How the GL Assessment 11+ actually works

15 September 2025 · The ElevenReady Team

If your child is sitting the 11+, there's a good chance the exam is set by GL Assessment — the format used by most grammar schools across the UK. Understanding the shape of the test makes preparation far less daunting.

The four subject areas

Maths — arithmetic, problem solving and reasoning under time pressure.
English — comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Verbal Reasoning — word- and logic-based puzzles.
Non-Verbal Reasoning — shapes, patterns and spatial logic.

What this means for prep

Schools weight these subjects differently, and the questions are standardised by age. The best preparation is steady, little-and-often practice that builds both accuracy and speed — exactly what ElevenReady is designed to support, with a transparent readiness score so you always know where your child stands.