5% |
| Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (BVGS) | West Midlands, B74 2NH | Boys | 77.5% |
| Bishop Wordsworth's School (BWS) | Wiltshire, SP1 2ED | Boys | 65.3% |
| Blackheath High School | London, SE3 7AG | Girls | 76% |
| Bolton School | Greater Manchester, BL1 4PA | Mixed | 70% |
| Borden Grammar School | Kent, ME10 4DB | Boys | 70% |
| Boston Grammar School (BGS) | Lincolnshire, PE21 6JY | Boys | — |
| Boston High School | Lincolnshire, PE21 9PF | Girls | — |
| Bourne Grammar School | Lincolnshire, PE10 9JE | Mixed | 52.7% |
| Bournemouth Collegiate School | — | Girls | 60% |
| Bournemouth School | Dorset, BH8 9PY | Boys | 66.8% |
| Bournemouth School for Girls | Dorset, BH8 9UJ | Girls | 64.4% |
| Brighton College | East Sussex, BN2 0AL | Mixed | 98% |
| Bristol Grammar School (BGS) | Bristol, BS8 1SR | Mixed | 69.6% |
| British School Dhahran | Dhahran 31952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | Mixed | — |
| Bromley Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 97.0% |
| Buckinghamshire (Bucks) Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 90.0% |
| Burnham Grammar School (BGS) | Burnham, SL1 7HQ | Mixed | 56.4% |
| Burntwood School | London, SW17 0AQ | Girls | — |
| Caistor Grammar School | Lincolnshire, LN7 6QJ | Mixed | 56.9% |
| Calday Grange Grammar School | Merseyside, CH48 8GG | Boys | 52.7% |
| Carre's Grammar School | Lincolnshire, NG34 7DD | Boys | 28.3% |
| Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School | Kent, CT11 7PS | Boys | 46.9% |
| Cheltenham Bournside School | Cheltenham, GL51 3EF | Mixed | — |
| Chesham Grammar School | Buckinghamshire, HP5 1BA | Mixed | 66.9% |
| Chestnut Grove Academy | London, SW12 8JZ | Mixed | 35.1% |
| Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School | Kent, DA15 9AG | Boys | 71.5% |
| Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School | Sidcup | Mixed | 71.5% |
| Churston Ferrers Grammar School (CFGS) | Devon, TQ5 0LN | Mixed | 60.9% |
| City of London School (CLS) | London, EC4V 3AL | Boys | 95.5% |
| Clitheroe Royal Grammar School | Lancashire, BB7 2BA | Boys | 67.7% |
| Colfe's School | London, SE12 8AW | Mixed | 80.1% |
| Cranbrook School | Kent, TN17 3JD | Boys | 53.5% |
| Crossley Heath Grammar | West Yorkshire, HX3 0HG | Mixed | 70% |
| Dame Alice Owen's School (DAO) | Hertfordshire, EN6 2DU | Mixed | 72.1% |
| Dane Court Grammar School | Kent, CT10 2RT | Mixed | 46.1% |
| Dartford Grammar School | Kent, DA1 2HW | Boys | 80.7% |
| Dartford Grammar School for Girls | Kent, DA1 2NT | Girls | 75.5% |
| Dauntsey's School | Wiltshire, SN10 4HE | Mixed | 62.2% |
| Denmark Road High School | Gloucestershire, GL1 3JN | Girls | 65.4% |
| Derby High School | Derbyshire, DE23 3DT | Girls | 49.3% |
| Devon Grammar Schools | — | Boys | — |
| Devonport High School for Girls (DHSG) | — | Girls | 69.7% |
| Dorset Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 80-85% |
| Dover Grammar School for Boys | Kent, CT17 0DQ | Boys | — |
| Dover Grammar School for Girls | Kent, CT16 2PZ | Girls | — |
| Dr Challoner's Grammar School (DCGS) | Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HA | Boys | 64.8% |
| Dr Challoner's High School (DCHS) | Buckinghamshire, HP7 9QB | Girls | 82.9% |
| Dulwich College | London, SE21 7LD | Boys | 93.5% |
| Durham High School for Girls | Durham, DH1 3TB | Girls | 70% |
| Epsom College | Surrey, KT17 4JQ | Mixed | 87.1% |
| Ermysted's Grammar School | North Yorkshire, BD23 1PL | Boys | 65% |
| Ernest Bevin College | London, SW17 7DF | Boys | — |
| Ewell Castle School | Surrey, KT17 2AW | Mixed | 52.1% |
| Forest School | London, E17 3PY | Boys | 77.8% |
| Gad's Hill School | Kent, ME3 7PA | Mixed | — |
| Glenthorne High School | Surrey, SM3 9PS | Mixed | 48% |
