Skip to content Skip to navigation

11+ Exam Preparation with Bond

Everything you need to create a successful 11+ study plan

Preparing for the 11+ exam can feel overwhelming. Whether your child is applying to a grammar school or independent school, creating an effective 11+ study plan is essential. This guide explains how to prepare for the 11+, which skills to focus on, and which Bond resources can help you prepare for the exam your child will be taking.

Whether your child is sitting a grammar school entrance test such as GL Assessment, or an independent school exam such as the ISEB Common Pre-Test or Cambridge Select Insight, Bond offers structured support in:

  • The four 11+ subjects: English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning
  • Developing exam technique
  • Timed practice
  • Online assessment preparation

 

Start with a Bond Preparation Plan

The most successful 11+ strategies focus on building skills gradually, before moving on to timed practice and mock tests.

Step 1: Assess your child's current level

Before beginning intensive preparation, identify your child's strengths and areas for development. Bond's Placement Test and assessment resources can help establish a starting point and guide your choice of materials.

Step 2: Build core 11+ skills

In order to have the best chance of 11+ success, your should focus on strengthening:

  • English skills, including comprehension and vocabulary
  • Maths fluency and problem solving
  • Verbal reasoning techniques
  • Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness

The Bond 11+ Assessment Practice books follow a structured progression, allowing children to build confidence with question-answering techniques explained step-by-step, before moving on to practice papers. They are ideal for strengthening core skills, and as a first step for your child's 11+ preparation.

Step 3: Introduce timed practice

As the exam approaches, timed practice becomes increasingly important.

Bond 10 Minute Tests provide an accessible introduction to working against the clock before progressing to longer assessments and full mock Test Papers.

Step 4: Practice under exam conditions

Full-length test papers and online mock tests help children become familiar with:

  • Time management
  • Question pacing
  • Assessment formats
  • Exam confidence

Regular mock testing can help reduce anxiety and improve performance on the day of the exam.

 

Choosing the Right Practice Resources

Bond print resources

Bond's print resources provide structured practice across all key 11+ subjects. We would recommend progressing through the different types of Bond book as follows:

  1. 11+ Assessment Practice: These books combine explanations for how to approach all of the key 11+ question types with realistic practice papers. They are ideal as a first step for 11+ prep, or for levelling up skills.
  2. 10 Minute Tests: Written by 11+ experts, these tests provide focused bite-sized practice for all of the key skills assessed in the 11+ GL Assessment and other entrance exams. These short tests help children build speed, accuracy and confidence working under timed conditions.
  3. Test Papers: Realistic exam-style mock tests, ideal for familiarising children with the conditions of a paper-based 11+ test and building confidence for exam day. Available in both multiple-choice and standard formats.

Bond also publishes many books and print resources which offer additional support, including:

  • 11+ Handbooks: The ultimate guides to mastering each of the 11+ subjects, with detailed examples and explanations for all 11+ question types and additional practice questions.
  • Vocabulary Flashcards: Ideal for boosting essential word knowledge for 11+ English and verbal reasoning.
  • Up to Speed 11+ Assessment Papers: Carefully levelled skills-focused tests designed to more gently support skills development in areas children find challenging.
  • Stretch and Challenge 11+ Assessment Papers: Challenging 11+ practice papers to help prepare children for difficult questions and competitive exams.
  • No Nonsense: Structured step-by-step lessons for improving general English and maths skills.

To browse the full range on Bond resources on offer, and to see which resources are available for which age group, take a look at our Bond Poster.

Bond online learning

Bond's online 11+ practice platforms provide interactive preparation that complements book-based study and helps children build confidence across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They are particularly valuable for children preparing for computer-based assessments.

Bond's online platforms are designed to support children from age 9+ in their 11+ preparation. They are:

  • Bond Online: Interactive practice questions for 11+ success.
  • Bond Online Premium: Personalised grammar school test prep, with thousands of questions from Bond, the leading brand in 11+ preparation.
  • Bond Online Premium Plus: Complete personalised exam preparation for 11+ and independent school exams, with questions from Bond and ISEB.

Find out more about Bond's Online practice platforms.

 

Preparing for different 11+ exam boards

While every school's admissions process is different, most 11+ assessments are based on the same core skills: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Understanding which exam board your target school uses can help you choose the most appropriate preparation resources and build familiarity with the style of questions your child is likely to encounter.

Not Sure Which Exam Board Your School Uses? Schools can change exam providers and some create their own assessments or use a combination of different testing formats. If you're unsure, check directly with your chosen school to find out.

 

GL Assessment

GL Assessment is the most widely used provider of grammar school entrance tests. Schools may assess any combination of English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with a strong emphasis on vocabulary, logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Recommended Bond resources:

Children preparing for GL Assessment exams should complete plenty of timed practice papers to become familiar with common question types and develop effective exam techniques.

 

Cambridge Select Insight (formerly CEM)

Although Cambridge Select Insight is now used primarily by independent schools rather than grammar schools, some schools continue to use CEM-style assessments. Cambridge Select Insight exams typically combine English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills within a single test and place particular emphasis on vocabulary and flexible thinking.

Recommended Bond resources:

Alongside exam practice, children should read widely, build their vocabulary and regularly encounter new words in different contexts, as strong language skills are particularly important for CEM assessments.

 

ISEB Common Pre-Tests

Many selective independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test as part of their admissions process. This computer-based assessment covers English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Recommended Bond resources:

Bond Online Premium Plus is the only ISEB-endorsed preparation platform and includes over 8,000 Bond questions alongside more than 2,000 ISEB-created questions, making it an ideal choice for families preparing for the Common Pre-Test.

 

Next steps

No matter what age your child is, or which 11+ exam they will be taking, a structured study plan can make a significant difference. By building core skills, introducing timed practice and using realistic mock tests, children can approach exam day with confidence.

Explore Bond's full range of 11+ books, online practice and assessment resources to find the right preparation pathway for your child.

 

For answers to common questions about the 11+ exam, try our Frequently Asked Questions page.