As the 11 Plus exam 2025 approaches, parents look for different options to provide children with the best preparation for the Grammar School exam. Adnan Khan Tutoring has compiled this comprehensive 11 Plus Preparation Guide specifically for parents navigating the Grammar School entrance exams in 2025.
This guide will help parents prepare their children to appear in the 11 Plus exam in September 2025 and start Year 7 at a Grammar School after securing high passing marks.
What Is The 11 Plus Exam?
11 Plus is the entrance exam for admission to Grammar Schools in the UK. Students take this test at the end of Year 6 to determine whether they can secure a place at a Grammar School in Year 7. 11 Plus is considered one of the most competitive entrance exams for children who take it at the end of primary school, Year 6. Therefore, parents start Grammar School entrance exam preparation during Year 4 and Year 5 to help their children.
If you are wondering when the 11 Plus exam is in 2025, it will be taken by students in September.
11 Plus Exams Preparation Timeline
Parents should be aware of the application deadlines for the 11 Plus exam in 2025 and know the specific exam dates. They should visit each Grammar School they have in mind to start the child’s secondary education phase.It is crucial to consider everything before deciding on the school. So, you need to consider all important factors beforehand.
- 11 Plus Registration: Most Grammar Schools in the UK start their registrations in May, with a deadline around June or July. It is important to note that these registration dates may vary from school to school and from one area to another. Therefore, it is imperative to be well-informed about the specific registration deadlines
- In Buckinghamshire, primary school students are automatically eligible to participate in the 11 Plus exam. However, parents can decide to withdraw their children from sitting in the 11 Plus exam.
- 11 Plus Exam Dates for 2025: The 11 Plus examinations are scheduled to take place in September 2025 across England and Wales. However, there can be some variability in dates according to school or city.
- 11 Plus Results 2025: The results for the 11 Plus exam will be announced in mid-October 2025 for different Grammar Schools. Therefore, it is advisable to stay informed about the commencement of the results.
- School Allocation: After the results, your child’s school allocation will be confirmed in March 2025. So, have patience and keep your child motivated.
Grammar school preparation is tricky because there are 164 Grammar Schools in the UK. With such tough competition, your child needs to possess strong skills in English, Maths and Reasoning to be among the top 11 Plus qualifiers . So, learn each detail in this 11 Plus preparation guide for 2025.
What Are Grammar Schools?
These are state-funded secondary schools that focus on quality education and achieving academic landmarks. Grammar Schools select students for Year 7 through an entrance exam called the 11 Plus exam.
Some grammar schools also offer late transfer tests for Year 8 and Year 9 intakes. These late entrance exams are known as 12 Plus and 13 Plus examinations.
As these schools are state-funded, you won’t have to pay the fee. In the UK, we have 164 Grammar Schools. However, some schools are for boys only, and girls only and some are for both. Therefore, your child must be well prepared for the Grammar School entrance exam to secure a place at your target school.
Why Do Parents in the UK Prefer Grammar Schools?
As you know, these schools select students with high academic abilities through the 11 Plus exam, which is a Grammar School test. Moreover, it provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to challenge pupils’ skills and promote progressive learning with a comprehensive approach in secondary school.
- Highest Performing Schools: The quality of education provided in Grammar Schools is top tier. Hence, it ensures that children are well prepared and perform exceptionally well than students in other secondary schools.
- Top GCSE and A-Levels Results: Grammar Schools deliver outstanding results with a high-quality education for KS3 and KS4 from qualified teachers.
- Social Mobility: The records and reports show that Grammar Schools produce students with successful careers who significantly impact different fields.
Subjects To Practise in 11 Plus Preparation
The exam content is different for different schools and areas, but 11 Plus exam papers share the same subjects, including 11 Plus Maths, English, 11 Plus Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- 11 Plus English course covers core lessons covering sentence completion, comprehension and topics focusing on grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
- Your child needs to have a strong grip on solving arithmetic, word problems, timetables and other KS2 Maths lessons to prepare for the 11 Plus Maths exam papers.
- Spatial reasoning, code finding and other lessons are covered in 11 Plus Non-Verbal reasoning lessons to increase a child’s analytical skills.
- 11 Plus Verbal reasoning tests require students to be good at solving code sequences, missing letters, related words, antonyms and other questions.
If you are helping your child with online homeschool tutoring, you have to learn effective exam preparation strategies. Without any guidance, you may face a lot of challenges.
Who Develops The 11 Plus Exams Papers in the UK?
There are generally two 11 Plus examination boards, GL Assessment and CEM. However, some schools prefer to set their own 11 Plus exam papers to test a pupil’s knowledge and required level of abilities for the entrance exam. The area of the Grammar School determines whether a student will sit for the GL Assessment or the CEM. As of 2016, the following regions used these boards.
