Free 11+ practice and 11+ mock exam prep

For Maths and English, choose Gentle to use the familiar practice library or Challenging for harder 11+ problems. Select your level in 11+ Practice, Topic Mastery, Critical Thinking & Analysis, or the Year-Round Plan. Challenging sets are available after the new RAG bank is published.

Your 11+ preparation roadmap

Every family's journey is different, but these are the most common paths parents follow. Pick the workflow that fits your timeline.

Mock exams help you identify weak areas, then targeted practice strengthens them — repeat as needed until exam day.

What is the 11 Plus exam?

The 11 plus (11+) is an entrance exam used by grammar schools and some independent schools in England to select pupils moving from Year 6 into Year 7. Most children sit the exam in the September or October of Year 6, meaning preparation typically needs to start in Year 4 or Year 5.

In Northern Ireland, schools that use the Schools' Entrance Assessment Group set the SEAG Entrance Assessment for primary 7 pupils. That assessment is English or Gaeilge and Mathematics. It is not the four-subject England 11+. Read the SEAG Entrance Assessment guide or open the Northern Ireland SEAG mocks.

Exactly what's tested, and how, varies by region and by the organisation that sets the exam for that area, which is why a good preparation plan needs to be matched to the right exam board and format rather than treated as one generic test.

Which exam boards are used for 11+?

Two organisations set most 11+ papers in England: GL Assessment and CEM (now run under Durham University's Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, though many areas have moved to GL-style papers in recent years). Some areas, and many independent schools, use their own bespoke papers instead, and the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) Common Pre-Test is widely used for independent school entry.

It's worth checking directly with your target school(s) or local authority which board and format they currently use before settling on a preparation approach, since question styles differ meaningfully between boards — particularly for verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

What subjects does the 11+ cover?

• Mathematics: Arithmetic, fractions, ratio, geometry and problem-solving at a Year 5/6 standard, often under timed conditions.
• English: Comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary and sometimes creative or continuous writing.
• Verbal Reasoning: Word- and logic-based puzzles: codes, sequences, analogies, and word relationships.
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Pattern, shape and spatial reasoning questions that don't rely on reading ability.

How Homework Magic helps with 11+ preparation

Rather than working through generic, one-size-fits-all practice papers, Homework Magic builds a short profile of your child — year group, current strengths, and areas they find harder — and generates practice questions pitched at the right level across all four 11+ subject areas.

Once your child has answered, Homework Magic reviews the work and gives specific, encouraging feedback: what they got right, where the mistake happened, and what to try next — the same way a tutor would talk through a paper with them, rather than just marking it right or wrong.

The 11+ coach keeps that practice short: topic mastery, a year-round plan, optional Critical Thinking revision, and an explanation with How to solve it, Why children get this wrong, and a Helpful tip.

Tips for parents preparing a child for the 11+

• Start early, keep it short: 15–30 minutes a day over many months tends to work better than long weekend cramming sessions, especially for maintaining a child's confidence and motivation.
• Practise under timed conditions: Real 11+ exams are strictly timed, so building some familiarity with working at pace matters as much as knowing the content.
• Mix all four subject areas: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are unfamiliar question styles for most children — don't let Maths and English preparation crowd them out.
• Watch for exam fatigue: Regularly review how your child feels about the process, not just their scores — motivation matters over a multi-month preparation period.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should my child start preparing for the 11 plus?

Most families begin focused 11+ preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, giving 12–18 months of steady, low-pressure practice before exams typically held in Year 6.

Is the 11+ the same everywhere in England?

No. Format, exam board (commonly GL Assessment or CEM-style) and subjects tested vary by local authority and by individual school, so it's important to confirm the specific format used by your target schools.

Does Homework Magic replace 11+ tuition?

Homework Magic is designed as a daily practice and feedback tool to complement whatever preparation approach a family is using — whether that's self-study, a tutor, or a prep course — rather than a replacement for expert exam-specific guidance.

Generate an 11+ Practice Set

11+ routes for parents and tutors

Parents can use the parent homework guide to combine 11+ with normal school learning. Tutors can use Homework Magic for tutors for cohort management, personalised practice and parent progress visibility.

11+ Articles & Resources

Explore our growing library of 11+ preparation guides and resources:

• 11+ Articles Hub — All 11+ guides and resources in one place
• SEAG Entrance Assessment — Northern Ireland English and Mathematics format
• A Parent's Guide to the 11+ — What's tested, timelines, and exam boards
• The 11+ School Guide
• The 11+ Exam Formats
• The 11+ Mock Exam Strategy
• The 11+ Vocabulary List
• The 11+ Preparation Timeline
• The 11+ Acceptance and GCSE Rates
• The 11+ Maths Common Mistakes
• The 11+ Time Management
• The 11+ Comprehension Question Types
• The 11+ Essay Writing Guide
• The 11+ Exam Day Preparation
• The 11+ Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
• The 11+ Managing Test Anxiety
• The 11+ Problem Solving Techniques
• The 11+ Revision Techniques
• The 11+ Selective Schools Admission
• The 11+ Spatial Awareness Practice
• The 11+ Stress Management Techniques
• The 11+ Supporting Your Child's Preparation
• The 11+ Tutoring vs. Self-Study
• The 11+ Maths Topics Checklist
• The 11+ English Comprehension Strategies
• The 11+ Verbal Reasoning Tips
• The 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Guide