Eleven Plus Advice

As the parent of a child taking the 11+ exam you will probably find the process stressful. Here are some very important points that can help you and your child survive your 11+ journey with as little stress as possible.

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The 11 Plus (also called the 11+ or Eleven Plus) is an examination taken by some school pupils in their last year of primary school to get into a grammar school of their choice. In reality most children will only be 10 years old when they take the test – the term “11 Plus” refers to the fact that the test selects for schools with an entry point for children aged 11 or over.

The qualification rate for the 11 plus test varies considerably around the country. Some schools attract several thousand applicants for as few as 180 places – the four grammar schools in Kingston and Sutton are an example of such over-subscription, with a pass rate of perhaps 3 percent. In areas where the grammar system has been retained in full the pass rate is considerably higher – in Buckinghamshire it is around 30 percent each year.

The pages in this section offer advice on getting started and managing your campaign.

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What is the 11 plus?

The 11 plus is an examination taken by some school pupils in their last year of primary school to get into a grammar school of their choice. Here’s what you need to know about the exam.

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A parent’s guide to coping with the 11 plus?

As a parent of a child taking the 11 plus exam you may find the process stressful. Reducing stress where you can is essential to ensuring your child’s success in securing a place at their school of choice.

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On the day of the test

What you and your child do on the morning of the exam can have a big impact on their performance. Being prepared can give your child the best chance of scoring well.

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Results day / Allocations day

You may receive your child’s results or school allocation in a number of ways – post, email or online. Here are our top tips for handling results and allocations days

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11 plus general tips

It can be daunting deciding where to start with 11 plus preparation. Here are some general tips to help you get started.

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CEM 11 plus

CEM stands for the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. The CEM produce 11 plus entrance tests for schools and local authorities.

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Sample 11 plus papers

A number of grammar schools publish “sample papers” that are helpful for gauging the difficulty of their actual tests. Here is a selection of these valuable free practice materials.

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Standardised scores

One of the most common causes of confusion about the 11 plus are the terms “standardised score” and “age standardisation”. Here is an explanation of the process of standardising scores.