11+ Exam Techniques

A question-by-question guide to the techniques your child needs for every type of question they will encounter in the 11+ exam. Select a topic below to learn the method, see worked examples and pick up top tips.

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English

The 11+ English paper typically includes a reading comprehension exercise, a creative or extended writing task, and questions on spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary. The techniques below cover each question type your child is likely to encounter.

Comprehension

Information Retrieval Finding and extracting facts stated directly in the passage. Usually worth one or two marks per point. View techniques → Inference & Deduction Reading between the lines to work out what is implied but not directly stated. Often the highest-mark questions. View techniques → Using Your Own Words Rephrasing information from the text without quoting. Demonstrates genuine understanding of the passage. View techniques → Writer’s Language & Techniques Identifying similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration and other literary devices and explaining their effect. View techniques → Vocabulary in Context Defining words or choosing synonyms based on how they are used in the passage. View techniques → Prediction Using clues in the text to explain what might happen next, supported by evidence from the passage. View techniques → Comparison Identifying and writing about similarities and differences between characters, events, or settings in the text. View techniques → Summary Condensing key points from a passage into a brief overview, showing overall understanding. View techniques →

Creative & Extended Writing

Story Writing Planning, structuring and writing a compelling short story within a timed exam, including character, setting and plot. View techniques → Descriptive Writing Using the five senses, figurative language and varied sentence structures to create vivid descriptions. View techniques → Persuasive & Discursive Writing Structuring an argument, using rhetorical techniques, and presenting a balanced or one-sided viewpoint. View techniques →

SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar)

Spelling Spotting and correcting spelling errors, understanding common spelling rules and tricky words. View techniques → Punctuation Correct use of apostrophes, commas, semicolons, colons, speech marks and other punctuation. View techniques → Grammar & Word Types Identifying nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns and understanding sentence structure. View techniques → Synonyms & Antonyms Choosing words with the same or opposite meaning. A key vocabulary skill tested across English and VR papers. View techniques →
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Maths

The 11+ Maths paper covers the Key Stage 2 national curriculum and beyond. Questions are usually non-calculator and may be multiple-choice (GL) or written (independent schools). Below are the main topic areas with technique guides for each.

Number

Place Value & Ordering Understanding digit values, comparing and ordering whole numbers and decimals, rounding and negative numbers. View techniques → Four Operations Addition, subtraction, long multiplication and long division, including mental maths strategies. View techniques → Fractions Equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions. View techniques → Decimals Ordering decimals, converting between fractions and decimals, and performing calculations with decimal numbers. View techniques → Percentages Calculating percentages of amounts, converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, and percentage increase/decrease. View techniques → Ratio & Proportion Simplifying ratios, dividing amounts in a given ratio, scaling recipes and solving proportion problems. View techniques → Factors, Multiples & Primes Finding HCF and LCM, identifying prime numbers, square numbers and cube numbers. View techniques → Number Sequences Identifying the rule in a sequence and finding missing terms, including arithmetic and geometric patterns. View techniques → Order of Operations (BIDMAS) Applying brackets, indices, division, multiplication, addition and subtraction in the correct order. View techniques →

Algebra

Equations & Unknowns Solving simple linear equations, finding the value of an unknown, and balancing equations. View techniques → Function Machines Working forwards and backwards through function machines to find inputs, outputs and rules. View techniques → Substitution Replacing letters with numbers in a formula and calculating the result. View techniques →

Measurement

Units & Conversions Converting between metric units (mm, cm, m, km; g, kg; ml, l) and using approximate imperial equivalents. View techniques → Perimeter & Area Calculating the perimeter and area of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms and compound shapes. View techniques → Volume & Capacity Finding the volume of cubes, cuboids and simple 3D shapes using formulae. View techniques → Time & Timetables Calculating durations, reading 12-hour and 24-hour clocks, and interpreting bus and train timetables. View techniques → Speed, Distance & Time Using the speed-distance-time triangle to solve problems involving journeys and rates. View techniques → Money Problems Calculating change, totals, discounts, profit and loss, and currency conversions. View techniques →

Geometry & Shape

Angles Measuring and calculating angles, including angles on a straight line, at a point, in triangles and quadrilaterals. View techniques → Properties of 2D Shapes Identifying and describing triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons and circles and their properties. View techniques → Properties of 3D Shapes & Nets Recognising 3D shapes, counting faces, edges and vertices, and identifying nets. View techniques → Symmetry & Reflection Finding lines of symmetry, completing symmetrical figures and reflecting shapes in a mirror line. View techniques → Coordinates & Translation Reading and plotting coordinates in all four quadrants, and translating shapes on a grid. View techniques →

Statistics & Data

Charts & Graphs Reading and interpreting bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, pictograms and tally charts. View techniques → Tables & Venn Diagrams Extracting data from tables and two-way tables, and using Venn diagrams to solve problems. View techniques → Mean, Median, Mode & Range Calculating and comparing averages and understanding what each one tells us about a data set. View techniques → Probability Calculating the likelihood of single and combined events, using fractions and the probability scale. View techniques →

Problem Solving

Multi-Step Word Problems Breaking down worded questions into individual steps, choosing the right operations and checking answers. View techniques → Logic & Reasoning Puzzles Using systematic approaches to solve puzzles involving age, weight, arrangements and logical deduction. View techniques →
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Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning tests your child’s ability to solve word-based puzzles using logic, vocabulary and language skills. GL Assessment uses 21 question types. The techniques below cover all the major types your child may encounter.