Here is a detailed explanation of the exam boards to guide parents in 11 Plus preparation.
1. GL Assessment’s 11 Plus papers cover Maths, English, and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Questions. So, Grammar Schools choose a combination of these papers to develop particular selection criteria for pupils. Regions following the GL Assessment:
- Dorset
- Kent
- Northern Ireland
- Wiltshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Lancashire & Cumbria
- Lincolnshire
- Plymouth
2. CEM developed 11 Plus exams that usually cover verbal, non-verbal and numerical reasoning. Verbal reasoning covers different reasoning questions to assess children’s abilities in the 11 Plus English exam. Similarly, numerical reasoning skills are tested in the 11 Plus Maths exam. Regions following CEM:
- Berkshire
- Bexley
- Birmingham
- Warwickshire
- Wirral
- Wolverhampton
- Medway
- Gloucestershire
- Shropshire
- Walsall
Most schools prefer to prepare 11 Plus exam papers using the combination of CEM and GL Assessment to have better selection criteria that cover all aspects of Maths, English and other reasoning and logical skills.
Some regions use the GL Assessment and the CEM combination for 11 Plus exams, which are:
- Devon
- Essex
- Trafford
- Yorkshire
- Hertfordshire
When To Start 11 Plus Preparation?
Most experts recommend beginning 11 Plus preparation towards the conclusion of Year 3 or at the beginning of Year 4. This allows children enough time to thoroughly understand the material and acquire the required abilities without feeling pressured. It also allows for a more gradual study rather than cramming just before the test.
- It is better to start several months before the exam with traditional tuition from experienced 11 Plus tutors. Early preparation will help your child build strong skills to optimise their 11 Plus exam performance.
- Moreover, you can start basic preparation for your child in Year 3 with regular practice of core subject areas. You will need 11 Plus guidance and suitable tuition for the Grammar School entrance exam.
- With 11 Plus exam preparation 2025 figured out, you can help your child with daily homework to build confidence. It will increase their grades in the final 11 Plus results.
Always seek a proper 11 Plus preparation guide to create a perfect and tailored plan to prepare your child for the 11 Plus exam 2025. You can always book a free assessment at Adnan Khan Tutoring.
Why Should I Hire an 11 Plus Tutor to Prepare For the Entrance Exam 2025?
Some parents take the 11 Plus preparation into their own hands, utilising various available resources such as practice papers, books, and past papers. On the other hand, some do not take any chances with the child’s preparation for the 11 Plus exam. So, they hire a qualified 11 Plus tutor.
- Hiring an 11 Plus tutor can benefit your child, as these experienced teachers are well-versed in the strategies necessary to achieve the best results.
- At Adnan Khan Tutoring, we have professional tutors who start 11 Plus tuition with an initial assessment. They see where your child stands while preparing for the 11 Plus exam. After that, we take them to learn, practice and revise all lessons in live 11 Plus tutoring classes, one-to-one and group.
How to do 11 Plus Revision
One of the most effective 11 Plus revision approaches is to go through practice test papers. First, go through practice papers with your child to ensure they grasp the question and the type of answer expected. Start your child’s 11 Plus revision a couple of months before the exam so they have ample time to go through all the important topics for the entrance test. Use online or traditional 11 Plus revision aids which have all the key topics compiled together and come in handy for exam revision.
How to practise 11 Plus Exam Format
You should focus on your child’s regular 11 Plus practice as practice under restricted time and exam conditions is important for optimal performance on the exam day. Use online 11 Plus practice tests, 11 Plus past papers and 11 Plus exam guides to practise the exam format. If you don’t have a tutor’s support, consider 11 Plus familiarisation tests to understand the exam format for your target school’s entrance test.
How to take 11 Plus Mocks
11 Plus mocks are essential to your child’s 11 Plus preparation journey, so don’t let them shy away from the mock tests. The more they test their preparation in the mocks, the better they will perform on the exam day. Utilise our online 11 Plus mocks or take traditional 11 Plus mock exams.
Most importantly, get your mocks evaluated and receive feedback if possible. Use 11 Plus answer keys and explanation guides to keep track of your progress if you don’t have professional support. Register now to take online 11 Plus mock exams.
What if my child does not pass the 11 Plus exams in 2025?
If your child fails to crack the 11 Plus examinations for 2025 with distinction or does not pass the 11 Plus, they can have a chance with the late transfer tests called the 12 Plus and 13 Plus exams.
There you are, the ultimate and comprehensive 11 Plus preparation guide for you to help your child prepare for and pass the entrance exam. For more insights or expert advice, contact our team of experts.
