For parents and carers
A parents' guide to the curriculum and the 11+
What your child learns at each key stage, how the 11+ works, and how to use AINSQ Kids Academy to help — without the stress.
The key stages
Schools in England follow the National Curriculum, split into key stages. Maths, English and Science are the core subjects at every stage, and are what our lessons cover.
| Key stage | School years | Ages | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Stage 1 | Years 1–2 | Ages 5–7 | Year 1 phonics check |
| Key Stage 2 | Years 3–6 | Ages 7–11 | Year 6 SATs · 11+ in Year 6 |
| Key Stage 3 | Years 7–9 | Ages 11–14 | Foundations for GCSE |
| Key Stage 4 | Years 10–11 | Ages 14–16 | GCSE exams |
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own curricula. The core skills overlap a great deal, but the order topics are taught in may differ.
What is the 11+?
The 11+ (eleven plus) is an entrance test for grammar schools and some independent schools, taken in Year 6. It is used in areas of England that still have grammar schools — such as Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire, and parts of London, Birmingham and elsewhere. Northern Ireland runs its own transfer tests.
Tests are set by different providers. GL Assessment is the most widely used; some areas and schools write their own or use tests in a blended, CEM style that mixes subjects within one paper. The question types are similar across providers, which is why our practice is organised by discipline. Always check the format with your target school or local consortium.
Maths
- • Place value and the four operations
- • Fractions, decimals and percentages
- • Ratio, measures and geometry
- • Multi-step word problems
English
- • Reading comprehension and inference
- • Spelling, punctuation and grammar
- • Synonyms, antonyms and word meaning
Verbal Reasoning
- • Letter codes and alphabet sequences
- • Hidden words, analogies and missing letters
- • Number series and logic
Non-Verbal Reasoning
- • Sequences
- • Odd one out
- • Rotations and analogies
A typical 11+ timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Year 4 – Year 5 | Build strong KS2 foundations: times tables, fractions, reading widely, spelling. |
| Spring–summer of Year 5 | Register for the test. Deadlines vary by area — often May to July. |
| September of Year 6 | Most 11+ tests are sat (a few areas test in late August or later in autumn). |
| October of Year 6 | Results arrive, before the 31 October deadline for secondary school applications. |
| 1 March | National Offer Day: secondary school places are confirmed. |
Dates are typical, not guaranteed — your local authority publishes the exact ones.
How to help, without the pressure
Little and often
Ten to twenty minutes, three or four times a week, beats a long weekend session.
Learn before you test
Use practice mode first. Timed test mode is for building speed once the method is secure.
Talk about the explanations
Ask your child to explain the answer back to you. Teaching it is the best way to learn it.
Read together
Wide reading builds the vocabulary and inference that English and Verbal Reasoning rely on.
Keep it in proportion
The 11+ is one route among many. Praise effort and progress, not just scores.
Your child's privacy
There are no accounts, so we never ask for a child's name, email or age. Stars, scores and notebook entries are stored in your browser's local storage on this device, and you can clear them at any time from the progress page.
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