Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Competition
Highly selective
Prism’s suggested target
80% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the Independent school 11+ (own papers)
Most independent schools set their own maths and English papers in January of Year 6, often with a reasoning test, creative writing and an interview.
Stage
Paper
Questions
Time
11+ assessment
Maths
25
60 minutes
11+ assessment
English
12
60 minutes
11+ assessment
Reasoning
40
40 minutes
11+ assessment
Puzzles & Problem Solving
15
30 minutes
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare
The Independent school 11+ (own papers) 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.
Practice questions in the style of the test
Written by Prism in the style of the test, not taken from any school’s papers.
Question 1Aim for about 60 seconds
The line graph shows the temperature in a garden. What was the temperature at 8 am?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 7°C
How to work it out
Find 8 am on the bottom axis, go up to the line, then across to the scale: 7°C.
Each gridline is 2 degrees.
Why the other options are wrong
A (8°C): Read across carefully: each gridline is 2 degrees, not 1.
B (9°C): This reads the next time along.
C (5°C): One gridline too low.
E (6°C): The point is halfway between two gridlines: read the value in the middle.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
The storm had a big ___ on the town.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, effect
How to work it out
“effect” is correct here.
“Effect” is usually a noun (a result).
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Here are four words and three number codes. The codes are not in the same order as the words, and one code is missing. What is the code for MEAL?
MULE MEAL EARN FLAW 5927 4231 7368
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, 5732
How to work it out
Find a letter that appears in only one place, or two words that share a pattern, and match them to the codes.
Working through the letters: M = 5, E = 7, A = 3, L = 2, U = 9, F = 4, W = 1, R = 6, N = 8.
So MEAL is 5732.
Why the other options are wrong
A (5723): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
B (5372): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
C (2375): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
D (7532): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure completes the grid?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
Across each row the shading changes in the same way; down each column the shape changes.
The missing figure needs the bottom row’s shape and the right column’s shading.
What entrance test does Bolton School Boys’ Division use?
Bolton School Boys’ Division uses the Independent school 11+ (own papers), which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning and includes a piece of writing. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Bolton School Boys’ Division?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 80% consistently in practice for a highly selective school. This is Prism’s own estimate, not a figure from the school, and no score guarantees a place.
When should my child start preparing for Bolton School Boys’ Division?
Most families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, then practise timed papers during the summer before the test, which usually takes place in January.
Preparing for Bolton School Boys’ Division?
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.