Free 11 Plus Practice Papers by Region UK 2025

Practice papers are essential for 11 Plus success. But many parents don't know where to find free 11 plus practice papers, and some end up paying £50+ for papers they could access free.

This guide lists every source of free 11+ papers UK by region, including exam board sources (GL Assessment, CEM) and region-specific collections for Kent, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Manchester, and others.

Why Practice Papers Matter (Before You Start)

You might wonder: why buy/download papers when AI tools offer unlimited questions?

Practice papers are essential because:

• They mirror real exam format exactly — same paper length, same question types, same timing
• They build speed and strategy — AI trains individual skills; papers train exam management
• They reveal weak spots under pressure — a child might know non-verbal reasoning but panic when rushing through a timed paper
• They're exam-board specific — GL questions look different from CEM questions; practice papers show these differences

Most experts recommend 8-12 full practice papers during revision (roughly one per week for 2-3 months).

National Sources (Free 11 Plus Practice Papers for All Regions)

1. GL Assessment Official Sample Papers

GL Assessment produces 40% of UK 11 Plus tests. They publish official samples free on their website.

• URL: gl-assessment.co.uk (look for "Sample Papers" or "11 Plus Resources")
• What you get: 1-2 official papers per section (Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, English)
• Quality: 100% authentic—these are actual past questions
• Limitation: Only 2-3 papers per section, so you'll need additional sources for 8+ full papers
• Best for: Students sitting Kent, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, London, and other GL regions

2. CEM/Durham University Official Papers

CEM runs 11 Plus tests in Manchester, Merseyside, Shropshire, and others.

• URL: cemunited.com or durhamtests.co.uk
• What you get: Sample papers (free), though CEM is less generous with samples than GL
• Quality: Official and authentic
• Note: CEM publishes fewer free samples; many parents buy past paper packs (£15-£25)
• Best for: Students in Manchester, Merseyside, Shropshire, parts of Scotland

3. The National Archives (Free 11 Plus Papers Repository)

An educational charity (not government) maintains a free database of past papers.

• URL: thestudentroom.co.uk/11-plus (community-maintained, mostly legal uploads)
• What you get: User-uploaded past papers from multiple years and regions
• Quality: Varies—some are scanned from textbooks (low quality), others are PDFs from schools
• Warning: Check upload dates; very old papers may not match current formats
• Best for: Finding region-specific papers after exhausting official sources

Region-by-Region Guide to Free 11 Plus Practice Papers

SOUTH EAST & LONDON

Kent (GL Assessment)

• Kent County Council publishes sample papers for Kent test entry (slightly different from standard GL)
• Free source: kentcc.gov.uk — search "11 Plus sample papers"
• Additional: GL Assessment official papers (above) apply
• Popular schools testing: Tonbridge Grammar, Judd School

Buckinghamshire (GL Assessment + Independent)

• Buckinghamshire runs its own test (similar to GL but not identical)
• Free source: buckscc.gov.uk — look for "Bucks Test sample papers"
• Independent schools (Stowe, Royal Latin): check school websites directly for past papers
• Popular schools: Stowe School, Royal Latin School, Wycombe High School

Surrey (GL Assessment)

• Surrey uses GL Assessment format directly
• Free source: GL Assessment official papers (national source above)
• Additional: Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk) may have links to resources
• Popular schools: Tiffin Boys, Tiffin Girls

London (GL Assessment)

• Most London boroughs use GL Assessment
• Free source: GL Assessment official papers
• Some independent schools (City of London Girls, Latymer Upper): check school websites
• Popular state grammar schools: Henrietta Barnett, North London Grammar (highly selective)

MIDLANDS

Birmingham (Independent Selection)

• Birmingham grammar schools set their own tests (not GL or CEM)
• Free source: School websites directly — King Edward's School Birmingham, Solihull School, Wolverhampton Grammar
• Each school publishes 1-2 past papers free; may charge for additional packs
• Popular schools: King Edward's Birmingham (top-tier, highly selective), Wolverhampton Grammar

Coventry (GL Assessment)

• Free source: GL Assessment official papers
• Coventry City Council (coventry.gov.uk) may link to resources

NORTH WEST

Manchester & Greater Manchester (CEM/Durham)

