The 11 plus exam (also know as Eleven plus and 11+) is taken by some students in the UK when they reach the end of primary school in year 6. It is taken to gain entry into a selective school such as the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.

If you live in or around Slough then you may have heard of Grammar schools and the 11 plus. Slough is near the top of the list  in terms of most Grammar schools in one town! This is good news for you as it means your child has a higher chance of gaining a place.

‍

Did you know? It is called the 11 plus because it is an entrance exams for schools taking in pupils at the age of 11.

‍

The Exam

‍

There are two exam boards for the 11 plus, GL and CEM and generally speaking they cover the same topics. The Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools use the GL board.

The GL exam contains 4 subjects: Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal reasoning, Maths and English.

However, schools are allowed to choose any combination of these. For example: Verbal Reasoning and Maths or Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

The CEM exam contains just 3 subjects: Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning. But in practise the verbal reasoning test contains aspects of the GL English exam and the numerical reasoning test contains aspects of the GL Maths exam.

‍

Interesting fact: There are only 160 grammar schools in the UK, and 90% of pupils in the country do not attend one. By passing the 11 plus, your child will be in the minority of the population attending a selective school. So it is definitely worth preparing for it!

‍

Overview of the different exams:

‍

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning is a form of problem-solving based around words and language. This involves thinking about language, using written instructions to find a solution, identifying letter sequences, and cracking letter and number-based codes. Verbal reasoning tests are designed to test the child's ability to understand and reason by using words, and are a test of skill rather than knowledge.

‍

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-verbal logic requires the ability to use visual thinking to recognise and interpret visual information and solve problems. For example: identification of relationships, similarities and differences between shapes and patterns and perception and memory of visual sequences.

‍

Maths

A familiar topic. The 11 plus maths paper generally covers subjects taught during KS2, a few of which are:

• Decimals
• Fractions
• Co-ordinates
• Simple ratios
• Algebra

‍

English

The English exam consists of questions such as:

• Writing a short essay
• Using capital letters
• Full stops
• Simple compound words
• Finding the odd words in a sentence
• Reading a passage and answering questions on it

‍

Frequently Asked Questions:

‍

Is the 11 plus exam compulsory?

No. The 11 plus is an optional exam that you can take to gain entry into a selective schools such as Grammar schools.

‍

What age do you sit the 11 plus?

The 11 plus is sat by pupils in year 5 of age 10-11.

‍

When should I start tutoring for 11 plus?

The majority of children start practising get tuition for the 11 plus in January of year 5. But we recommend starting a few months earlier in October of year 5 so your child get's a head start over the majority.

‍

When should I register for the 11 plus exam in 2020?

To be confirmed mid-February 2020: Registration for the 11+ Entrance Examination for Year 7 entry in September 2021 opens on 1st May 2020 and the deadline for registration will be June 2020.

‍

How long is the exam?

The 11 Plus consists of two exams that last approximately 60-65 minutes each. All of schools in the Slough Consortium use the same papers, including Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning skills.

‍

What is the average score for 11 plus?

The average 11 plus score is around 100 with two thirds of pupils achieving a score between  85 and 115.

‍

What is the pass mark for Slough consortium 11 plus?

In previous years the pass mark for the Slough Consortium of Grammar schools has been between 113 - 121. However, this varies between the schools and changes each year. So we recommend trying to achieve 121 or above for guaranteed success.

‍