How to Pass the 11 Plus Exam

Preparing for the 11 Plus exam can feel overwhelming for families, but with the right structure, planning and support it becomes a manageable and rewarding journey. At Dukes Tutoring, years of experience have shown us that knowing how to pass the 11 Plus exam starts with clarity: understanding what it involves, knowing what selective schools expect, and following a tailored programme of preparation that builds confidence and skill over time.

This guide will cover everything you need to know, from understanding the 11 Plus format and pass marks to effective revision strategies, practice papers, mock exams and specialist tutoring. Whether your child is just starting out or the exam is approaching, you will find practical, expert-backed guidance here.

What is the 11 Plus?

The 11 Plus exam is an entrance assessment used by many selective senior schools – both grammar and independent. It is usually taken in Year 6 for entry into Year 7.

 The exam typically assesses a combination of:

• English
• Maths
• Verbal reasoning
• Non-verbal reasoning  
• Creative or extended writing – required by some independent schools

Some independent schools also include interviews, group tasks and problem‑solving activities as part of their process. The format varies significantly between schools, which is why targeted 11 Plus preparation is so valuable.

Which Schools Require it?

Many of London’s most competitive independent schools require the 11 Plus exam, including: St Paul’s School & St Paul’s Girl’s School, Westminster School, City of London School & City of London School for Girls, Highgate, University College School.

The 11 Plus is also required by all grammar schools. These are academically selective state senior schools. You can learn more in our article on the difference between state and private schools in the UK.

The structure and content of exam vary by school, this is why it’s important to tailor your child’s preparation to the specific requirements of their target schools. Our specialist 11 Plus tutors have detailed, up to date knowledge of the individual requirements for all the leading London 11 Plus schools. Not sure which schools to apply to? Our school admissions consultant can help you shortlist the right options for your child. Some independent schools also offer entry at 13 Plus.

What is the 11 Plus Pass Mark?

There is no single universal 11 Plus pass mark, as each school sets its own standard. Grammar schools often use standardised scoring, and successful candidates may need results equivalent to around 65% to 85% depending on school’s competitiveness and the cohort in any given year.

Independent schools tend to assess more holistically, considering exam results alongside interview performance, school references, and overall readiness for their curriculum. This means if your child performs well in the interview or group task, they may be competitive even if the scores from their written exams are not at the very top of the field.

As there is no fixed threshold, it is more useful to focus on consistent, well-rounded preparation than aim for a specific number. If your child has covered the curriculum thoroughly, practiced under timed conditions and prepared for the interview they will be in the strongest possible position.

What Percentage of Pupils Pass the 11 Plus?

Pass rates vary depending on the school. In highly competitive regions and at the most selective London schools, only a small proportion of candidates achieve the required score. Nationally, around 10-12% of pupils pass the grammar school 11 Plus. Independent schools don’t publish official acceptance rates and there is a lot of variation in competitiveness from one school to another.

Pass rate figures can feel daunting, but they tend to reflect the fact that overall application numbers are very high at popular schools, rather than how likely a well-prepared child is to be accepted. Children who follow a structured, sustained preparation programme over the right period of time significantly improve their chances. At Dukes Tutoring, 98% of our tutees gain a place at one or more of their target schools.

How to Pass the 11 Plus Exam?

So how do you pass the 11 Plus exam? Children succeed in the 11 Plus when they have strong foundations in Maths and English, effective exam technique, confidence under timed conditions, and a steady approach to practice. Passing the exam depends as much on consistency and method as it does on natural academic ability.

How to Prepare for the 11 Plus

Effective 11 Plus preparation happens in stages. And families who start early and work gradually tend to see the best results. 

Dukes Tutoring recommends starting your child’s preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, this will help give your child a year to build their skills up steadily. Before beginning the process, we recommend having an academic assessment. This allows you to establish whether your child has the potential to thrive at a selective school and can help you decide which schools to apply to. An assessment also identifies your child’s strengths and areas for improvement which will help you target their preparation. From there, good preparation covers the full KS2 curriculum alongside reasoning skills, timed practice papers, and mock exams. At Dukes Tutoring, we tend to treat mock exams as the ‘final and vital stage’ once the core curriculum has been covered.

Below is a breakdown of how to prepare for the 11 Plus exam, with specific exercise to build the skills each component tests.

English

The 11 Plus English component typically covers reading comprehension, creative writing, grammar, punctuation and spelling. Here are the key areas to focus on:

• Daily reading: reading widely across fiction and non-fiction helps to build vocabulary and comprehension more effectively than any single workbook. Our article on best 11+ exam books contains some suggestions.
• Comprehension practice: Practice past comprehension papers, paying attention to inference and deduction questions, as these carry significant marks.
• Vocabulary building: Build a strong vocabulary through reading and targeted exercises covering synonyms, antonyms and work meanings.
• Creative writing: practice writing short stories or descriptions from a prompt, focusing on structure and precise work choices.
• SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) drills: Regular grammar and punctuation exercises covering commas, apostrophes, speech marks and sentence structure.
• Timed comprehension: Practice answering comprehension questions under timed conditions to build both speed and accuracy.

Try the free Dukes Tutoring 11 Plus comprehension and grammar practice questions to get started or find out about our specialist English tutors.

Maths

The 11 Plus Maths component covers the full KS2 curriculum and often stretches beyond it. Your child should be confident applying mathematical knowledge to unfamiliar problems, not just recalling procedures.

• Times tables and mental arithmetic: Fluency with all times tables up to 12×12 and strong mental arithmetic are essential for timed papers.
• Word problems: Practice multi-step word problems, focusing on identifying what is being asked and showing workings clearly.
• Fractions, decimals and percentages: Confident conversion between forms and application to real-world problems.
• Algebra and sequences: Number patterns and early algebra appear in many independent school papers and need targeted practice. 
• Shape, data and measure: Area, perimeter, angles, coordinates, and reading charts and tables.
• Timed arithmetic: Regular timed mental maths practice builds the speed and accuracy that exam conditions demand.

