Structured 11 Plus preparation covers four domains: English (comprehension, writing, vocabulary), Maths (arithmetic fluency, problem solving), verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Most families work through a 9–12 month 11 Plus study plan starting September of Year 5, combining tutor-led sessions, past paper practice under timed conditions, and regular reading. 11 Plus Preparation should be matched to the specific schools targeted.
The Four 11 Plus Domains
The key 11 Plus subjects are English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal Reasoning. However, do check the subjects that you will need to cover for the specific schools that you are targeting; it is possible that non- verbal reasoning will not be tested at all, so there will be no need to prepare for that.
Most grammar schools use GL Assessment, which covers all four 11 Plus domains. The Essex region can use CSSE, which does not focus on NVR, and a growing number of regions are using FSCE, which also does not concentrate on NVR. Some areas have historically used CEM-style assessments, now purely online, while some schools may create their own specific papers, so do check with them.
Independent schools often combine the ISEB Common Pre-Test with school-specific English and Maths assessments, interviews, and sometimes additional written work.
Preparation By Subject
The Good Schools Guide highlights that successful preparation is rarely about cramming, but is built on the consistent development of skills. Focus those skills on each of the core 11 Plus domains:
English
Regular reading is absolutely essential. Those who enjoy reading grow their confidence and widen their vocabulary. This gives a fantastic base for comprehension, spelling and grammar.
As such, good preparation will include at least twenty minutes of reading per day. Try to introduce some books that are more advanced, but be careful not to threaten your child’s enjoyment and enthusiasm for reading.
Work towards practising comprehension skills every week. Start off with basic discovery of answers in the passage, then move towards the tougher inference and language skills.
Build your child’s foundations in vocabulary through prefixes, suffixes and word roots. Soon, they will appreciate how to understand even unfamiliar words.
Creative writing is especially important for those targeting independent schools, or CSSE and FSCE exams. Dedicate thirty minutes each week to writing on a topic, building skills in planning, timing and accuracy in spelling and grammar. Then gradually push for the highest level of descriptive writing, including literary devices.
Maths
Maths preparation has to cover the basics first, so ensure your child is fluent in times tables and mental arithmetic. Fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement and geometry are other vital foundation topics that need to be understood.
You will also need to introduce word problems, building up to the toughest multi-step questions, where those who can understand what a question is really asking will actually succeed more than those who can calculate sums the most quickly.
Verbal Reasoning
For Verbal Reasoning, you need to practice all the question types so they become familiar. Children should learn how synonyms, antonyms, analogies, odd-one-out questions, letter codes and word sequences work. Once the mechanics of the question types are understood, introduce timing so that it becomes second nature to know how long your child should spend on each question. This is particularly important from the spring term of Year 5 onwards.
Resources such as Bond 11+ and CGP’s 11 Plus materials can provide useful structured practice, provided the work is reviewed properly rather than rushed through.
Non-verbal Reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning can seem the most intimidating to prepare for. It is the one subject where the parents can feel they have just as much to learn as the children! Do not start off by plunging straight into a myriad of different types of question topics. Instead, work on the core basic types such as Series, Odd One Out and Analogies. Getting used to the different ways of solving these, such as shading, position, number of shapes, number of sides, and so on, will stand your child in excellent stead for tackling the seemingly more complex types, such as Figure Matrices, Star Matrices and Codes.
Think of NVR like cryptic crosswords. If you don’t know the techniques for answering them, cryptic crosswords can seem unfathomable. Once you understand and hone these techniques, all becomes clear.
Spatial visualisation also matters as there are often Spatial Reasoning questions such as 3D Views, Folding Cubes, Hidden shapes and Fold and Punch. Some children can visualise spatial questions such as nets quite easily, whereas others just can’t. Physical practice with cut-out or plastic cubes is invaluable in this instance.
11 Plus Preparation Timeline — 12 months
A structured twelve-month plan usually works best.
| Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| Month 1–3 | Baseline assessment + foundational content |
| Month 4–6 | Subject deep-dives |
| Month 7–9 | Past paper drill |
| Month 10–12 | Full mocks and target-school-specific practice |
- During Months 1–3, families should establish strengths, weaknesses and likely school routes.
