When is the 11+ exam?

Most grammar school tests are in September of Year 6, with registration in the spring or summer of Year 5. Independent schools often test later, between November and January.

What is the pass mark for the 11+?

There is no single pass mark. Each area or school sets its own qualifying score, often a standardised score, and places can depend on how many children apply.

Does the 11+ go beyond the KS2 curriculum?

Mostly it uses KS2 topics, but asks harder, multi-step questions and expects them earlier. Some independent school papers include topics such as simple algebra in more depth.

Is CEM still used for the 11+?

Not for grammar schools. CEM's grammar school tests ended after the 2022 round, and those areas moved to other providers, mostly GL Assessment. Check your local authority's admissions page for your area.

Years 4 to 6 · UK · free

11 plus maths practice

Practice for the maths section of the 11+: the KS2 topics the tests are built on, the harder problem solving they add, a printable paper with answers, and a plan for Year 5.

The format

Part	Time	What's in it
GL Assessment maths	Usually 45 to 50 minutes	The most common grammar school test. Multiple choice or standard answers depending on the area, covering the KS2 curriculum with some stretch.
Area or school tests	Varies	Some areas use other providers (such as Quest Assessments) or set their own tests, like the Sutton selective eligibility test.
Independent schools	Varies	Many set their own maths paper, often written answers with working, or use an online pre-test.

Grammar school 11+ tests are usually taken in September of Year 6, so most preparation happens in Year 5. The CEM tests stopped being used for grammar school entry after 2022, and most of those areas moved to GL Assessment. Always check your local authority's admissions page for the exact test.

Printable practice paper

Fresh questions from every part of the exam each time you open it, with an answer key and worked steps. Print it, save it as a PDF, or do it on screen.

🖨️ Practice paper (24 questions)Quick 10 ✏️ On screen

Practice now

Question 1 of 100 correct

Yuki has 4 whole chocolate bars and 1 tenths of another. Write the amount as a decimal.

Print a worksheet with answers Share to Google ClassroomFree, no sign-up. Nothing you type is saved.

What 11+ maths covers

The 11+ is built on the KS2 national curriculum, but children sit it months before the end of Year 6, and the best papers add problems that need more than one idea at once. Expect the core topics below, often in an unfamiliar wrapper.

Fast, accurate arithmetic: all four operations, times tables to 12 × 12, squares, primes and factors.
Fractions, decimals and percentages, including percentage increase and decrease.
Ratio, proportion and scaling: recipes, maps and best-buy questions.
Simple algebra: forming and solving equations, sequences and the nth term.
Measures: units, time, speed and timetables, perimeter, area and volume.
Geometry: angles in triangles and on lines, properties of shapes, coordinates and nets.
Data: reading charts and tables, the mean, and simple probability.
Word problems with several steps, where choosing the method is half the question.

Multiple choice changes how you work

In multiple choice papers the answers are on the page, so estimating first is a real advantage: two or three options are often clearly too big or too small. Children should still work out the answer rather than guess, then use the options as a check. In standard answer papers, the working matters more, and neat layout avoids losing marks to copying errors.

Speed comes from fluency, not rushing

Many children find the 11+ time pressure the hardest part. The fix is not to work faster on hard questions, but to make the easy ones automatic: instant times tables, quick fraction and percentage equivalents, and confident written methods. That leaves time to think on the questions that need it.

A study plan

1Year 4 summer to Year 5 autumnMake the basics automatic: times tables, place value, written methods. Fifteen minutes a day.
2Year 5 springWork through the topics one at a time, especially fractions, percentages, ratio and algebra. Add a weekly mixed set of word problems.
3Year 5 summerTimed practice papers every week or two. Keep a mistake list and practice from it between papers.
4The weeks before the testShorter timed sets, revisiting the mistake list, and rest. No new topics in the last week.

Exam tips

Read the last line of a word problem first, so you know what you are looking for.
Estimate before calculating, then use the estimate to rule out wrong options.
If a question takes more than two minutes, mark it, move on and come back.
Write units in every measures answer, and check you converted where the question mixes them.
Practice reading charts carefully: check the scale on the axis before reading a value.

Practice by topic

Fractions Percentages Ratio Equations Area and perimeter Angles Mean, median and mode

Questions people ask

When is the 11+ exam?: Most grammar school tests are in September of Year 6, with registration in the spring or summer of Year 5. Independent schools often test later, between November and January.
What is the pass mark for the 11+?: There is no single pass mark. Each area or school sets its own qualifying score, often a standardised score, and places can depend on how many children apply.
Does the 11+ go beyond the KS2 curriculum?: Mostly it uses KS2 topics, but asks harder, multi-step questions and expects them earlier. Some independent school papers include topics such as simple algebra in more depth.
Is CEM still used for the 11+?: Not for grammar schools. CEM's grammar school tests ended after the 2022 round, and those areas moved to other providers, mostly GL Assessment. Check your local authority's admissions page for your area.

Format checked against: GL Assessment: 11+ tests; GOV.UK: find a grammar school and how admissions work. Updated November 2026.

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