The preparation for the 11+ entrance examinations in the United Kingdom often involves a significant amount of practice, and many parents and students seek out free resources to supplement their study. A variety of educational websites and publishers provide access to free 11+ maths practice papers in PDF format. These resources are typically designed to mirror the formats used by grammar schools and independent schools for their entrance exams. The availability of these papers varies, with some offered directly by schools and others aggregated by educational resource portals. This article outlines the landscape of free 11+ maths practice papers available online, detailing the types of papers, the schools and publishers involved, and important considerations for their use.
Sources of Free 11+ Maths Practice Papers
Free 11+ maths practice papers are available from multiple sources, primarily educational websites that compile or host these resources. According to the provided documentation, these papers are accessible without the need for sign-up or login, making them readily available for download.
One such source is Visuteach, which offers a page dedicated to free 11+ past test sample papers for English, maths, and verbal reasoning. This page links to independent and grammar school websites that publish their own free 11+ past test papers and sample papers for entrance exams. The majority of the free test papers available through this source are for maths and English, with a smaller number for verbal reasoning. The papers are often in the most recent or current 11+ entrance exam format, though some older papers in a different, no longer used format are also included. It is noted that while some of these free test papers include mark schemes or answer sheets, most are question-only documents.
Another significant resource is Abacus11plus.co.uk, which provides a list of 11+ maths practice papers in PDF format, with answers provided where possible. This site also offers a free 11+ maths mock test specifically designed for Year 5 students preparing for grammar and independent school exams. The list includes sample papers from numerous private and independent schools, such as Aldenham School, Alleyn’s School, Bancroft’s School, and Chigwell School, among others.
The 11plusguide.com website also curates a large collection of free 11+ maths papers available for download without requiring sign-up. This resource organises its collection alphabetically and provides links to additional preparation materials, such as books and courses. The site emphasises that while free papers are useful, many parents also purchase additional materials for comprehensive preparation.
Examberrypapers.co.uk states that it maintains an up-to-date list of the best free PDF 11+ maths practice papers, suitable for preparation for the 2026 and 2027 11+ entrance exams. This source, like others, does not require sign-up or login for access to the papers.
Sats-papers.co.uk offers a collection of free 11+ papers, complete with answers, provided as PDFs. These papers are described as mirroring the actual exam formats, such as the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) 11+ tests, providing pupils with authentic mock test papers. This site also lists practice papers from various publishers, including Examberry, Independent Junction, IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd), and Schofield & Sims.
Types and Formats of Available Papers
The free 11+ maths papers available online cover a range of formats and are sourced from different types of institutions.
School-Specific Sample Papers: Many free papers are sample papers or past papers released directly by specific schools. These are particularly valuable as they reflect the exact format and style of questions used by that particular school for its entrance exam. The documentation lists numerous schools that provide such papers. For example, Aldenham School offers sample papers from 2015 through to 2023. Alleyn’s School provides four different maths sample papers. Bancroft’s School has papers from 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2024. Chigwell School provides a 2020 specimen paper along with its mark scheme. Other schools mentioned include Christ’s Hospital School, City of London School, City of London School for Girls, and Colfe’s. This variety allows students to practice with materials directly relevant to their target schools.
Publisher-Generated Practice Papers: In addition to school-specific papers, there are practice papers created by educational publishers. The Sats-papers.co.uk source identifies several publishers that have released free 11+ practice papers. These include: - 11+ For You - Examberry - Independent Junction (noted as a former educational publisher) - IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd) (also a former educational publisher) - Schofield & Sims (a large UK educational publisher)
These publisher-generated papers are often designed to cover the core syllabus for 11+ exams and may be used by multiple schools or exam boards.
Exam Board-Specific Papers: While the primary focus of the provided sources is on maths papers from specific schools and publishers, there is also mention of resources related to different exam boards. For instance, one source mentions that its "11+ Practice Papers" section is updated weekly with new papers from GL Assessment, CEM, and 163 grammar schools. GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) are two of the main providers of 11+ exam papers for grammar schools. However, the specific free maths papers listed in the other sources (like Visuteach, Abacus11plus, etc.) are more often tied to individual schools rather than a generic exam board format, unless the school uses a standardised paper.
Important Considerations for Using Free Papers
While free 11+ maths papers are a valuable resource, there are several important considerations for users.
Format Relevance: The documentation from Visuteach cautions that while most free test papers are in the most recent or current 11+ entrance exam format, there are also some older papers in a different, no longer used format. It advises that these papers are useful for general practice and exam preparation, but users should consult the schools’ websites directly to obtain up-to-date information on the current format of the school’s 11+ entrance exam papers. This is a critical point for students preparing for a specific school, as using outdated formats may not adequately prepare them for the actual exam.
Availability of Answers and Mark Schemes: The availability of answers and mark schemes varies. As noted, some free papers include them, but most are question-only. The Abacus11plus source states that answers are provided "where possible." For papers that do not include answers, students and parents may need to seek them elsewhere or use them for timed practice without immediate marking. The Chigwell School 2020 specimen paper is specifically mentioned as including a mark scheme, which is particularly helpful for self-assessment.
Purpose and Limitation: The free papers are intended for practice and preparation. The 11plusguide.com source mentions that while free papers are available, most parents also buy additional materials. It also recommends specific courses, such as "The Maths Stretch and Revision Course," for focused preparation, especially during the build-up period from September to January. This suggests that free papers are one component of a broader preparation strategy, which may also include purchased resources, tutoring, or structured courses.
Source Reliability: The sources of these free papers are primarily educational websites and, in some cases, the schools themselves. The documentation does not provide information on the official status of all the listed papers (e.g., whether they are officially released by the schools or archived by third parties). However, papers hosted on a school’s own website would be considered authoritative. For papers aggregated by educational sites, users should be aware that while these sites strive to provide accurate resources, the ultimate authority on the format of a specific school's exam rests with that school.
Conclusion
A substantial collection of free 11+ maths practice papers is available online from a variety of sources, including educational websites like Visuteach, Abacus11plus, 11plusguide, Examberrypapers, and Sats-papers. These resources include both school-specific sample papers from institutions such as Aldenham School, Alleyn’s School, and Bancroft’s School, as well as practice papers from educational publishers like Schofield & Sims and Examberry. The papers are typically available in PDF format, are free to download without sign-up, and some include answers or mark schemes. However, users must exercise caution regarding the format relevance of older papers and are advised to verify the current exam format directly with their target schools. While these free papers are an excellent starting point for preparation, they are often used in conjunction with other resources for comprehensive 11+ exam readiness.