GL 11+ Exam: The Complete Guide for Parents and Students

The 11+ exam is the entrance test used by grammar schools and other selective schools in England to assess pupils at the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6. If your child is approaching this stage and you are starting to research what is involved, the volume of information -- and misinformation -- can be overwhelming. This guide is designed to cut through the noise and give you a clear, practical understanding of the GL Assessment 11+, the exam format, the four subject areas, and how to prepare effectively.

Whether your child is a year out from the exam or you are just beginning to explore selective education, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is the GL 11+?

GL Assessment -- originally Granada Learning -- is one of the two main providers of the 11+ exam in England. The other is CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring), run by the University of Durham. Between them, these two organisations supply the tests used by the vast majority of grammar schools and selective schools across the country.

GL Assessment exams are used in many of the most well-known grammar school regions. These include Kent, parts of Birmingham, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and several other local authorities. Some individual schools also commission GL tests independently. If you are unsure which provider your target school uses, the school's admissions page or your local authority's website will confirm this.

One important distinction between GL and CEM is predictability. GL exams follow a relatively consistent format from year to year. The question types, timing, and structure are well established. This makes GL exams more straightforward to prepare for than CEM exams, which deliberately vary their format to make specific coaching more difficult. For GL, targeted preparation -- learning the question types, practising under timed conditions, and building familiarity with the test structure -- can make a genuine difference.

Exam Format Overview

GL 11+ exams typically assess four areas:

• English
• Mathematics
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning

The exact format varies by region. In some areas, all four subjects are tested in a single paper or a single sitting with multiple sections. In others, the exam is split across two or more papers sat on different days. Some authorities weight all four areas equally; others place greater emphasis on certain subjects. It is essential to check the specific format used by your target school or local authority.

Across all regions, GL questions are predominantly multiple choice. Pupils select their answer from a set of options -- typically four or five -- and record it on a separate answer sheet. This format rewards accuracy, speed, and familiarity with the question style. There is no requirement to show working, so the focus is on arriving at the correct answer efficiently.

A typical GL 11+ paper lasts between 45 and 60 minutes per section. The total number of questions across all four areas is usually between 160 and 200, though this depends on the regional format. Time pressure is a significant factor -- most sections are designed so that a well-prepared child can finish with a small amount of time to spare, but not comfortably.

Scores are usually standardised to account for the child's age. This means a child who is younger within the cohort is not disadvantaged compared to one who is older. The standardised score is then used to rank applicants and allocate places.

English

The English component of the GL 11+ assesses reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. It is one of the two areas -- alongside Maths -- that draws on skills children will already be developing at school, but the 11+ tests these skills at a higher level and under tighter time pressure than most classroom assessments.

What to Expect

The comprehension section presents one or more passages of text -- these may be fiction (an extract from a novel or short story) or non-fiction (an article, a biographical piece, or an informational text). Questions test a range of reading skills:

• Retrieval -- finding specific information stated directly in the text.
• Inference -- working out what is implied but not explicitly stated.
• Vocabulary in context -- identifying the meaning of a word as it is used in the passage.
• Summary and main idea -- understanding the overall point of a section or paragraph.
• Language and structure -- recognising the effect of particular word choices or structural decisions.

Beyond comprehension, there are usually standalone questions on spelling (identifying the correctly or incorrectly spelled word from a list), punctuation (selecting the sentence with correct punctuation), and grammar (choosing the grammatically correct sentence or identifying an error).

How to Build These Skills

Regular reading is the single most effective way to build the comprehension and vocabulary skills tested in the English paper. Children who read widely -- fiction and non-fiction, across a range of genres and difficulty levels -- naturally develop the inference and vocabulary skills that the exam rewards. Beyond reading, targeted practice with 11+ comprehension exercises helps children learn to manage their time and approach different question types systematically.

Practise English with LearningBro's GL 11+ English course.

Mathematics

The Maths component of the GL 11+ covers the Key Stage 2 curriculum and, in many cases, extends slightly beyond it. Children are expected to have a secure grasp of primary-level mathematics and to apply that knowledge quickly and accurately under exam conditions.

What to Expect

The topics covered include:

• Number -- place value, ordering, the four operations, factors, multiples, primes, negative numbers, and rounding.
• Fractions, decimals, and percentages -- converting between forms, calculating fractions of amounts, percentage increase and decrease, ordering, and comparing.
• Ratio and proportion -- sharing in a given ratio, scaling, simple proportion problems.
• Algebra -- number sequences, finding missing numbers, simple expressions, and substitution.
• Geometry -- properties of 2D and 3D shapes, angles (including angles in triangles, on a straight line, around a point, and in parallel lines), coordinates, symmetry, reflection, rotation, and translation.
• Measurement -- units of length, mass, capacity, and time. Perimeter, area (including triangles, parallelograms, and compound shapes), and volume of cuboids. Converting between units.
• Data handling -- reading and interpreting tables, bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, and calculating the mean.

