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The 11+ exam explained: a guide for parents

What the 11+ is, how it differs from area to area, when it happens, and what practice material is genuinely available.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 30 Oct 2026 6 min read

Key takeaways

1. What the 11+ is

The 11+ is the test used to get into a grammar school. GOV.UK describes grammar schools as schools that “select their pupils based on academic ability and there is a test to get in”. The test only matters if you are applying to a selective school; other state secondary schools do not need it.[1]

2. It is not one national exam

GL Assessment, a test provider, says its tests are “used by the majority of grammar schools in the UK”. That is not every school.[2]

Parent-advice site Eleven Plus Exams explains that some areas use a consortium, where schools share one test, some schools set their own, and other providers are used too. So never assume your child’s test matches one you have read about online.[3]

3. What is in the test

GL Assessment lists verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English, and says the mix can vary by area. Verbal reasoning means solving problems with words, such as codes and word patterns. Non-verbal reasoning means spotting patterns in shapes and pictures.[2]

As an example, Redbridge’s 2026 test had two papers: English with verbal reasoning, and maths with non-verbal reasoning. Other areas split the subjects differently, so check yours.[4]

4. A typical timeline

Dates change every year and by area, but Redbridge’s 2026 round shows the general pattern. Registration opened on 1 May 2026 and closed on 15 June 2026. The test was on Friday 18 September 2026, and results were emailed to parents in mid-October.[4]

To find your own dates, start with your council’s admissions page and the websites of the grammar schools you are considering. GOV.UK says to contact your local council for the admission criteria of the schools you are interested in.[5]

Registration is a separate step: Registering for the 11+ is not the same as applying for a school place. Put both dates in your calendar.

5. Practice papers: what is really available

Be careful with the phrase “11 plus past papers”. Real past papers are usually not released. Eleven Plus Exams says that for GL Assessment, “you cannot buy past papers by this examining body since they re-use the questions”, and we found no GL page offering released past papers.[6]

What does exist: GL Assessment offers 10 hours of free familiarisation material to download and print, so children get used to the style of questions, and it also sells practice papers.[2]

Redbridge warns that free materials “might not match the exact test” your child takes, so ask which provider your area uses before you buy anything.[4]

6. Sensible preparation

Start with the free familiarisation papers so the format feels normal. Practise a little and often rather than in a last-minute rush. Spend time on weak spots, for example verbal reasoning, rather than repeating what is already easy. And keep it calm: a relaxed child usually performs better than an anxious one.

Little and often, on the right kind of questions.

7. Applying for the school place

Sitting the test is not the same as applying. You apply for a secondary school place through your local council by 31 October, and applications usually open on 1 September. You list schools in order of preference, so include the grammar schools you want. Councils send offers on 1 March, or the next working day.[7]

8. How Brainhub can help

94% of our 11+ students were placed in their first- or second-choice school (Brainhub student records, 2021–2026; our own data, not independent research). We teach the 11+ one-to-one online across the UK from £25 an hour, or in person at seven London hubs for £5 an hour more, and every family starts with a free 45-minute assessment.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. Is there one national 11+ exam?

  2. 2. Which four areas does GL Assessment list?

  3. 3. When is the deadline for the secondary school application?

Your next steps

  • Find the admissions pages for the grammar schools you are considering.
  • Note the registration window and the test date.
  • Download the free GL familiarisation papers and try one together.

Subject guides to go with this

Want one-to-one help? See how our online lessons work.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK. Types of school: grammar schools. gov.uk/types-of-school/grammar-schools
  2. GL Assessment. 11+ tests: information for parents. 11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk
  3. Eleven Plus Exams (parent-advice website). Home page. elevenplusexams.co.uk
  4. London Borough of Redbridge. 11 plus (2026 test round). redbridge.gov.uk/11plus
  5. GOV.UK. School admissions: applying for a place. gov.uk/schools-admissions/applying-for-a-place
  6. Eleven Plus Exams (parent-advice website). 11 Plus practice materials. elevenplusexams.co.uk/?p=128
  7. GOV.UK. School admissions: how to apply. gov.uk/schools-admissions/how-to-apply

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.