11+ past papers and official practice material
6 min read ยท updated 2026-10-13
Most 11+ tests don't release real past papers. Test providers keep the questions secure, so the official material is a familiarisation paper or sample questions in the real format. Start with those before buying practice books.
Official material by area
- โ Kent: a free Kent Test familiarisation paper and other free materials on Kent County Council's website
- โ Buckinghamshire: children sit an official practice test a few days before the Secondary Transfer Test
- โ Sutton: no specimen papers, but sample English and maths questions for the SET
- โ Bexley: familiarisation exercises and information booklets from Quest Assessments, the test provider
- โ Medway: GL Assessment writes the test; only material on GL's website is official
- โ Wirral: free online resources for pupils eligible for free school meals, through the Wirral Consortium
- โ Gloucestershire: familiarisation material on each of the seven grammar schools' websites
Why the format matters
Tests differ: Kent's has English and maths in one paper and reasoning in another, Sutton's SET has no reasoning at all, and Medway's has three separately timed papers. Practise in the right format, including the multiple-choice answer sheet, so the real test holds no surprises.
Using practice papers well
- โ Start untimed to learn the question types, then move to strict timing
- โ Practise with a separate answer sheet if your test uses one
- โ Keep an error log: most marks are lost to the same few question types
- โ Do the official familiarisation paper in real conditions a few weeks before the test
- โ Commercial papers are useful for volume, but check they match your test's format
FAQs
Are 11+ past papers available?๏ผ
Rarely. Most providers keep real papers secure and publish familiarisation papers or sample questions instead.
Where can I get a Kent Test practice paper?๏ผ
Kent County Council publishes a free familiarisation paper on its Kent Test preparation page.
Are there Sutton SET past papers?๏ผ
No specimen papers are provided, but the schools publish sample English and maths questions.
Are bought 11+ papers official?๏ผ
No. Medway, for example, says only material on GL Assessment's website is official for its test.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-13.
- Kent County Council: prepare for the Kent Test
- Buckinghamshire Council: grammar schools and the Secondary Transfer Test
- Sutton Grammar School: SET frequently asked questions
- Bexley Council: the Bexley Selection Test
- Medway Council: the Medway Test
- Gloucestershire Grammar Schools: admissions and entrance test information (November 2025, via Ribston Hall High School)
Keep reading
More on 11+ & school entrance
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