Questions are multiple choice and require both accuracy and speed. There is no space for working on the answer sheet, so children need to be comfortable performing calculations mentally or on rough paper. Many questions are not simply testing whether a child can perform a calculation -- they test whether the child can identify what calculation is needed, which is a higher-order skill.

How to Build These Skills

Ensure your child has a rock-solid foundation in the core primary curriculum before layering on 11+ specific practice. Gaps in times tables, place value, or fractions will show up across many different question types. Once the foundations are secure, regular timed practice helps build the speed and confidence needed for exam day.

Practise Maths with LearningBro's GL 11+ Mathematics course.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning -- often abbreviated to VR -- is the area of the GL 11+ that is least familiar to most parents and children. It is not taught as a standalone subject in primary school, and many children will not have encountered VR question types before they begin 11+ preparation. For this reason, it is often the area that requires the most dedicated and sustained practice.

What Is Verbal Reasoning?

Verbal Reasoning tests a child's ability to think logically and solve problems using words, letters, and numbers. It assesses reasoning ability rather than subject knowledge -- the questions are designed to test how well a child can manipulate language, spot patterns, and draw logical conclusions.

What to Expect

GL Verbal Reasoning questions fall into several broad categories:

• Word meanings -- synonyms, antonyms, and odd-one-out questions where the child must identify which word does not belong in a group.
• Word analogies -- completing a pair of related words (e.g., "hot is to cold as tall is to ___").
• Word codes -- letters or numbers are assigned to words according to a hidden rule, and the child must crack the code to answer further questions.
• Letter sequences -- identifying the pattern in a series of letters and predicting what comes next.
• Number and word patterns -- questions that combine numerical and verbal elements, requiring the child to spot relationships.
• Logical deduction -- short passages of information from which the child must draw logical conclusions. These questions test the ability to process multiple statements and identify what must be true.
• Shuffled sentences -- rearranging words to form a coherent sentence and then answering a question about it.
• Hidden words -- finding a word concealed within a sentence, spanning across two or more words.
• Compound words and letter manipulation -- forming new words by combining parts of given words, or moving letters between words.

Because these question types are unfamiliar, the most important thing a child can do is learn what each type looks like and develop a reliable method for approaching it. Once a child understands the mechanics of each question type, VR becomes much less daunting -- it is essentially pattern recognition and logical thinking, both of which improve significantly with practice.

Practise Verbal Reasoning with LearningBro's GL 11+ Verbal Reasoning course.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning -- often abbreviated to NVR -- tests logical thinking and spatial awareness without relying on language. Where Verbal Reasoning uses words and letters, Non-Verbal Reasoning uses shapes, patterns, and diagrams. This makes it, in theory, a more level playing field -- it does not depend on vocabulary, reading ability, or fluency in English.

What to Expect

GL Non-Verbal Reasoning questions typically cover:

• Pattern sequences -- identifying the rule governing a series of shapes or diagrams and selecting what comes next.
• Analogies -- two shapes are related in a certain way; the child must apply the same relationship to a third shape and select the correct answer.
• Odd one out -- four or five shapes are shown, and the child must identify the one that does not follow the same rule as the others.
• Codes and matrices -- shapes are assigned codes based on their properties (size, shading, rotation, number of sides), and the child must use the code system to answer further questions.
• Reflection and rotation -- identifying what a shape would look like when reflected in a mirror line or rotated by a given angle.
• Spatial visualisation -- questions about folding, nets of 3D shapes, or how shapes fit together.
• Similarities and differences -- identifying which properties shapes share and which are different.

The key skills being tested are the ability to identify rules, apply them consistently, and work quickly under pressure. Children who are naturally observant and methodical tend to do well, but -- like every aspect of the 11+ -- these skills respond strongly to practice.

How to Build These Skills

Start by familiarising your child with the different question types. NVR can feel alien at first, but once a child has seen enough examples of each type, they start to recognise the underlying patterns quickly. Encourage your child to verbalise the rule they are seeing ("the shape rotates 90 degrees clockwise each time and the shading alternates") -- putting the pattern into words helps cement the thinking process.

Practise Non-Verbal Reasoning with LearningBro's GL 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning course.

Vocabulary

Strong vocabulary underpins performance in both the English and Verbal Reasoning sections of the GL 11+. In English, a broad vocabulary helps with comprehension -- both understanding the passage and answering vocabulary-in-context questions. In Verbal Reasoning, many question types depend directly on knowing the meanings of words: synonyms, antonyms, analogies, and odd-one-out questions all require a confident working vocabulary.