Try the free Dukes Tutoring 11 Plus maths practice questions or find out about our specialist Maths tutors available.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning is not taught in most primary schools, which means targeted practice is one of the most important parts of learning how to pass the 11 Plus exam. It tests the ability to understand and manipulate language logically, and rewards children who read widely and have a strong vocabulary. Below are some exercises to build verbal reasoning skills:

• Word relationships and analogies: Practice identifying how pairs of words relate and applying the same relationship to a new pair.  
• Synonyms and antonyms: Regular vocabulary work covering synonyms, antonyms and word meanings.
• Word classification: Practice identifying the odd word out in a group, or sorting words into categories.
• Letter and number codes: Practice code-breaking tasks where a consistent rule is applied to letters or numbers.
• Missing words and letters: Practice completing words with missing letters and identifying words that complete compound words.
• Timed practice: Regular timed practice is essential, as verbal reasoning papers are fast paced.

The free Dukes Tutoring verbal reasoning quiz is a great starting point, and our 11 Plus preparation tutors introduce children to all question types systematically.

Non-verbal reasoning

Non-verbal reasoning assesses logical thinking using shapes, patterns and visual sequences. Many children find it the most unfamiliar part of the 11 Plus because it is rarely covered in primary school, but with focused practice most children improve significantly. Below are some non-verbal reasoning exercises to build skills:

• Pattern recognition: Practice identifying what changes across a sequence of shapes (size, colour, rotation and shading).
• Matrix completion: Grid-based questions ask children to identify the missing piece in a visual sequence by looking at both rows and columns.
• Shape rotation and reflection: Practice mentally rotating and reflecting shapes to build spatial awareness.
• Analogies: Practice visual analogy questions – identifying the same transformation rule applied to a new pair of shapes.
• Odd one out: Practice odd one out questions by checking each shape systematically against its properties.
• Timed practice: Regular timed practice with Bond or CGP papers builds the pace required for non-verbal reasoning papers.

Try the free Dukes Tutoring non-verbal reasoning practice questions to see how your child gets on.

Practice Papers

Using 11 Plus practice papers is one of the most important and effective parts of preparation. Working through papers regularly allows children to:

• Become familiar with question styles and formats specific to their target schools
• Understand the demands of timed conditions before the real exam
• Recognise common question types and the techniques most effective for each
• Build stamina for sitting a full-length paper
• Make steady, measurable improvements through careful review of mistakes.

Many schools publish sample or past papers on their admissions pages. Bond Assessment Papers and CGP practice books are also widely used for structured home preparation.

At Dukes Tutoring, all families receive a free 11 Plus Parent Guide with links to past papers from a range of independent and grammar schools. Your child’s tutor will use these alongside our own 11 Plus exam preparation resources to ensure their practice is targeted to their specific schools.

Want to get started straight away? Try our free 11 Plus practice questions, covering Verbal Reasoning, Comprehension, Punctuation and Grammar, Non-Verbal reasoning and Maths.

Mock Exams

Mock exams are one of the most valuable tools available in the final months of 11 Plus preparation for your child. Sitting a full-length paper under exam conditions gives your child something that at home practice alone cannot replicate.

An effective mock exam helps children:

• Practice working under timed pressure across all subjects in a single sitting
• Develop strategies for managing time and pacing across different sections
• Build the mental resilience and stamina required for the exam day itself
• Identify specific areas of weakness before the real exam, while there is still time to address them
• Reduce anxiety by making the exam environment feel familiar rather than unknown.

At Dukes Tutoring, we run 11 Plus mock exams during half term and the school holidays, as well as mock group and individual interview preparation. After each sitting, every child’s work is marked in detail, and parents receive written feedback report with specific recommendations for the next stage of preparation.

How to Revise for the 11 Plus exam

Knowing how to revise for the 11 Plus is just as important as knowing what to revise. The most common mistake families make is leaving 11 Plus revision too late and then trying to cram. Effective 11 Plus revision needs to be steady, varied and spread over time.

The most effective revision approach combines:

• Short, focused sessions
• Varied task types
• Regular reading
• Targeted review of errors
• Timed practice

It is important for revision to gradually increase in difficulty and similarity to the real exam as the assessment approaches. A progressive build-up in revision leads to your child having a deeper understanding and greater confidence on the day.

Tutoring

If your child is a high achiever across all content areas (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning) and is well supported in school, they may not require tutoring for 11 Plus. However, many children benefit greatly from working with a specialist. A good tutor does more than teach your child how to pass the 11 Plus exam. They identify gaps quickly, focus preparation on the areas that matter most for your child’s target schools, and teach the all-important exam technique which so often makes all the difference,

Another benefit of tuition is that an experienced tutor can structure the pace of preparation programme, so your child steadily improves without being burned out and peaks in time for the exam. A good tutor will provide consistent encouragement and motivation for your child across the 11 Plus process.

At Dukes Tutoring, our 11 Plus tutors are trained in every aspect of the process and are supported by a senior academic team. Your child will be carefully matched to a tutor based on their learning style, personality, and school targets. Preparation is structured, personalised and overseen throughout by our experienced team. If your child has already secured a place and you are thinking ahead, our transition to secondary school support helps children settle confidently into their new school.

 Ready to give your child the best possible preparation for the 11 Plus? Dukes Tutoring offers expert one-to-one 11 Plus tutoring, mock exams, interview preparation, and free practice questions. Everything your child needs in one place. Enquire today and speak to our team.

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