- Months 4–6 are about the depth of skills in each subject. So English writing, harder Maths problem solving and the ability to tackle tougher Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning questions have grown.
- Months 7–9 should concentrate on using real past papers and practice papers.
- Months 10–12 are the final aspect of preparation, with mocks, school-specific preparation and refinement under timed conditions all essential.
How to Use Past Papers
11 Plus past papers are important and a good way to prepare, but only when they are used properly. Work chronologically, starting with the oldest papers. These should be completed at a child’s own pace, as learning technique is the most important thing at this stage. Then, the most recent papers should be completed under timed exam conditions.
Every incorrect answer should be reviewed carefully. Children should understand why it was wrong, what the correct method was, and how to avoid repeating the mistake. Just checking a score and moving on is rarely effective. Two well-reviewed papers are usually worth more than five rushed ones.
Differences Between Grammar, Independent and Super-Selective
The structure of 11 Plus preparation depends on the schools that you are aiming for:
11 Plus preparation by school type
| School type | Test provider | Key focus | Past-paper availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammar (most) | GL / CEM | Reasoning-heavy | GL publishes familiarisation |
| Super-selective grammar | GL / bespoke | Same test, higher cut-off | Same as grammars |
| Independent 11+ | ISEB Pre-Test + school papers | Mix: English/ Maths / reasoning | School-specific past papers were published |
Grammar school preparation is often reasoning-heavy, with strong speed and accuracy demands, whereas Independent school preparation is broader, with more emphasis on writing, comprehension depth and interview readiness.
Super-selective grammar schools such as Tiffin Boys often use the same provider as other grammars, but competition and cut-off scores are substantially higher.
The Kent Test is one example of a regional grammar route, but similar structures exist nationally, such as in Birmingham grammars, Buckinghamshire or Trafford grammars.
Lionheart Education supports families through this process with one-to-one guidance matched to the child and school target.
Common preparation mistakes
One of the biggest mistakes is doing too much past-paper work without reviewing properly where the strengths and weaknesses are. Not reading enough is another crucial problem; always bear in mind that reading remains one of the strongest drivers of improvement across English, vocabulary and verbal reasoning, far more than any other preparation technique.
Many families also ignore writing because reasoning feels more measurable. For independent schools, especially, this is a mistake. Starting too late can also be an issue; building the core foundations can take a significant amount of time for some children.
Finally, make sure your preparation is appropriate and matches your targeted schools. If your child is not taking any NVR, then prepare for the other topics instead. Check the exam format with each specific school, as not every school assesses in the same way.
How Lionheart Education prepares 11 Plus candidates
Lionheart Education matches tutors to the target school’s specific test format, whether that is GL, CEM, ISEB Pre-Test or school-set papers.
This matters because grammar-school preparation is different from independent-school preparation, and both differ from super-selective preparation.Lionheart Education builds tailored preparation plans, combines one-to-one tuition with targeted practice, and runs mock programmes under exam conditions so children experience realistic test pressure before the real exam.
FAQs
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How do you prepare for the 11 Plus?
Structured 11 Plus preparation covers English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families follow a 9–12 month programme starting September of Year 5, combining tutor-led sessions with past-paper practice under timed conditions. Regular reading (20+ minutes daily) underpins all four domains.
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What’s the difference between grammar school and independent 11+ preparation?
Grammar school 11+ uses GL Assessment or CEM reasoning-heavy tests. Independent schools at 11+ typically mix the ISEB Common Pre-Test (computer-based reasoning) with school-set English and Maths papers. Preparation differs in emphasis: grammars need more reasoning work; independents need more writing practice.
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How many past papers should we do?
Quality matters more than quantity. A typical pupil works through 20–30 past papers across the four domains in the 6 months before the exam. Focus on reviewing every incorrect answer, not just checking the final score. Ten well-reviewed papers beat thirty rushed ones.
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Is English or Maths more important for 11 Plus?
Both are critical. Most 11+ tests weigh them equally. Grammar school tests often add verbal and non-verbal reasoning components that are effectively separate papers. Independent schools often weigh English slightly more heavily because of creative-writing papers and interview performance.
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How Lionheart Education can help
Every child’s route is different. Lionheart Education matches preparation to the specific school route, helping families focus on what matters most rather than taking a generic approach.
