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Admissions for state and independent schools

We offer bespoke admissions tests for schools, local authorities or school groups which can cover all or a combination of verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning, English and maths. All tests contain our extensively trialled questions and vary in length from 30 minutes upwards.

Why GL Assessment?

  • We are the largest provider of 11+ tests to grammar and independent schools in England, working with the biggest groups and authorities in the country including Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire. We deliver over 300,000 test papers each year
  • Our tests are constructed to ensure validity for the purpose required, with annual changes to reduce predictability. We trial new test questions each year to ensure our assessments remain as accurate and robust as possible
  • We provide 10 hours of free familiarisation materials so all candidates can practise a range of question types and become familiar with test appearance
  • We provide you with individual account manager support so your testing period runs smoothly and a scoring service or our new custom-built Quartz software (which enables you to quickly and accurately mark at your own school)
  • With the RNIB, we have developed guidelines on the production and administration of 11+ tests for children with vision impairment for teaching and admissions staff* and Educational Psychologists. Please refer to the experiences and guidance from Kent County Council case study that accompanies these guidelines.

*The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) guidelines for developing and administering 11+ tests tailored for children with vision impairment have been updated as part of a collaborative process between the RNIB and GL Assessment, which commenced in June 2024.

At a glance

Age ranges
7 – 14 years
Areas covered
Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning, English and maths
Test duration
Tests vary in length from 30 minutes upwards
Test format
Paper, aside from the Adaptive Admissions Test, which is digital (web-based or download)
Multiple choice questions

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Maths

  • Questions written by subject experts covering a wide range of curriculum areas
  • Assesses pupils in areas they are familiar with, to provide an accurate picture of their attainment
  • Questions tailored to different levels of difficulty
  • Areas assessed include aspects of number, measurement, geometry and statistics

English

  • Subject experts select and trial passages and comprehension questions from fiction and/or non-fiction texts and poetry
  • Plus short exercises in spelling, punctuation and grammar

Verbal Reasoning

  • VR tests involve reasoning with words and can identify pupils whose strengths lie in English, history, languages and the arts
  • Includes a variety of question types developed exclusively by GL Assessment
  • Test content is regularly refreshed to reduce predictability

Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning

  • NVR questions measure reasoning processes that are important in a wide range of subjects including maths and the sciences
  • SR tests assess the efficiency of the thinking processes that use mental images of shapes and space
  • SR is linked with success in STEM subjects and is not found in all admissions tests
  • Both are helpful in assessing the ability of candidates with English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Students with Vision Impairment

We are pleased to work with the RNIB to have developed guidelines for schools who use our admissions tests for children with vision impairment. We have developed guidelines for both teaching and admissions staff and Educational Psychologists.

We have also worked with Kent Local Authority to produce a useful case study on how they implement their secondary selection test process for pupils with vision impairment.

Free Familiarisation Materials

We recommend children familiarise themselves with the layout of our tests as well as content and examples of some types of questions they will face. To give all children the opportunity to experience sample questions across a range of question types in advance of the test, we provide 10 hours of free familiarisation materials. Find out more.

Our support promise

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