| Gloucestershire Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 90% |
| Graveney School | London, SW17 9BU | Mixed | 51.8% |
| Gravesend Grammar School | Kent, DA12 2PR | Boys | 44.2% |
| Gresham's School | Norfolk, NR25 6EA | Boys | — |
| Grey Coat Hospital | London, SW1P 4GH | Mixed | 54.1% |
| Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School | Shropshire, TF10 7BD | Boys | 80-90% |
| Hampton Court House School | — | Mixed | 61.6% |
| Heckmondwike Grammar School (HGS) | West Yorkshire, WF16 0AH | Mixed | 83.5% |
| Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) | London, NW11 7BN | Girls | 97.2% |
| Herschel Grammar School | Slough | Mixed | 73.0% |
| Highgate School | London, N6 4AY | Boys | 95.7% |
| Highsted Grammar School | Kent, ME10 4PT | Mixed | 75% |
| Highworth Grammar School | Kent, TN24 8UD | Girls | 57.1% |
| Homewood School | Kent, TN30 6LT | Mixed | 75% |
| Hurstpierpoint Prep School | West Sussex, BN6 9JS | Mixed | — |
| Ilford County High School (ICHS) | Essex, IG6 2JB | Boys | 68.2% |
| Immanuel College, Bushey | Hertfordshire, WD23 4EB | Mixed | 71.9% |
| Invicta Grammar School | Kent, ME14 5DS | Girls | 59.8% |
| John Hampden Grammar School (JHGS) | Buckinghamshire, HP11 1SZ | Boys | 62.1% |
| Kendrick Girls' Grammar School | Berkshire, RG1 5BN | Girls | 80% |
| Kent Grammar Schools | — | Girls | 90% |
| Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) | Lincolnshire, NG31 9AU | Girls | 52.2% |
| Kesteven & Sleaford High School (KSHS) | Lincolnshire, NG34 7RS | Girls | 34.4% |
| Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School | Grantham, NG31 9HH | Girls | 52.2% |
| King Edward VI (KEVI) Camp Hill School for Girls | West Midlands, B14 7QJ | Girls | 84.7% |
| King Edward VI Aston School | Birmingham, B6 6DJ | Boys | 58.9% |
| King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys | West Midlands, B14 7QJ | Boys | 70.6% |
| King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls | Birmingham | Girls | 84.7% |
| King Edward VI Five Ways School (KEFW) | West Midlands, B32 4BT | Mixed | 74% |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Lichfield | Lichfield, WS13 6PJ | Mixed | — |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth (KEVIGS) | Lincolnshire, LN11 9LL | Mixed | — |
| King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys | West Midlands, B21 9ET | Boys | 65% |
| King Edward VI Handsworth School | West Midlands, B21 9AR | Girls | 65% |
| King Edward VI School (KES) Southampton | Hampshire, SO15 5UQ | Boys | 73% |
| King Edward VI School, Stratford | Stratford-upon-Avon | Mixed | 90.7% |
| King Edward VI Shakespeare's School (KES) | Warwickshire, CV37 6HB | Mixed | 100% |
| Lancashire and Cumbria Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 87.5% |
| Lancaster Girls' Grammar School (LGGS) | Lancashire, LA1 1SF | Girls | 68.3% |
| Lancaster Royal Grammar School (LRGS) | Lancashire, LA1 3EF | Boys | 65.2% |
| Langley Grammar School | Slough, SL3 7QS | Mixed | 77.0% |
| Lawrence Sheriff School | Rugby, CV22 5EH | Boys | — |
| Lincolnshire Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 85-90% |
| Loreto Grammar School | Cheshire, WA14 4AH | Girls | 71.2% |
| Maidstone Grammar School | Kent, ME15 7BT | Boys | 49.4% |
| Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) | Kent, ME16 0SF | Girls | 47.4% |
| Manchester Grammar School (MGS) | Manchester, M13 0XT | Boys | 88.2% |
| Manchester Islamic Grammar School for Girls (MIGSG) | Greater Manchester, M7 2HD | Girls | 70% |
| Marling School, Stroud | Gloucestershire, GL5 4HE | Boys | 69% |
| Mayfield Grammar School | Kent, DA11 0JE | Girls | 44.7% |
| Mayville High School, Southsea | Hampshire, PO5 2PE | Girls | 70% |
| Medway Grammar Schools | — | Mixed | — |
