Free 11+ Past Papers & Practice Tests 2026: Complete Guide for GL Assessment & CEM
Finding free, high-quality 11+ past papers and practice tests matched to your child's exact exam format is one of the most critical preparation decisions. This guide brings together free 11+ practice tests for GL Assessment and CEM covering all four subjects, explains exactly how to use them effectively, and links directly to everything you need — with no registration and no fees.
📋 What This Guide Covers
Why 11+ Past Papers and Practice Tests Matter
The 11+ grammar school entrance exam tests question types that children never encounter in normal Year 5 or 6 school lessons. A student who hasn't seen a coding question, a hidden-word question, or a matrix completion before the exam is at a serious disadvantage — not because they lack intelligence, but because the formats are unfamiliar.
Regular practice with authentic 11+ papers is the single most effective preparation strategy. Here's precisely what it builds:
- Question type familiarity: The 11+ uses specific formats that must be practised explicitly — recognising what each question is asking and applying the right technique is a learned skill
- Speed under time pressure: GL Verbal Reasoning averages 37 seconds per question. This pace only becomes manageable through extensive timed practice
- Exam stamina: The full GL Assessment spans 3.5 hours across four papers. Sustained concentration under pressure is only built through regular full-paper practice
- Automatic pattern recognition: Students who complete 6+ papers of a given subject type begin recognising patterns without consciously thinking — dramatically improving speed
- Accurate readiness assessment: Practice papers under timed conditions give the only reliable measure of whether preparation is working
Past Papers vs Practice Tests — What's the Difference?
📌 The Important Distinction
11+ past papers are actual examination papers used by grammar schools or exam providers in previous years. They show exactly what the real exam expects and provide the most authentic preparation experience available.
11+ practice tests are new materials written to replicate the format, difficulty and question types of the real exam. They exist because past papers are limited in number — students need more volume for skill building than past papers alone provide.
Use both: Start with official past papers (especially GL Assessment's published sample materials) to calibrate exactly what the real exam expects. Then use practice tests for the high volume of repetition needed to build automatic pattern recognition and exam speed.
⚠️ Critical First Step: Confirm Your Exam Format
Using the wrong format's practice papers wastes months of preparation. Before selecting any materials, confirm which exam provider your specific target schools use for 2026 entry by checking their admissions page or contacting them directly. Do not rely on what schools used in previous years — providers change.
- GL Assessment: Kent, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Essex, Yorkshire, most of England
- CEM: Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire
- School-specific: Some schools use their own bespoke papers entirely
Free 11+ Practice Tests by Subject
Every practice test below is completely free. All are aligned with current GL Assessment and CEM formats and include detailed answer explanations.
All 21 VR question types: synonyms, antonyms, analogies, letter codes, hidden words, sequences, compound words, logic, anagrams, and more.
- GL VR: 80 questions, 50 minutes
- 37 seconds average per question
- Strategy guides for every type
- Progressive difficulty levels
All 6 NVR types: matrices, sequences, shape analogies, odd one out, 3D visualization/nets, rotation and reflection.
- GL NVR: 80 questions, 50 minutes
- Visual worked solutions included
- Printable 3D nets for physical practice
- Most improvable 11+ subject
Complete KS2 coverage: number, fractions, algebra, geometry, data handling, measures, ratio and proportion. All calculator-free.
- GL Maths: 40–50 questions, 45–50 mins
- Word problems included
- Mental arithmetic speed builders
- Topic-specific and mixed papers
Reading comprehension, inference, literary device analysis, creative writing, vocabulary, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- GL English: 45–50 minutes
- Model creative writing answers
- Comprehension with inference focus
- SPaG practice included
Free GL Assessment Past Papers and Sample Tests
GL Assessment is the most widely used 11+ exam provider in the UK, covering approximately 70% of grammar schools. Its highly consistent year-on-year format makes past papers and sample tests exceptionally valuable for preparation.
Official Free GL Assessment Sample Materials
GL Assessment publishes official free sample papers at 11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/pages/free-materials. These are the most authentic available practice materials because they come from the actual exam provider. They cover all four subjects and include answer sheets.
GL Assessment Paper Structure
| Paper | Duration | Questions | Content | Practice Hub |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 45–50 mins | Variable | Comprehension + Creative Writing | English Hub → |
| Mathematics | 45–50 mins | 40–50 | All KS2 topics, no calculator | Maths Hub → |
| Verbal Reasoning | 50 mins | 80 | 21 VR question types mixed | VR Hub → |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | 50 mins | 80 | 6 NVR types, B&W diagrams | NVR Hub → |
| Full GL Mock Exam | ~3.5 hrs total | 240+ | All 4 papers combined | Mock Tests → |
✅ Best Sources of Free GL Past Papers and Sample Tests
- Official GL Assessment site: Free sample papers in all four subjects — the most authentic available
- Bond 11+: Free sample papers closely aligned with GL Assessment formats — widely trusted by tutors
- CGP Books: Released free sample papers with excellent GL format alignment
- Omishaan UK (free, no registration): Online practice tests for all four GL subjects with instant scoring and explanations — GL Assessment Hub
Free CEM Practice Papers and Sample Tests
CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) exams are used by grammar schools in Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and some other regions. CEM's adaptive testing approach means fewer traditional past papers are published — but targeted practice materials are available that replicate its unique format.
