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 bar chart shows the clubs children chose. How many more children chose swim than chess?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, 5
How to work it out
Read each bar against the scale: Swim 30, Chess 25.
The difference is 30 − 25 = 5.
Why the other options are wrong
B (30): This is only the swim bar.
C (55): This adds the two bars; "how many more" means the difference.
D (10): One gridline too many: read the scale again.
E (1): This counts the gridlines between the bars; each one is worth 5.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word best completes the sentence?
The dog wagged _____ tail happily.
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, its
How to work it out
“its” is the word that fits: The dog wagged its tail happily.
Why the other options are wrong
A (it’s): “It’s” means it is.
B (it is): “The dog wagged it is tail” makes no sense.
C (its’): There is no such word as “its’”.
D (their): One dog needs “its”, not the plural “their”.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Choose one word from each group. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?
Sutton High School 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 Sutton High School?
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 Sutton High School?
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 Sutton High School?
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.