Vocabulary is not something that can be crammed in a few weeks. It needs to be built systematically over months. The most effective approaches include:

• Wide reading -- the best way to encounter new words in context. Encourage your child to read a range of fiction and non-fiction at an appropriate challenge level.
• Word lists -- working through curated lists of words commonly tested at 11+ level. Learn each word's meaning, its synonyms, its antonyms, and how it is used in a sentence.
• Active use -- encourage your child to use new words in conversation and writing. A word that is actively used is retained far better than one that is passively recognised.
• Regular review -- revisit words that have been learned previously. Spaced repetition -- returning to material at increasing intervals -- is one of the most effective techniques for long-term retention.

Build vocabulary with LearningBro's GL 11+ Vocabulary Builder course.

How to Prepare

Effective preparation for the GL 11+ is a marathon, not a sprint. Ideally, structured preparation should begin 12 to 18 months before the exam, though the exact timeline depends on your child's starting point and the specific demands of your target school.

Phase 1: Build the Foundations (12--18 Months Before)

Start by assessing where your child stands in each of the four areas. Most children will have a reasonable base in English and Maths from school, but may have significant gaps -- particularly in topics that sit at the upper end of the KS2 curriculum or slightly beyond it. Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning will almost certainly be new.

During this phase, focus on:

• Filling any gaps in the primary Maths and English curriculum.
• Introducing the main VR and NVR question types so your child understands what they will encounter.
• Beginning systematic vocabulary building.
• Establishing a regular practice routine -- little and often is far more effective than occasional intensive sessions.

Phase 2: Develop Speed and Accuracy (6--12 Months Before)

Once your child is comfortable with the question types and has a secure base of knowledge, shift the emphasis toward practising under increasingly realistic conditions.

• Work through question sets under timed conditions.
• Identify specific question types or topics that your child finds difficult and target these with focused practice.
• Continue vocabulary building.
• Begin working through practice papers.

Phase 3: Exam Readiness (Final 3--6 Months)

In the final stretch before the exam, the focus should be on consolidation and confidence building.

• Complete full timed practice papers under exam conditions.
• Review mistakes carefully -- understanding why an error was made is more valuable than simply doing more papers.
• Maintain a steady, manageable practice schedule. Avoid over-practising in the final weeks, which can lead to fatigue and anxiety.
• Focus on mental readiness -- help your child feel confident and prepared, not stressed and pressured.

Practise with LearningBro's GL 11+ Practice Papers course.

Exam Day Tips

When the day of the exam arrives, preparation is largely complete. What matters now is helping your child perform at their best under test conditions. Here are the key things to keep in mind.

Read each question carefully. It sounds obvious, but under time pressure, children often misread questions or miss a key word. Encourage your child to read the question fully before looking at the answer options.

Manage time. Your child should have a sense of how long they have per question. If a question is proving difficult, it is better to make a best guess, mark it for review, and move on. One hard question is worth the same as one easy question -- spending three minutes on a tricky problem while leaving five straightforward questions unanswered is a poor trade.

Answer every question. There is no negative marking on GL 11+ exams. A blank answer scores zero; a guess has at least a one-in-four or one-in-five chance of being correct. Every question should have an answer, even if it is a best guess.

Don't get stuck. This is worth repeating because it is the single most common mistake children make in timed exams. If a question is not yielding to a first or second attempt, move on. Come back to it later if time allows.

Use any remaining time wisely. If your child finishes with time to spare, they should go back and check their answers -- particularly any they were unsure about. Careless errors on questions the child could have answered correctly are the most frustrating way to lose marks.

Stay calm. A certain amount of nervousness is normal and even helpful -- it sharpens focus. But excessive anxiety undermines performance. Reassure your child that they have prepared well, that one exam does not define them, and that they should simply do their best.

Prepare with LearningBro

LearningBro offers a complete suite of courses designed specifically for the GL 11+ exam. Each course covers the question types and skills your child needs, with targeted practice and clear explanations.

• GL 11+ English -- comprehension, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• GL 11+ Mathematics -- number, geometry, measurement, data handling, and more.
• GL 11+ Verbal Reasoning -- word codes, letter sequences, analogies, logical deduction, and all major VR question types.
• GL 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning -- pattern sequences, spatial reasoning, reflection, rotation, and codes.
• GL 11+ Vocabulary Builder -- systematic vocabulary development for English and Verbal Reasoning.
• GL 11+ Practice Papers -- full timed papers to build exam readiness and confidence.

The 11+ can feel like a high-stakes moment, but with the right preparation -- steady, structured, and spread over a sensible timeframe -- your child can walk into the exam room feeling confident and ready. Start early, practise regularly, and focus on building genuine understanding rather than simply drilling questions. That approach will serve your child well, whatever the outcome.