| Mill Hill County High School | London, NW7 4LL | Mixed | 41% |
| Newport Girls' High School (NGHS) | Shropshire, TF10 7HL | Girls | 76.3% |
| Newstead Wood School | Kent, BR6 9SA | Girls | 87.9% |
| Nonsuch High School for Girls | Surrey, SM3 8AB | Girls | 82.8% |
| Northampton High School | Northampton, NN4 6UU | Girls | 58% |
| Oakwood Park Grammar School (OPGS) | Kent, ME16 8AH | Boys | 54.4% |
| Orchard Park High School | Croydon, CR0 7NJ | Mixed | — |
| Parkstone Grammar School (PGS) | Dorset, BH17 7EP | Boys | 55.5% |
| Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham | Gloucestershire, GL51 0HG | Mixed | 90% |
| Plymouth High School for Girls (PHSG) | Devon, PL4 6HT | Girls | 48% |
| Poole Grammar School (PGS) | Dorset, BH17 9JU | Boys | 57.1% |
| Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith | Cumbria, CA11 7EG | Boys | 50% |
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford (QEGS) | Lincolnshire, LN13 9HY | Mixed | 70% |
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham | Faversham, Kent | Mixed | 44.9% |
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle | Lincolnshire, LN9 5AD | Mixed | 70% |
| Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) | Lincolnshire, DN21 2ST | Mixed | 41.2% |
| Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet (QE Boys) | Hertfordshire, EN5 4DQ | Boys | 95.5% |
| Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall | West Midlands, WS1 2PG | Boys | 68.3% |
| Queen Mary's High School | West Midlands, WS4 2AE | Boys | 71.2% |
| Queens' School, Bushey | Hertfordshire, WD23 2TY | Boys | — |
| Reading School | Berkshire, RG1 5LW | Boys | 88.9% |
| Redbridge Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 90.0% |
| Ribston Hall High School | Gloucestershire, GL1 5LE | Girls | — |
| Ripon Grammar School | North Yorkshire, HG4 2DG | Mixed | 59.6% |
| Royal Grammar School High Wycombe (RGSHW) | Buckinghamshire, HP13 6QT | Boys | 65.4% |
| Rugby High School | Rugby | Girls (Mixed 6th) | 72.8% |
| Sale Grammar School | Cheshire, M33 3NH | Mixed | 73.7% |
| Salesian College, Farnborough | Hampshire, GU14 6PA | Mixed | 59.8% |
| Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School | Kent, CT1 3EW | Girls | 70% |
| Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys | Kent, CT4 7AS | Boys | 75% |
| Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School | Buckinghamshire, HP21 8PE | Mixed | 65.8% |
| Sir Thomas Rich's School | Gloucestershire, GL2 0LF | Boys | 77.9% |
| Sir William Borlase School | Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR | Mixed | 65% |
| Skegness Grammar School | Lincolnshire, PE25 2QS | Mixed | — |
| Skipton Girls' High School | North Yorkshire, BD23 1QL | Girls | 65% |
| Slough Grammar Schools | — | Mixed | 80-95% |
| South West Hertfordshire (SW Herts) Grammar Schools | — | Boys | — |
| South Wilts Grammar School for Girls | Wiltshire, SP1 3JJ | Girls | 79% |
| Spalding Grammar School (SGS) | Lincolnshire, PE11 2XH | Boys | — |
| Spalding High School | Lincolnshire, PE11 2PJ | Girls | 42.3% |
| St Michael’s RC Grammar School, Finchley | London | Girls | 90% |
| St. Ambrose College | Cheshire, WA15 0HE | Boys | 74.6% |
| St. Anselm's College | Merseyside, CH43 1UQ | Boys | 30.3% |
| St. Edmund's School, Canterbury | Kent, CT2 8HU | Mixed | 40% |
| St. James Senior Boys' School | Surrey, TW15 3DZ | Boys | 70% |
| St. Margaret's School, Hampstead | London, NW3 7SR | Girls | 70% |
| St. Mary Magdalene Academy (SMMA) | London, N7 8PG | Mixed | 70% |
| St. Olave's Grammar School | Kent, BR6 9SH | Boys | 89.7% |
| Stafford Grammar School | Staffordshire, ST18 9AT | Mixed | 40% |
| Stamford High School | Lincolnshire, PE9 2BQ | Boys | 50.5% |
| Stockport Grammar School | Cheshire, SK2 7AF | Boys | 57.3% |
