11 Plus Exams Forum

I recently bought the GL assessment publications - "the 11+explained" - VR and NVR. Buried in there is a comment that the GL assessment practice papers ( 8 in each subject now - two packs of four for maths, VR and NVR) are, in general easier, easier than the real papers they set for the real exams - a higher proportion of easy and medium questions it says, and fewer hard ones.

We are in Kent ....... so GL assessment is the right publisher. Anyone know of any practice papers that are a bit harder than the GL assessment ones so that children get more practice beforehand doing maybe a couple of papers where there are questions they can't really do, so they don't panic in the real thing if it is much harder but just sort out calmly what they can and can't do?

The 3 sets of 4 papers by Barbara Walsh are harder.

We found the Pvt school past papers(like City of London and Habs) to be quite tough. My son gave Kent last year but we gave exams in other county too. So I am not sure if these past papers have any similarity with Kent test. But it is worth a look.

mystery wrote:I recently bought the GL assessment publications - "the 11+explained" - VR and NVR. Buried in there is a comment that the GL assessment practice papers....... are in general easier, easier than the real papers they set for the real exams - a higher proportion of easy and medium questions it says, and fewer hard ones.

Well spotted, we have that book and I didn't see that. Would take with a pinch of salt, they also say they cover all the question types?

This week have been using GL NVR papers 5-8 and they look tough. Maybe it varies by area, we are preparing for standard format VR 100 questions in 50 mins and NVR in timed sections.

Over the past few years I've seen a cycle of parents asking for harder questions (I'm guilty too!) and so publishers provide them, I'm of the opinion that speed, accuracy and keeping calm are as important as jumping through higher hoops.

1-4 are waaaay easier than 5-8!!!

I'm a bit scared to give ds papers 5-8 in case he does disastrously.

faitaccompli wrote:1-4 are waaaay easier than 5-8!!!

I agree.


My DD said the real thing was not as bad as the pack 2 practice papers she did.

We saved the pack 2 for the summer holidays and I remember thinking that I might tell a small fib about the number she got right to help with confidence towards the end.
I can't remember if I needed to or not.

It was less than a year ago and it's amazing how quickly you forget.

Although not in your county the pates grammar school website has some practice papers that you can download for free. Meant to be a bit harder than gl assessment.

Thank you everyone. What are the 3 sets of four papers by Barbara Walsh?

Hi Mystery

They are sold in Waterstones and elsewhere I expect.

Verbal Reasoning set 1 (age 9-10) 978-0-9553099-3-9
Verbal Reasoning 1 (Multiple choice format papers 1-4) 978-0-9553099-0-8
Verbal Reasoning 2 (Multiple choice format papers 5-8) 978-0-9553099-1-5
Verbal Reasoning 3 (Multiple choice format papers 9-12) 978-0-9553099-2-2

Published by Bumblebee

The papers are intended to be challenging. Each test consists of 80 questions which should be completed in 50 mins if you wish to replicate exam conditions.

The author has over 40 years teaching experience.