Ten London girls’ schools share one online test, about 100 minutes, sat in late November or early December of Year 6: adaptive maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then English comprehension and grammar, problem solving and a creative comprehension. There is no extended writing. Interviews follow in January.
At a glance
Subjects
Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Answers
Multiple choice, on screen
Usually held
December
Set by
Quest Assessments
Schools
10
The papers
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
Online test
Maths
Multiple choice, on screen
25 questions, 25 minutes
Online test
Verbal & Non-verbal Reasoning
Multiple choice, on screen
40 questions, 30 minutes
Online test
English
Multiple choice, on screen
25 questions, 25 minutes
Online test
Problem Solving
Multiple choice, on screen
15 questions, 20 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 London Consortium
The London 11+ Consortium 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 December.
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.
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.
Change them all to the same form, such as decimals: 710 = 0.7, 0.65 = 0.65, 68% = 0.68.
Smallest to largest: 0.65, 68%, 710.
Why the other options are wrong
A (0.65, 710, 68%): In this order 710 comes second, right before 68%, but 710 = 0.7 is bigger than 68% = 0.68.
B (710, 0.65, 68%): In this order 710 comes first, right before 0.65, but 710 = 0.7 is bigger than 0.65.
C (710, 68%, 0.65): This list is in order from largest to smallest, the wrong way round.
E (68%, 710, 0.65): In this order 710 comes second, right before 0.65, but 710 = 0.7 is bigger than 0.65.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word is spelt incorrectly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, wierd
How to work it out
“wierd” should be spelt “weird”.
Weird breaks the i before e rule: we are weird.
Why the other options are wrong
A (conscious): “conscious” is spelt correctly. Children often write “concious” by mistake, so check the letters.
B (immediately): “immediately” is spelt correctly. Children often write “immediatly” by mistake, so check the letters.
D (foreign): “foreign” is spelt correctly. Children often write “foriegn” by mistake, so check the letters.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Find the next number in this series.
14, 37, 21, 33, 28, 29, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, 35
How to work it out
Two series take turns: 14, 21, 28 (add 7) and 37, 33, 29 (take away 4).
The next number continues the first: 35.
Why the other options are wrong
A (42): Adds 7 twice to 28. Only one step of 7 is needed to get from 28 to the next number of this series.
B (45): 45 is 10 too big. The series that goes up by 7 reaches 28 and then 35: add exactly 7 to 28.
C (34): 34 is 1 too small. The series that goes up by 7 reaches 28 and then 35: add exactly 7 to 28.
D (25): This is the next number of the other series (take away 4 from 29), but it is the turn of the series that goes up by 7, from 28.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure is the odd one out?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C
How to work it out
Four figures are the same shape turned to different angles.
The odd one out is a mirror image, which no rotation can produce.
Why the other options are wrong
A: This flag is turned to 180° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
B: This flag is upright (0°) but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
D: This flag is turned to 90° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
E: This flag is turned to 225° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the London Consortium?
The London Consortium tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
When is the London Consortium?
The main test usually takes place in December of Year 6. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the London Consortium?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the London Consortium 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.