The 11-plus (11+) examination is a significant milestone for many UK pupils, serving as an entrance test for grammar schools and some independent schools. Preparing for this exam often involves practising with past papers and sample tests to familiarise candidates with the format, question styles, and time constraints. This article provides a detailed overview of freely available 11+ practice materials, with a specific focus on Bond maths sample papers, based on the information provided in the source documents. All information is derived exclusively from the listed sources, which include official publisher pages, educational resource sites, and document repositories.
Understanding the 11+ Exam and Free Practice Resources
The 11+ exam is not a national test in the UK; it is administered by individual schools or groups of schools. Two primary exam boards are commonly used: GL Assessment and the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM). The source materials indicate that free practice papers are available for both formats, though the relevance of CEM-specific papers is noted, as CEM is no longer used in its original form. Nevertheless, these papers remain useful for general practice.
The key benefit of free practice papers is that they allow pupils to experience the test format without cost. According to the sources, these resources are designed to help pupils build confidence and identify strengths and weaknesses. The materials cover the core subjects: mathematics, English reading, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Many resources include full answers, enabling self-assessment and independent study.
Accessing Free Bond 11+ Practice Papers
Bond is a well-known publisher of 11+ preparation materials. The sources provide specific information on accessing their free maths practice papers and other resources.
Bond Maths Practice Papers: Several sources confirm that Bond offers free 11+ maths practice papers in PDF format. These papers are suitable for pupils preparing for 11+ exams in 2026 and 2027. The papers are described as aligning with GL Assessment standards, which helps pupils familiarise themselves with the format used by many grammar schools. A key point from the sources is that these Bond materials are designed to mirror the actual exam format and difficulty, providing an authentic practice experience.
One source, a document hosted on Scribd, provides a specific example: "Bond 11+ Maths Sample Test Paper." This is described as a sample test for a fourth-level maths exam for 10-11 year olds, containing 50 multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The topics covered include fractions, time, ratios, geometry, and word problems. Answers are provided to allow pupils to check their work.
Access Requirements: The accessibility of these free Bond papers varies. Some sources state that no sign-up or login is required; the papers are "completely free and in PDF format." However, other sources indicate that access to certain Bond resources, including some practice papers and answers, requires signing up to the Bond website. For example, to download answers for specific papers or to access a free Bond 11+ planner, users must sign up. This creates a mixed model where some materials are freely downloadable without registration, while others are gated behind a sign-up process.
Other Bond Resources: Beyond maths papers, Bond offers a range of free resources. These include: * Practice Papers for All Subjects: Papers for English, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning are also available, some requiring sign-up. * Placement Tests: Bond provides placement tests to help assess a child's strengths and weaknesses across core subjects. Answers require signing up to the Bond website. * Guides and Planners: A free 11+ guide covering exam boards and a 12-month plan, as well as a summer revision planner, are available. Access to the planner and a reward chart requires signing up. * Sample Activities: The Bond website offers sample activities and 10-minute test papers for various subjects.
The sources note that some free resources are for Bond products prior to 2016, and users are directed to an updated Free Resources page for the latest content.
Free GL Assessment 11+ Practice Papers
In addition to Bond materials, the sources highlight the availability of free practice papers directly from GL Assessment, the creator of the actual 11+ exam papers used in many grammar schools. These papers are described as closely mirroring the format and difficulty of the real tests. The collection includes maths, English reading, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning papers. This provides pupils with an authentic exam experience, which is considered highly valuable for preparation.
11+ Maths Practice Papers from Independent Schools
A comprehensive list of free 11+ maths practice papers is available from various independent schools. These papers are often used by schools as sample papers or specimen tests for their own entrance exams. The sources list numerous schools, including: * Aldenham School (sample papers from 2015 to 2023) * Alleyn’s School (multiple sample papers) * Bancroft’s School (papers from 2013 to 2024) * Blackheath High School * Chigwell School (including a mark scheme) * Christ’s Hospital School * City of London School and City of London School for Girls * Colfe’s
These papers provide a wide range of question styles and difficulty levels, useful for pupils preparing for a variety of school entrance exams. The sources indicate that all these papers are available in PDF format, and answers are provided where possible.
Eligibility, Access, and Practical Considerations
Eligibility: The free practice papers are generally aimed at pupils in Year 5 (ages 9-10) and Year 6 (ages 10-11) preparing for 11+ exams. There are no specific eligibility criteria for accessing the free papers; they are available to the public.
Access Process: 1. Direct Download (No Sign-up): For some Bond papers and the GL Assessment papers, users can directly download the PDF files from the respective websites without creating an account. 2. Sign-up Required: For other Bond resources, users must register on the Bond website. This typically involves providing an email address and creating a password. The sign-up process is described as straightforward and is necessary to unlock certain materials, including answers, planners, and some activity packs. 3. School-Specific Papers: Papers from independent schools are often hosted on the schools' own websites or educational resource sites and can be downloaded directly.
Geographic Restrictions: The sources do not specify any geographic restrictions for accessing these free online resources. As they are hosted on UK-based educational websites, they are readily accessible to UK consumers.
Terms and Conditions: The sources do not provide detailed terms of use for the free papers. However, one source mentions that the resources are for use with a child, implying they are for educational, personal use. The Bond website likely has its own terms of service, which are not detailed in the provided chunks.
Reliability of Sources: The sources vary in reliability. The official Bond website (bond11plus.co.uk) and GL Assessment's own publication of papers are highly authoritative. The educational site examberrypapers.co.uk appears to be a curated list, and its information aligns with other sources. The document on Scribd is a direct sample of a Bond paper, confirming its existence. The list of independent school papers from abacus11plus.co.uk is presented as a comprehensive collection. The SATs-papers.co.uk site is also a known resource for UK exam preparation. Therefore, the information from these sources can be considered reliable for the purpose of locating free practice materials.
Conclusion
Preparing for the 11+ exam is facilitated by a wealth of free practice materials available online. Bond maths sample papers are a key resource, with some available for direct download and others accessible after a simple sign-up. GL Assessment provides authentic practice papers that closely mirror the real exam. Additionally, numerous independent schools publish their own maths sample papers, offering a diverse range of questions. While some resources require registration, the majority are freely accessible to UK pupils and parents, providing valuable support for exam preparation. Parents and pupils are advised to utilise these resources to build familiarity with the exam format and practice core skills across all relevant subjects.