The school’s own written maths and English papers, English usually with a piece of writing, together with an online reasoning or ability test, mostly multiple choice. Most of these schools test in January of Year 6, some in November or December, often with an interview.
At a glance
Subjects
Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, plus writing
Answers
Multiple choice and written answers
Usually held
January
Set by
The schools themselves
Schools
23
The papers
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
11+ assessment
Maths (written)
Written answers
25 questions, 60 minutes
11+ assessment
English (written)
Written answers
12 questions, 60 minutes
11+ assessment
Reasoning (online)
Multiple choice, on screen
40 questions, 30 minutes
Test setters rarely publish how many questions a paper has, so the question counts are the length of Prism’s practice papers; timings follow the setter’s published guidance where there is any. Arrangements change from year to year: always check them with the school or local authority.
How to prepare for the Written + online
The Own written papers with an online reasoning test covers maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in January.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
This test includes a piece of writing, so practise planning and writing a short story or description in a set time.
Some answers are written, not chosen, so practise without options to fall back on: write the number or the words yourself, show the working where the paper asks for it, and check each answer against the question.
The test is taken on a computer, and adaptive tests get harder as answers go right, so practise on screen and keep moving rather than stopping on one question.
Oscar spends £2.17 and pays with a £5 note. What is the smallest number of coins Oscar can get in change?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, 6
How to work it out
The change is £5.00 − £2.17 = £2.83.
Use the biggest coin that fits each time: £2 + 50p + 20p + 10p + 2p + 1p.
That is 6 coins.
Why the other options are wrong
A (5): Check the change again: one of the amounts has been missed.
B (4): Too few coins to make the change exactly.
C (8): Use £2 and £1 coins before smaller ones.
D (7): This splits one coin into two smaller ones. Use the biggest coin that fits each time.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word completes the sentence with the correct spelling?
The school council set up a _____ to plan the summer fair.
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, committee
How to work it out
The school council set up a committee to plan the summer fair.
Double everything: two m, two t, two e.
Why the other options are wrong
A (commitee): A double letter is missed: “committee” has “tt”, but this writes only one “t”.
B (comittee): A double letter is missed: “committee” has “mm”, but this writes only one “m”.
D (comitee): This writes “mit” where “committee” has “mmitt”.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Which one letter completes the word in front of the brackets and starts the word after them, in both pairs?
potat ( ) range ont ( ) cean
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, O
How to work it out
O makes potato and orange, and onto and ocean.
The same letter must work in all four places.
Why the other options are wrong
A (R): With R the first pair would read “POTATR” and “RRANGE”, and one of the four words would not be real. O makes all four.
B (I): With I the first pair would read “POTATI” and “IRANGE”, and one of the four words would not be real. O makes all four.
D (B): With B the first pair would read “POTATB” and “BRANGE”, and one of the four words would not be real. O makes all four.
E (G): With G the first pair would read “POTATG” and “GRANGE”, and one of the four words would not be real. O makes all four.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
The L shape turns 90° clockwise each step and the shading alternates; one dot is added each time.
Why the other options are wrong
A: The dots go 1, 2, 3, 4 so the next has 5; this has 4, the same as the last figure.
C: This repeats the last figure's angle (270°). The shape should turn 90° clockwise again, to 0°.
D: This turns one step too far: the next angle is 0°, but this is at 90°.
E: The angle is right but the shading is wrong: it alternates black and unshaded, and the last figure was unshaded, so this one should be black.
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the Written + online?
The Written + online tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, and includes a piece of writing.
When is the Written + online?
The main test usually takes place in January of Year 6. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the Written + online?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the Written + online format. Prism builds this plan automatically from a free starting assessment.
Find out where your child stands today
Practise straight away at your child’s school year in maths and English, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning for the 11 Plus, and every answer explained. A free check, whenever you like, shows what to practise next and builds a weekly plan, for their year or for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.