If you've got a child in Year 4 or 5, you've probably heard other parents mention "the 11+" in hushed, slightly panicked tones. Maybe at the school gate. Maybe in a WhatsApp group that's already making you feel behind.
So what is it, really?
The short version
The 11+ is an entrance exam that children sit in Year 6 (sometimes at the start, sometimes the year before) to get a place at a grammar school. Grammar schools are state-funded secondary schools that select pupils based on academic ability. There are around 163 of them in England, concentrated in particular areas like Kent, Buckinghamshire, and parts of Birmingham.
If your child passes the 11+, they're eligible for a grammar school place. If they don't, they go to a non-selective secondary school instead. That's the basic deal.
What does the exam actually test?
This depends on where you live, which is one of the things that catches parents off guard. There's no single national 11+ exam. Different regions use different test providers, and the format varies.
The main subjects tested are English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Some areas test all four. Some only test two. Parents in Buckinghamshire are dealing with a different exam from parents in Lincolnshire, and the Consortium schools in places like Essex have their own thing entirely.
Verbal reasoning tests your child's ability to work with words and language in unfamiliar ways. Think word codes, sequences, and analogies. Non-verbal reasoning does the same with shapes and patterns. These aren't things most children cover in school, which is why preparation matters.
Do you need to prep?
Here's where it gets honest. Can a bright child pass the 11+ without any preparation? Technically, yes. Does it happen often? Not really.
The children who do well almost always have some form of preparation, even if it's just a parent working through practice papers at the kitchen table. The exam formats are unfamiliar enough that going in cold puts your child at a real disadvantage, regardless of how clever they are.
That said, there's a massive range in what "preparation" looks like. Some families spend thousands on tutors and online platforms. Others use free resources and a stack of practice books from Amazon. Both approaches can work. The key is knowing where your child stands right now, so you can focus on what they actually need rather than trying to cover everything.
When should you start thinking about it?
Year 4 is a sensible time to start getting your head around it. Not to start drilling your child with practice papers, but to understand what's involved, check which test format your area uses, and get a rough sense of where your child's strengths and weaknesses are.
By the start of Year 5, you want some kind of plan. That doesn't mean a rigid schedule or an expensive tutor. It means knowing what your child needs to work on and having a way to do it.
That's exactly why we built ReadyFor11. It's a free diagnostic that gives you a clear picture of where your child stands across the key 11+ areas. No paywall, no upsell. Just a straight answer so you can make an informed decision about what to do next.