A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

What is the content of the 11+ English Exam?

Explore the English skills your child may need, from reading comprehension and vocabulary to spelling, grammar and writing.

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Start with your chosen school's requirements

There is no single English syllabus that applies to every 11+ assessment. Schools and admissions authorities decide which skills to test, the question formats and the time allowed. Some schools use an external assessment provider, while others set their own papers.

Before choosing practice materials, check the school's current admissions guidance and any official sample papers. These will help you identify whether your child needs to prepare for multiple-choice questions, written answers, a writing task or a combination of these.

Use this page as a general guide. The topics below describe possible areas of assessment, rather than a compulsory syllabus for every school. In particular, creative writing is not included in every 11+ English test.

Which English skills may be assessed?

Reading Comprehension

Your child may read a passage and answer questions about its meaning, details and language.

Finding information in the text.
Understanding ideas and drawing inferences.
Explaining characters' feelings or motives.
Using evidence to support an answer.
Understanding words in context.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary questions explore how well your child understands and uses words.

Recognising word meanings.
Identifying synonyms and antonyms.
Choosing a word that fits a sentence.
Using context to interpret unfamiliar words.
Completing missing-word or cloze exercises.

Spelling

Tasks may ask your child to recognise correct spellings or identify errors in sentences.

Common spelling patterns and exceptions.
Prefixes and suffixes.
Frequently confused words and homophones.
Spotting and correcting spelling mistakes.

Grammar and Punctuation

Questions may test how sentences are constructed and how punctuation helps make their meaning clear.

Word classes and sentence structure.
Verb tenses and subject–verb agreement.
Capital letters and sentence endings.
Commas, apostrophes and speech punctuation.
Recognising errors in a passage.

Understanding Language

Some assessments ask children to consider how a writer uses language to create meaning or an effect.

Recognising similes and metaphors.
Understanding personification.
Exploring descriptive word choices.
Identifying tone, mood or atmosphere.

Writing, Where Required

If the school includes a writing task, your child may need to respond to a title, prompt or passage.

Planning and organising ideas.
Writing clearly and staying on topic.
Using paragraphs and varied sentences.
Choosing appropriate vocabulary.
Checking spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Understand the question format

Knowing the content is only part of preparation. Your child also needs to understand how the questions are presented and how to record their answers.

Multiple choice: select the best answer from the options provided.
Written answers: provide an answer in the space provided, using evidence from the text when requested.
Cloze exercises: use meaning and grammar to identify missing words or letters.
Extended writing: plan and write a response where this forms part of the assessment.

Follow the official instructions for the particular assessment, including any separate answer sheet. Avoid assuming that all English papers have the same length or time limit.

Make reading part of the routine

Regular reading provides opportunities to explore vocabulary, sentence structure and different styles of writing. Choose a mixture of enjoyable fiction and non-fiction suited to your child's reading level.

Questions to discuss while reading

What has happened, and which details are most important?
How do you think the character feels? What tells you that?
What might this unfamiliar word mean in this sentence?
Why might the writer have chosen that word or phrase?
What do you think will happen next, and why?

Build skills through focused practice

Use short practice sessions to work on specific skills, then review the answers together. Encourage your child to explain their reasoning and identify what they could do differently next time.

Introduce timed practice once your child understands the relevant question types. Balance preparation with reading for enjoyment, schoolwork, rest and other interests.

If your child is learning English as an additional language, discuss their individual needs with their teacher. Shared reading, conversation and clear explanations of unfamiliar vocabulary can form part of their preparation.

Explore our online 11+ English practice

Try free samples and see whether the question types suit your child's preparation.