11PlusQuest11PlusQuest

11+ Grammar School Preparation: The Ultimate Parent Guide (2025–2026)

Which counties have grammar schools, how the 11+ works, what the exams test, and exactly how to prepare your child — from Year 4 through to exam day.

💡 The single biggest factor in 11+ success isn't intelligence — it's consistent daily practice started early enough. Children who start in Year 4 or early Year 5 outperform last-minute crammers at every ability level.

Grammar School Counties: Where Is the 11+ Used?

Kent
Largest selective county in England. Kent Test in September Year 6.
GL Assessment
Buckinghamshire
Fully selective. CEM used in some areas. Register by summer Year 5.
GL Assessment
Lincolnshire
Uses GL Assessment. Wide catchment areas.
GL Assessment
Birmingham
Mix of GL and CEM schools. King Edward VI schools are highly competitive.
CEM / GL
Essex
Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend areas. CEM format — less predictable, rewards deep vocabulary.
CEM
Hertfordshire
CEM format. Hertfordshire, Barnet and Watford areas.
CEM
Gloucestershire
Cheltenham and Gloucester grammar schools. GL format.
GL Assessment

What the 11+ Actually Tests

🧠Verbal Reasoning
The core of most 11+ exams. Tests word relationships, codes, analogies, hidden words and vocabulary. GL uses 17 distinct question types (A–U). CEM blends VR with English skills.
📖English / Literacy
Reading comprehension, vocabulary in context, grammar, punctuation and sometimes creative writing. Heavily weighted in CEM exams and GL English papers.
🔢Maths
KS2 curriculum maths: arithmetic, fractions, ratios, word problems, data handling, geometry. Less creative than verbal reasoning — more formulaic practice.
🔷Non-Verbal Reasoning
Pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, sequences and matrices. Used by some GL and most CEM schools. Not covered by 11PlusQuest — focused verbal & English tools only.

The Optimal 11+ Preparation Strategy

1
Read every day from Year 3 onwards
Wide reading is the single highest-impact preparation activity. Children who read 20+ minutes daily score significantly higher on vocabulary and comprehension sections.
2
Build vocabulary systematically in Year 4–5
Learn 10 new words per week in context. Focus on synonyms, antonyms, word families and figurative language. This underpins Types A, B, C, D, E and G of the GL paper.
3
Work through every GL question type individually
Don't mix question types too early. Master each one (codes, hidden words, analogies etc.) in isolation before mixing them in timed papers.
4
Introduce timed practice 6 months before exam
Speed matters in GL papers (typically 1 question per minute). Timed practice under exam conditions is essential — but only after the question types are familiar.
5
Use spaced repetition for missed questions
Wrong answers should resurface repeatedly until mastered. This is the most evidence-backed learning strategy and the biggest gap in most workbook-based approaches.

Start 11+ Prep on 11PlusQuest Today

Every GL and CEM verbal skill covered. Adaptive AI, parent dashboard, exam-date readiness tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 11+ exam?

The 11+ is a selective entrance exam taken by children aged 10–11 (in Year 6) to gain a place at a grammar school or selective independent school. It tests English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and sometimes Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Which counties still have grammar schools?

The main grammar school counties are Kent (33 schools), Buckinghamshire (18), Lincolnshire (15), Birmingham (8), Essex (7), Hertfordshire (3), Gloucestershire (4), Wiltshire (3), and parts of the North (Cumbria, Trafford, Wirral).

What is the difference between GL and CEM 11+ exams?

GL Assessment uses predictable question types (labelled A–U) that can be practised systematically. CEM (Durham University) blends verbal reasoning with English comprehension in a less predictable format that rewards deep vocabulary and reading fluency.

When should we start preparing for the 11+?

Most tutors recommend starting 12–18 months before the exam — so Year 4 or early Year 5. Earlier preparation means lower-stress learning through games and reading rather than cramming.

Do children need a tutor for 11+ prep?

Not necessarily. Many children prepare successfully using structured self-study and app-based practice. The key is consistent daily practice covering all question types, vocabulary building, and regular timed papers closer to the exam.

What verbal reasoning skills matter most for 11+?

Synonyms and antonyms (GL Types A and B) appear in almost every paper. Analogies (Type E), codes (Types S/T), and hidden/compound word questions (Types K, L, M) are also heavily weighted. Building vocabulary is the single highest-impact preparation activity.

Related Guides

→ Verbal Reasoning Guide→ Kent 11+ Guide→ 11+ Synonyms→ 11+ Analogies→ 11+ Vocabulary→ For Tutors & Schools