Before choosing 11+ practice materials, check the current admissions information for the school or area you are considering. There is no single test format that you should assume applies everywhere. Record who runs the process, what is tested and what your child needs to do next. This guide helps parents organise those checks without treating a practice score as a promise of admission.
Start with the admissions authority
Open the target school’s admissions page and follow its instructions for the relevant entry year. Note any local-authority or consortium page it identifies. Record the application and test-registration requirements separately if the authority lists separate processes. If the wording is unclear, contact the authority named on that page.
Do not reuse last year’s dates or another school’s instructions. This page does not provide a school-specific deadline.
Build a source record
Suggested parent worksheet: leave unknown items blank until the responsible organisation confirms them.
| Check | Record |
|---|---|
| School and entry year | Exact school name and intended year of entry |
| Responsible authority | Official page and contact route |
| Test content | Subjects, format and provider if stated |
| Required actions | Registration/application steps and the published dates |
| Support arrangements | Who to contact about your child’s needs and when |
| Checked on | Date you verified the information |
Match familiarisation to the actual test
GL Assessment explains that 11+ tests may cover English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with content and question balance varying by school or local authority. Use the school’s current information to decide which materials fit. Read the GL Assessment FAQs before assuming a generic pack matches a particular test.
A practical first session is to read the matching instructions with your child and try a small number of sample questions. Note whether the difficulty comes from the instructions, the underlying idea or the time available. Choose the next practice task from that observation rather than increasing the volume automatically.
When information conflicts
If a commercial practice pack and the current admissions page disagree, ask the admissions authority to clarify before relying on the pack. Keep the reply with your source record. If your child needs an adjustment, ask about the official process rather than assuming a practice arrangement will apply in the test.
Use ESPD’s programme enquiry to ask whether support is available for the specific test you have identified. Do not include sensitive details about a child in the initial public form.
Questions
Is every 11+ test the same?
No. GL Assessment describes variation by school and local authority. Check the current test information for your target.
Does buying a practice pack register my child?
Do not treat a resource purchase as registration. Follow the application and test-registration instructions supplied by the admissions authority.
Does a high practice score guarantee a place?
No. Use practice to identify learning needs and consult the published admissions arrangements for how applications are considered.
Next step
The useful outcome is a verified school-specific record and a manageable next practice task. Recheck the authority’s information before taking a time-sensitive action.
Related guides
Sources
Sources checked 4 November 2026. Check the relevant school, exam board or admissions provider for requirements that apply to your situation.