| Stratford Girls' Grammar School | Warwickshire, CV37 9HA | Girls | 85.8% |
| Stretford Grammar School | Manchester, M32 8JB | Mixed | 75% |
| Stroud High School (SHS) | Gloucestershire, GL5 4HF | Girls | 79.6% |
| Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls | West Midlands, B73 5PT | Girls | 82.8% |
| Sutton Grammar School | Surrey, SM1 4AS | Boys | 81.1% |
| Sutton Grammar Schools - Selective Eligibility Test (SET) | — | Boys | 94.0% |
| The Blue Coat School, Liverpool | Merseyside, L15 9EE | Mixed | 81.6% |
| The Crypt School, Gloucester | Gloucester, GL2 5AE | Boys | 65.6% |
| The Folkestone School for Girls (FSG) | Kent, CT20 3RB | Girls | 65% |
| The Judd School | Kent, TN9 2PN | Boys | 81.1% |
| The King's (The Cathedral) School, Peterborough | Cambridgeshire, PE1 2UE | Mixed | 45.7% |
| The King's School, Grantham | Lincolnshire, NG31 6RP | Boys | 62.6% |
| The King's School, Macclesfield | Cheshire, SK10 4SP | Mixed | 75% |
| The Latymer School, Enfield | London, N9 9TN | Mixed | 84.1% |
| The North Halifax Grammar School (NHG) | West Yorkshire, HX2 9SU | Mixed | 53.8% |
| The Royal Latin School (RLS) | Buckinghamshire, MK18 1AX | Mixed | 67.2% |
| The Skinners' School | Kent, TN4 9PG | Boys | 60.5% |
| The Spires College | Devon, TQ1 3PE | Mixed | — |
| Thomas Telford School | Telford, TF3 4NW | Mixed | — |
| Tiffin Girls' School | Surrey, KT2 5PL | Girls | 95.7% |
| Tiffin School | Surrey, KT2 6RL | Boys | 79.8% |
| Tonbridge Grammar School | Tonbridge | Girls (Mixed 6th) | 77.6% |
| Torquay Boys' Grammar School | Devon, TQ2 7EL | Boys | 60.7% |
| Torquay Girls' Grammar School | Devon, TQ2 7DY | Girls | 57.7% |
| Townley Grammar School | Kent, DA6 7AB | Girls | 69.7% |
| Trafford Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 95.0% |
| Trinity School | Croydon, CR9 7AT | Boys | 86.1% |
| Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School | Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9UJ | Girls | 67.0% |
| Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys | Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9XE | Boys | — |
| Upton Court Grammar School | Slough | Mixed | 82.2% |
| Upton Hall School | Merseyside, CH49 6LJ | Girls | 65% |
| Urmston Grammar School | Manchester, M41 5UG | Mixed | 62% |
| Wallington County Grammar School | Surrey, SM6 7PH | Boys | 73% |
| Wallington High School for Girls (WHSG) | Surrey, SM6 0PH | Girls | 83.3% |
| Wandsworth Selective Schools | — | Mixed | — |
| Warminster School | Wiltshire, BA12 8PJ | Girls | 34.3% |
| Warwickshire Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 85-95% |
| Weald of Kent Grammar School | Tonbridge, TN9 2JP | Girls | — |
| West Kirby Grammar School (WKGS) | Merseyside, CH48 5DP | Girls | 65.8% |
| Wetherby Senior School | London, W1U 2QU | Boys | 68.6% |
| Wilmington Grammar School for Boys | Wilmington, DA2 7BB | Boys | — |
| Wilmington Grammar School for Girls | Wilmington, DA2 7BT | Girls | — |
| Wilson's School | Surrey, SM6 9JW | Boys | 97.4% |
| Wiltshire Grammar Schools | — | Boys | — |
| Wirral and Liverpool Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 85% |
| Wirral Grammar School for Boys | Merseyside, CH63 3AQ | Boys | 40.1% |
| Wirral Grammar School for Girls | Merseyside, CH63 3AF | Girls | 65% |
| Wolverhampton Girls’ High School | Wolverhampton | Girls | 72.3 |
| Woodford County High School (WCHS) | Essex, IG8 9LA | Girls | 85% |
| Wycombe High School | Buckinghamshire, HP11 1TB | Girls | 70% |
| Yorkshire Grammar Schools | — | Mixed | 80-95% |
GL Assessment 11+ Test Dates by Region (Kent Test, Bucks 11+, Birmingham, Trafford)
Different regions sit the GL Assessment 11+ on different dates. Most happen between early September and mid-October of Year 6. Always check your local council and target school for exact dates.
