When should we start preparing?
For most families, formal practice begins in the spring of Year 5. Earlier than that and children are usually not yet developmentally ready for timed papers; later than that and you're squeezing the substantive work into the summer holidays. Reading widely, doing mental arithmetic in everyday life, and playing word and logic games all count as preparation long before formal papers begin.
How many practice papers should we sit?
Far fewer than parents tend to think. A child who sits 15–20 papers thoughtfully — marking, reviewing, and acting on each one — almost always outperforms a child who sits 60 papers without time to digest mistakes. Quality of review beats quantity of papers.
What is the difference between GL Assessment and CEM?
GL Assessment papers tend to be subject-discrete (a Maths paper, an English paper, a reasoning paper) with a more predictable format and a published syllabus. CEM-style papers tend to be mixed-format and are designed to be harder to coach for, with vocabulary stretch as a hallmark. CEM as an exam product has been wound down in recent years, but several regions still use a CEM-derived format.
What is a scaled score?
A scaled score adjusts a child's raw score for two things: age (younger children in the year group receive a small uplift) and cohort difficulty (a slightly harder paper produces a slightly more generous conversion). Most regions publish a scaled score on a 69–141 scale and apply a pass mark within it. See our scaled scores explainer.
Should we hire a tutor?
There is no single right answer. A tutor can be invaluable for confidence, timing discipline and exposing children to a wider range of question styles. Equally, many children pass without one. If you do hire a tutor, look for someone who tutors small groups in your specific region rather than a national chain — regional knowledge matters.
What is the ideal practice cadence?
One full timed paper per fortnight, with the alternate fortnight spent on the two weakest topic groups exposed by the marked paper. This rhythm turns each paper into a diagnostic rather than a grade, which is what produces real improvement.
What if my child becomes anxious?
Stop. The 11+ is a single morning in a child's life and is not worth ongoing distress. Take a fortnight off, return to lower-stakes practice (puzzles rather than timed papers), and consider whether the target school is the right fit. A child's wellbeing always trumps a school place.
Are these papers the same as the live exam?
No paper outside an exam hall is the same as the live exam — but well-chosen practice papers reproduce the format, timing and topic mix faithfully enough that strong home performance is a reliable indicator. The papers we list have been chosen for that fidelity.
Can my child re-sit the 11+?
In most regions, no — you sit it once in September of Year 6. A small number of catchments and individual independent schools run later sittings or January sittings, but the standard route is one attempt.
Do private school entrance papers overlap with the 11+?
Partly. Independent school 11+ papers often draw on the same skill base (comprehension, mental arithmetic, reasoning) but tend to include longer-form written answers and more demanding vocabulary. Practising state grammar 11+ papers is a useful baseline, but supplement with school-specific past papers if you're targeting an independent.