• CEM runs entry. Papers are more challenging than GL (higher reasoning component)
• Free source: CEM/Durham official papers (limited); expect to need to purchase packs for full practice
• Manchester City Council may link to resources
• Alternative: Many Manchester tutoring services publish sample papers (check reputable sites)
• Popular schools: Manchester Grammar School, Withington Girls Grammar

Merseyside (CEM/Durham)

• CEM format (Verbal, Numerical, Non-Verbal, Reasoning)
• Free source: CEM official papers + Merseyside local authority resources
• Popular schools: Merchant Taylors' Boys, Merseyside independent schools

SCOTLAND

Edinburgh (Independent Schools Entry)

• No selective state system; only independent schools (George Watson's College, Edinburgh Academy)
• Free source: School websites publish past papers (1-2 free, more available for purchase)
• Edinburgh Council does not run 11 Plus
• Popular schools: George Watson's College, Edinburgh Academy

Scotland (State Primary Selection)

• Some Scottish regions use ability grouping but not formal 11 Plus entry
• Practice papers available through regional education authorities

School-Specific Practice Papers (For Independent Entry)

If your child is aiming for an independent school (Judd School, King Edward's, Solihull, etc.), get papers directly from the school.

How to find them:

• Visit the school's admissions page (usually under "Prospective Parents" or "Admissions")
• Look for "11 Plus" or "Entry Requirements"
• Most independent schools publish 1-2 past papers free
• Many sell full past paper packs (£15-£40) on their site or through third-party retailers

Top schools with freely available papers online:

• Judd School (Tonbridge) — 2 free papers
• Latymer Upper (London) — sample questions on website
• Merchant Taylors' Boys (Merseyside) — 1 sample paper
• George Watson's College (Edinburgh) — 1 past paper
• Royal Latin (Buckinghamshire) — sample papers available

Free Online Question Banks (Not Full Papers, But Valuable)

If you've exhausted free papers but want more practice:

1. BBC Bitesize (11 Plus)

• BBC offers free interactive 11 Plus questions
• Not full papers, but good for skill-building
• Free forever (publicly funded)
• URL: bbc.co.uk/bitesize

2. 11 Plus Guides (Free Samples)

• A well-known 11 Plus tuition site that publishes free samples
• Not complete papers, but representative question types
• URL: 11-plus-guide.co.uk

3. School Admissions Office Resources

• Some local authorities publish practice questions (not full papers) on their websites
• Check your council's education pages

The Smart Strategy: Mixing Free Papers and AI Practice

Here's how to maximize free resources:

Months 1-2 (Skill Building):

• Use AI tools (Applaa, Khan Academy, etc.) for 20-30 minutes daily
• Take 1 official free practice paper per week to see progress

Months 3-4 (Exam Preparation):

• Increase to 2-3 full practice papers per week
• Use AI for drilling weak spots (10 minutes daily)
• Review every paper with parents (identifying patterns, not just marking right/wrong)

Final Month (Taper):

• 1-2 full papers per week
• Light AI review of weak topics

This approach uses all free resources efficiently without paying for additional paper packs.

What If You Can't Find Free Papers for Your Region?

If you're in a region not listed above (smaller towns, less-covered areas):

• Contact your local authority admissions team — they'll tell you which exam board/format your child will sit and often point to sample papers
• Ask your child's current school — many provide 11 Plus resources during Year 6
• Check school websites directly — independent schools often share past papers on their sites
• Join local Facebook groups — parent groups for your area often share links to papers and resources

Free 11 Plus Practice Papers: Final Checklist

Before exam day, you should have:

• [ ] At least 2 official papers per section (Verbal, Non-Verbal, Maths, English) — 8+ full papers total
• [ ] Papers matching your exam board (GL Assessment, CEM, or independent school)
• [ ] Timed practice (at least 4 papers done under exam conditions)
• [ ] Review notes on weak topics (taken after each paper)
• [ ] Combination of AI skill-building + full papers (not just one or the other)

Free 11 Plus practice papers by region UK 2025 are widely available if you know where to look. Start with official exam board sources (GL Assessment, CEM), then move to your region's local authority or school websites. Combine free papers with AI tools for daily practice, and you'll have a complete revision toolkit without paying premium prices.