📅 Common test windows
- Kent Test: Mid-September (usually a Tuesday + Friday)
- Buckinghamshire 11+: Mid-September — Bucks pupils sit it in their primary school
- Birmingham (KE Foundation): Early-October Saturday
- Trafford Grammar Test: Mid-September Saturday
- Sutton & Bexley: Mid-September — multiple test dates by school
- Lincolnshire 11+: Mid-September — administered through local primary schools
- Wirral 11+: Mid-September Saturday
- Slough & Reading: Early-September Saturday
- Registration deadlines: Most regions require registration by 30 June of Year 5
⚠️ Test dates and registration deadlines change yearly. Always confirm with your local council and target schools.
How to Prepare for the GL Assessment 11+ — 6-Step Guide
GL Assessment rewards consistent, focused preparation across all four subjects. Because the format is predictable, practice papers under timed conditions are the single most effective preparation strategy.
- Tip 1: Start 12–18 months ahead — typically the beginning of Year 5 — to build skills gradually
- Tip 2: Work across all four subjects — English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning — equally
- Tip 3: Build a strong vocabulary bank — GL Verbal Reasoning relies heavily on word knowledge
- Tip 4: Practise multiple-choice answer sheet technique — neat, fast bubble filling is harder than it looks under pressure
- Tip 5: Watch the video explanations — for every wrong answer, learn the GL-specific technique behind the right one
- Tip 6: Practice under exam conditions — same time of day, same length, no breaks — to build stamina across all four papers
How Our GL Assessment Past Papers Help Your Child Succeed
Over 200 verified parents from grammar school catchments across Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Trafford, Sutton, Bexley, Lincolnshire and beyond have trusted ExamTutor for their child's GL Assessment 11+ preparation.
- Expert tutor video walkthroughs for every question — your child learns the technique, not just the answer
- Full GL Assessment syllabus coverage across all four subjects (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning)
- Affordable alternative to private tutoring — typically £700+ saved compared to weekly 1-to-1 tutoring
- 12 months unlimited access with no auto-renewal — buy once, use as much as needed
- Used across the UK — 228 GL Assessment grammar and independent schools represented in our customer base
- Free sample paper and free tutorial videos — try before you buy with no email signup
- 10% off orders over £50 with code EXAMDISCOUNT
See 210 verified reviews from families across the UK, or browse the full list of 228 GL Assessment schools to find your target school.
GL Assessment 11+ Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions parents ask about GL Assessment 11+ practice papers and how to prepare your child for the exam.
What subjects are in the GL 11+ test?
The GL Assessment 11+ test (also known as GL tests or GL practice papers) covers four core subjects in separate timed papers: English (comprehension, grammar, spelling, vocabulary), Mathematics (KS2 curriculum with word problems and mental arithmetic), Verbal Reasoning (word codes, antonyms/synonyms, letter sequences), and Non-Verbal Reasoning (matrix patterns, series, codes, reflections). Each paper is sat separately under timed conditions. Our 8 GL Assessment practice papers cover all four subjects with detailed video walkthroughs.