Understanding CEM's Unique Format
Unlike GL's four separate subject papers, CEM combines all subjects into two mixed papers where verbal, numerical, and non-verbal questions alternate unpredictably. This requires specific preparation strategies:
- Vocabulary breadth is critical — CEM weights vocabulary across every section, not just Verbal Reasoning
- Mental switching speed matters — practise moving between subject types rapidly without losing momentum
- Time pressure is higher than GL — approximately 25–45 seconds per question across mixed sections
- Speed drills are more important than in GL preparation
| CEM Practice Resource | Format | Focus | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEM Paper 1 Mock A | Verbal + Numerical mixed | Speed and mental switching | Start Paper → |
| CEM Paper 2 Mock A | NVR + Mixed reasoning | Spatial and pattern skills | Start Paper → |
| VR Speed Drills | Rapid-fire vocabulary | Synonym and antonym speed | VR Hub → |
| CEM Vocabulary Builder | Word lists + practice | Vocabulary for all sections | Vocab Lists → |
| Mixed Subject Drill | All subjects alternating | Mental agility training | Start Drill → |
How to Use 11+ Practice Tests Strategically
The majority of students complete practice papers, check their score, and move on. This produces very limited improvement. The review session — analysing every wrong answer — is where real score improvement happens. Follow this five-step method:
- First paper: diagnostic only, untimed. Complete one paper per subject without a time limit. The goal is identifying which question types produce the most errors — not simulating the exam. Score each question type separately.
- Targeted hub practice (2–3 weeks). Before doing another full paper, use the subject hubs to practise specifically the question types that produced the most errors. Fix gaps before retesting on them.
- Second paper: timed, reviewed thoroughly. Take a second paper under time pressure. For every wrong answer ask: knowledge gap, strategy error, or careless mistake? Each needs a different solution.
- Build speed through volume (4–8 weeks). Alternate between targeted hub practice and timed papers. Speed comes from familiarity — students who complete 6+ papers of the same subject answer questions faster simply through pattern recognition.
- Full four-paper mock exams (final 6 weeks). Take complete mock exams covering all papers under strict exam conditions — quiet room, proper timing, no interruptions. Use our Full Mock Test Hub.
✅ The Single Biggest Mistake Parents Make
Buying dozens of practice paper books but never reviewing mistakes thoroughly. A student who completes 10 papers and analyses every wrong answer will improve more than one who completes 40 papers without review. Before moving to the next paper, your child should be able to explain exactly why each wrong answer was wrong and what the correct approach is.
All Free 11+ Practice Resources — Start Here
Every resource is completely free — no registration, no fees, no paywall:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free 11+ past papers?
Free 11+ past papers are available from: GL Assessment's official site (11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/pages/free-materials), Omishaan UK's free practice tests across all four subjects (no registration needed), Bond and CGP free sample papers, and individual grammar school admissions pages which often publish previous entrance test examples. Always use materials matched to the specific exam format (GL or CEM) your target schools actually use.
Are 11+ practice tests the same as 11+ past papers?
No. Past papers are actual examination papers from previous years; practice tests are new materials replicating the format. Both are valuable: use past papers to understand exactly what the real exam expects, and use practice tests for the high volume of repetition needed to build automatic pattern recognition and speed. Use both throughout preparation.
How many 11+ practice tests should my child complete?
Aim for 6 to 10 subject-specific practice papers per subject throughout preparation, plus 4 to 6 complete four-paper mock exams in the final 6 to 8 weeks. Quality review after each paper matters as much as volume — always analyse every wrong answer before moving to the next test. A child who reviews 10 papers thoroughly will improve more than one who completes 30 without review.
What is the difference between GL Assessment and CEM practice papers?
GL Assessment practice papers are subject-specific (separate papers for English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning) with predictable, consistent question formats that repeat reliably year on year. CEM practice papers must replicate a mixed-subject blended format with adaptive difficulty. Always confirm your specific schools' format before selecting preparation materials — using the wrong format's papers is a common and costly mistake.
Do free 11+ practice tests actually improve scores?
Yes, significantly. Students who complete regular structured practice tests develop automatic question-type recognition (dramatically improving speed), build exam stamina for the full 3.5-hour GL assessment, reduce exam anxiety through familiarity, and identify specific knowledge gaps early enough to address them. The most important factor is reviewing mistakes thoroughly after every test.
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