GL Assessment 11+
GL Assessment is the largest provider of 11+ tests in England, used by consortiums and individual schools across Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Trafford, Wirral and many more regions.
Varies by school
Max Score
Varies by consortium — typically 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Duration
2–4
Papers
No
Neg. Marking
Overview
GL Assessment provides standardised tests used by multiple consortiums and standalone schools. While the core format is consistent — English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning — exact papers and weighting vary by consortium. GL tests are multiple-choice, computer-marked, and age-standardised, ensuring fair comparison across candidates of different ages.
Subjects & Weightage
English
Varies by consortium (typically 25%)Comprehension-based paper testing reading ability, vocabulary, grammar and language understanding.
Question Types
What's Covered
Reading Comprehension
- Close reading of fiction and non-fiction texts
- Inference and deduction from textual evidence
- Summarising key information from a passage
- Understanding purpose, audience and text type
- Comparing ideas and viewpoints across passages
Grammar & Punctuation
- Identifying and using parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions)
- Subject-verb agreement, tenses and consistency
- Sentence types and clause structures
- Correct use of commas, apostrophes, speech marks, colons and semicolons
- Identifying errors in given sentences
Spelling & Vocabulary
- Common spelling patterns and rules (-tion, -sion, -cious, -tious, silent letters)
- Homophones and commonly confused words (there/their/they're, affect/effect)
- Prefixes and suffixes and how they change meaning
- Synonyms, antonyms and word definitions in context
- Cloze passages — choosing the best word to complete a sentence
Tip: GL English is comprehension-heavy. Practice reading unfamiliar texts and answering questions about them. Build vocabulary through wide reading.
Mathematics
Varies by consortium (typically 25%)Number, algebra, geometry, measures and data handling at KS2 level. All multiple-choice.
Question Types
What's Covered
Number & Calculation
- Place value, ordering and rounding (up to millions and decimals)
- Four operations with whole numbers and decimals
- BODMAS and multi-step problems
- Factors, multiples, primes, squares and cubes
- Negative numbers
Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
- Equivalent fractions, simplifying and comparing
- Operations with fractions (add, subtract, multiply, divide)
- Converting between fractions, decimals and percentages
- Percentage of an amount, percentage increase/decrease
Shape, Space & Measure
- Properties of 2D and 3D shapes
- Perimeter, area and volume calculations
- Angle facts (straight line, point, triangle, vertically opposite)
- Symmetry, reflection, rotation and translation
- Coordinates and simple transformations
- Converting between metric units (mm, cm, m, km, g, kg, ml, l)
Data Handling & Statistics
- Interpreting tables, bar charts, pictograms, line graphs and pie charts
- Calculating mean, median, mode and range
- Probability scale and likelihood language
- Two-way tables and timetables
Ratio, Proportion & Algebra
- Simple ratio and proportion problems
- Scaling (recipes, maps, models)
- Number sequences and finding rules
- Simple equations and unknowns
Tip: GL maths follows the KS2 curriculum closely. Ensure all topics are covered and practise under timed conditions.
Verbal Reasoning
Varies by consortium (typically 25%)Tests ability to understand and reason using words and language. A highly learnable component.
Question Types
What's Covered
Word-Based Reasoning
- Word analogies — A is to B as C is to ?
- Odd one out — finding the word that doesn't fit the group
- Synonym and antonym selection
- Compound words and word building
- Moving letters between words to make two new words
Code & Pattern Questions
- Letter-number codes (cracking substitution ciphers)
- Letter series — identifying the rule and continuing the pattern
- Alphabet position and shifting (e.g. A=1, B=2, forward/backward steps)
- Hidden words within sentences or between words
Logic & Deduction
- Logical deduction from given statements
- Arranging information using grids or elimination
- True, false or cannot tell questions
- Number and letter puzzles requiring logical steps
Tip: Verbal reasoning is not taught in schools — dedicated practice is essential. Start with learning question types, then build speed.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Varies by consortium (typically 25%)Pattern recognition, spatial awareness and abstract problem-solving using shapes and diagrams.
Question Types
What's Covered
Shape Sequences & Series
- Identifying the next shape in a repeating or progressive sequence
- Recognising changes in size, shading, rotation and position
- Multi-rule sequences (two or more changes applied at each step)
Shape Analogies & Matrices
- Applying a transformation from one pair to complete another (A:B as C:?)
- 3x3 matrices — finding the missing piece from row and column rules
- Identifying multiple simultaneous rules in a grid
Odd One Out & Classification
- Finding the shape that doesn't follow the group's rule
- Identifying shared properties (number of sides, symmetry, shading, line type)
- Sorting shapes into groups based on common features
Spatial Reasoning
- Reflection and rotational symmetry
- Folding and unfolding nets of 3D shapes
- Combining shapes to make a target shape
- Paper folding and hole punching predictions
- 2D views of 3D objects (plan, front, side)
Tip: Start with understanding the basic rules (rotation, reflection, shading). Progress to complex multi-rule patterns. Speed comes with practice.
Test Format & Scoring
Total Duration
Varies by consortium — typically 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Papers
2–4 papers depending on consortium
Question Format
Multiple-choice (computer-marked answer sheets)
Scoring
Scores are age-standardised. Max scores vary: Buckinghamshire = 282, Kent = 423, Lincolnshire = 282, Trafford = 423.
No negative marking — always attempt every question, even if you're unsure.
Test Day Information
What to Bring
- 2B or HB pencils
- An eraser
- No calculators or electronic devices
- Water bottle
Breaks
Varies by consortium. Most include a short break between papers.
Test Centres
Varies — some consortiums test at primary schools, others at secondary school centres. Check your specific consortium for details.
Special Arrangements
Apply through your consortium or local authority with supporting evidence. Common adjustments include extra time (25%), separate room, enlarged papers, and use of a reader.
Preparation Advice
When to Start
12–18 months before the test is typical. Reasoning practice can begin gently in Year 4.
Key Resources
CGP 11+ GL Practice Papers, Bond 11+, Letts 11+. Many consortiums provide free familiarisation materials.
Practice Tips
Little and often beats cramming. Focus on understanding question types first, then build speed. Full timed papers should start 2–3 months before the test.
Important Notes
GL tests are used by the most consortiums — always check which specific consortium applies to your target schools
Registration deadlines vary significantly between consortiums
Age standardisation means a child tested later in the month is not disadvantaged
Some GL consortiums include all four subjects; others test only two or three
Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Trafford and Wirral all use GL but with different structures and thresholds
Ready to check your chances?
Enter your postcode to see which GL Assessment 11+ schools you could realistically get into — with distance, score and selection method analysis.