Code & Letter Questions

Code Words (Letters to Words) Cracking letter-based codes where each letter represents another. Work through one letter at a time. View techniques → Code Words (Numbers & Symbols) Decoding words using number or symbol-based codes by matching known code-letter pairs. View techniques → Letter Sequences Finding the pattern in a series of letter groups and working out the next set of letters. View techniques → Complete the Letter Pair Choosing two letters to complete a sentence by working out the relationship between given letter pairs. View techniques →

Word Meaning & Vocabulary

Closest in Meaning (Synonyms) Selecting the word that is closest in meaning to a given word from a list of options. View techniques → Most Opposite in Meaning (Antonyms) Selecting the word that is most opposite in meaning to a given word. View techniques → Double Meaning / Word Links Finding one word that fits with two different groups of words, or connects two pairs of words. View techniques → Odd Ones Out Finding which two words do not belong with the other three in a group of five related words. View techniques → Word Connections & Analogies Working out the relationship between a pair of words and applying the same rule to a new pair. View techniques → Closest Meaning from Two Groups Finding one word from each of two groups that are closest in meaning to each other. View techniques → Word Groups (Fifth Word) Identifying a fifth word that fits with a group of four words that share a common theme. View techniques →

Word Building & Manipulation

Hidden Words Finding a word hidden across two adjacent words in a sentence. Scan letter by letter at the join. View techniques → Compound Words Combining one word from each of two lists to create a new compound word. View techniques → Insert a Letter Finding one letter that completes the word before and begins the word after a set of brackets. View techniques → Move a Letter Taking one letter from a word and placing it in another word to make two new, real words. View techniques → Make a Word Creating a word from the middle of a longer word, following the pattern shown in an example pair. View techniques → Anagrams Rearranging jumbled letters to form a real word. Use letter patterns and common endings to help. View techniques →

Sentence & Logic

Shuffled Sentences Putting jumbled words into the correct order to make a grammatically correct sentence. View techniques → Complete the Sentence Choosing the word or pair of words that best fills a gap in a sentence so that it makes sense. View techniques → Complete the Expression Finishing well-known phrases, proverbs or analogies (e.g. “Frog is to tadpole as swan is to…”). View techniques → VR Number Problems Solving short maths-based puzzles that appear within verbal reasoning papers, often involving logic. View techniques →
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Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning tests your child’s ability to spot patterns and solve problems using shapes and images. These questions rely on visual logic rather than words. The technique guides below cover every common question type.

Sequences & Patterns

Complete the Sequence Finding the next shape in a series by identifying how the pattern changes from one step to the next. View techniques → Matrices Finding the missing shape in a 3×3 grid by spotting horizontal and vertical rules simultaneously. View techniques → Analogies (Pairs) Working out how a first shape changes into a second, then applying the same change to a third shape. View techniques →

Classification & Association

Odd One Out Identifying the shape that does not share a common feature with the rest of the group. View techniques → Similarities & Grouping Choosing a shape that belongs with a group based on shared features like shading, sides, or rotation. View techniques → Shape Codes Working out which code letters represent which features (size, shading, shape, position) and applying them. View techniques →

Spatial Reasoning

Reflections Identifying or drawing the mirror image of a shape across a horizontal or vertical line. View techniques → Rotations Recognising how a shape looks when turned 90 or 180 degrees, and distinguishing rotation from reflection. View techniques → Paper Folding & Hole Punching Visualising how a folded piece of paper will look when unfolded after shapes are cut or holes punched. View techniques → Hidden Shapes Finding a simple target shape embedded within a more complex figure. Focus on key angles and lines. View techniques →

3D Visualisation

Nets & Cubes Working out which 2D net folds into a given cube, or which cube is made from a particular net. View techniques → 3D Shape Building & Views Counting blocks in 3D structures, identifying different views (front, side, plan) and combining shapes. View techniques → Clock Hands & Direction Tracking the movement of clock hands in sequences, including clockwise and anticlockwise rotations. View techniques →

General Exam Tips

Whichever paper your child is sitting, these principles always apply: read each question carefully before answering, manage time so that every question gets attempted, use the process of elimination on multiple-choice questions, and never leave an answer blank – an educated guess is always better than no answer at all. Practise under timed conditions regularly so the real exam feels familiar.

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