How long is the GL Assessment?
Each GL Assessment paper is typically 45-50 minutes long with around 80 questions. Most regions combine multiple papers (English + Maths + VR + NVR) into a single testing morning lasting roughly 2.5-3 hours including breaks — although exact format varies by region. Kent Test uses three combined papers (around 165 minutes total). Birmingham KE Foundation uses two papers (English + Maths or VR + NVR). Buckinghamshire 11+ uses a single 45-minute Verbal Reasoning paper. Always check your target region's exact format.
What score do you need to pass GL 11+?
GL Assessment results are reported as age-standardised scores. A score around 100 is the average; a passing score for grammar school entry is typically 110-115+, with top-selectives requiring 120+. The exact pass mark varies by region — Kent Test requires 320+ combined across all three papers, Buckinghamshire requires 121+, Birmingham KE Foundation uses banded scores. The age-standardisation accounts for the candidate's exact age in months, so younger pupils in the year group aren't penalised. Practising with structured GL Assessment past papers (PDF + video format) consistently raises scores based on customer feedback.
What is the GL Assessment 11+ exam?
The GL Assessment 11+ is the most widely used 11+ entrance exam in the UK. Produced by GL Assessment (formerly NFER-Nelson), it tests four subjects in separate papers: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. It is used by the majority of state grammar schools across Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Trafford, Sutton, Bexley, Lincolnshire, Essex and beyond.
Which schools use the GL Assessment 11+?
228 UK grammar and independent schools use GL Assessment — including Kent Test grammars (Judd, Skinners', Tonbridge Girls, Maidstone, Norton Knatchbull, Highworth, Cranbrook), Buckinghamshire grammars (RGS High Wycombe, Aylesbury Grammar, Dr Challoner's), Birmingham King Edward Foundation (Aston, Camp Hill, Five Ways, Handsworth), Trafford (Altrincham, Sale, Stretford, Urmston), Sutton and Bexley clusters, Lincolnshire grammars, Wirral grammars, and many more. See the full schools list below.
How much do GL Assessment 11+ practice papers cost?
Our individual GL Assessment Test Packs cost £35 each (4 papers across English, Maths, VR and NVR · 200 video explanations · 9–11.5 hours of tutor video). Our Multi Pack Bundles cost £85 each and combine 3 Test Packs — saving £20 compared to buying separately. All packs include 12 months full access with no auto-renewal. Use code EXAMDISCOUNT for 10% off orders over £50.
Are there free GL Assessment 11+ practice papers?
Yes — we provide a free GL Assessment sample practice paper and free tutorial videos so you can see the quality before buying. No email signup required — download instantly.
What's the difference between GL Assessment and CEM 11+?
GL Assessment papers are subject-specific (separate English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers), with predictable formats year-on-year — making them easier to coach for. CEM papers combine multiple subjects in mixed timed sections, with deliberate variation in question types — designed to be harder to coach. Most state grammars use GL today; CEM is mainly used by independent schools. See our CEM 11+ practice papers if your target school uses CEM.
What pass mark do I need for GL Assessment 11+?
Most GL Assessment 11+ regions use a standardised score of 121 or above as the qualifying mark for grammar school entry. Some highly selective superselectives (like Tiffin, Sutton, Wallington Boys) require 130+. The score is age-standardised — younger pupils in the year group receive a small age allowance. Always check the specific qualifying score for your target school as some schools weight subjects differently.
When should we start GL Assessment 11+ preparation?
Most families start focused GL Assessment 11+ preparation at the beginning of Year 5 (12–18 months before the test). Building a strong vocabulary, mental arithmetic fluency, and exposure to verbal/non-verbal reasoning patterns is helpful from Year 4 onwards. See our 6-step preparation guide for the proven approach used by 200+ successful families.
Do the papers cover the Kent Test, Bucks 11+ and Birmingham KE Foundation specifically?
Yes — all three use the GL Assessment format. Our 8 GL packs cover the question types and structure used across the Kent Test, Buckinghamshire 11+, Birmingham KE Foundation entrance, Trafford Grammar Test, Sutton and Bexley tests, Lincolnshire 11+, Wirral 11+, Slough, Essex CSSE-style and beyond. The same papers work for any GL Assessment 11+ exam.