If your child is preparing for the 11 plus exam 2025, one of the most frequent questions you’ll hear is: “How many questions will there be?” The answer isn’t always straightforward, because the 11+ exam varies by region, exam board, and school. But knowing the typical number and kinds of questions helps your child feel calmer and more prepared.
After about 100 words: For the 11 plus exam 2025, you can expect something like around 50 questions in English, 50 in Maths, and up to 80 in reasoning papers, depending on the provider and locality. Knowing this gives you a useful benchmark to plan preparation and practice.
In this article, we’ll explore how the number of questions varies, how to check for your child’s school, what the exam boards say, and how to make sure your child is ready for the real thing.
1. Why does the number of questions vary in the 11+ Exam 2025
The 11 plus exam 2025 is not a single, uniform test across all grammar schools. Different counties, consortia, and schools choose different test providers (such as GL Assessment or Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, CEM) and set different formats. For this reason:
- Some schools use only English and Maths papers; others also include Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- The number of papers and the number of questions per paper can differ.
- The local admissions authority or the school’s own policy may affect format and length.
For example, GL Assessment note:
11+ tests vary from area to area, so please be aware that the exact timings, the combination of topics covered, and the number of questions in your local 11+ test may differ.
Because of this, when you ask “how many questions in the 11 plus exam 2025?”, the best answer is: It depends, but here’s what you can expect
2. Typical question numbers for popular exam boards
GL Assessment format
For many GL-based tests, the breakdown is approximately:
- English: ~ 50 questions in ~50 minutes.
- Maths: ~ 50 questions in ~50 minutes.
- Verbal Reasoning: ~ 80 questions in ~60 minutes.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: ~ 80 questions in ~60 minutes.
Hence, for a school using all four papers, the 11 plus exam 2025 might involve approximately 230–260 questions in total across all papers.
3. What you should check for your child’s school
Since there is variation, you should check the following details for the 11 plus exam 2025 specific to your target school:
- Which exam board is used (GL, CEM, or another)?
- Which subjects are included (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning).
- How many papers are there, and how many questions per paper (if published)?
- Is the format multiple-choice, written answers, or a mix?
- Are there sample papers or past papers available?
Many schools or local authorities publish a “candidate handbook” with these details. If you cannot find the number of questions, use the typical GL/CEM estimates above as your starting point for practice.
4. How the number of questions affects preparation
Knowing the approximate total for the 11 plus exam 2025 helps you plan your child’s preparation in three key ways:
Speed and stamina: If a child knows that they will face around, say, 80 reasoning questions in 60 minutes, they will practise time-per-question accordingly.
Paper planning: If there are four papers, each with ~50-80 questions, you can set up mock tests of similar length so your child builds familiarity and endurance.
Focus on question types: Knowing the works suggests how many questions of each type may come. For example, if there are ~50 questions in English, expect multiple-choice, comprehension, SPaG (spelling, punctuation & grammar), and vocabulary.
Practising under timed conditions that match these lengths will help avoid surprises on the real exam day.
5. Sample breakdowns you can use for mock practice
Here are some sample breakdowns you might adopt for your child’s mock tests for the 11 plus exam 2025, based on typical formats:
| Paper | Questions | Time | Focus |
| English | ~ 50 | ~ 50 minutes | Comprehension, SPaG, vocabulary |
| Maths | ~ 50 | ~ 50 minutes | Arithmetic, problem-solving, data |
| Verbal Reasoning | ~ 75–80 | ~ 60 minutes | Word codes, analogies, sequences |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | ~ 75–80 | ~ 60 minutes | Shapes, patterns, visual logic |
Adjust according to your child’s school’s format: if the school has only two papers, adapt accordingly.
6. Why practising the correct number of questions matters
If your child prepares with practice papers that are far shorter or longer than the real exam, issues can appear:
- If practice is much shorter, they may struggle with pacing when the real exam is longer.
- If practice is much longer, they may lose focus and confidence.
- Using papers with too few questions might make the real test feel overly long, tiring or draining.
For the 11 plus exam 2025, aligning mock test length to the real expected number teaches your child:
How to pace themselves
How to handle time pressure
How to maintain accuracy when fatigued
This alignment helps reduce exam-day anxiety and improves performance.
7. Tips to manage a large number of questions effectively
Facing a large number of questions, such as ~250 questions over the whole exam, can feel daunting for a child. Here are practical tips:
- Time awareness: Teach your child to glance at the clock and keep track of how many questions remain and how much time is left.
- Skip and return: If a question seems too hard, skip it, mark it, and return if time allows. Trying to answer every single question immediately can slow them down.
- Practice in chunks: Instead of doing one huge session, use timed, shorter sessions (e.g., 30-40 minutes) early in preparation, gradually increasing length.
- Build stamina gradually: Longer endurance for ~80-question papers comes from building tolerance with timed mock papers.
- Review accuracy: Practising many questions is good, but reviewing incorrect answers is even more important.
8. What if the school’s paper format is unpublished?
If your target school has not published exact details of how many questions the 11 plus exam 2025 will contain, follow these steps:
- Use the typical GL/CEM numbers as above (e.g., ~50, ~50, ~80, ~80).
- Monitor any sample material published by the school or local authority.
- Contact the school’s admissions or test centre to check for sample or familiarisation papers.
- Use a mixed-format mock test approach: e.g., two papers of ~50 questions + 2 papers of ~75-80 questions.
- Focus on speed and accuracy across many questions, not just one or two topics.
That way, you’ll cover the likely range and reduce the risk of being under-prepared.
9. How to use this question-number information to boost your child’s confidence
Knowing the likely number of questions gives your child mental preparedness. They’ll walk into the exam room saying to themselves:
I know I must answer ~50 questions in 50 minutes for English, ~50 for Maths, ~80 for reasoning
This mental rehearsal:
- Reduces surprise and anxiety
- Helps them pace themselves from question one
- Allows them to focus on the quality of answers rather than just finishing
- Confidence often comes from familiarity, not just content knowledge.
10. Final reminders for the 11+ Exam 2025
- Confirm the exact format for your region and school.
- Use practice papers that reflect the likely number of questions your child will face.
- Practice sessions and review them.
- Encourage a good routine of sleep, focus, and positivity, not just endless question drills.
Remind your child: finishing early is good, but finishing accurately is better.
Conclusion: Knowing How Many Questions Can Be Your Secret Edge
When you know how many questions to expect in the 11 plus exam 2025, you remove a major unknown. You prepare not just for what the test will cover, but how to approach it—with calm, strategy, and confidence.
So, check your child’s school format, plan mock tests that match the question count, build timing, stamina, and accuracy, and walk into exam day ready. Because when you know what to expect, you give your child the strongest chance to do their best.
FAQs
Q1. How many questions are in the 11 plus exam 2025?
A1. It depends on the school and exam board. Typically, you might see about 50 questions in English, 50 in Maths, and up to 80 in reasoning papers (each). For a full set of four papers, that could be ~230–260 questions in total.
Q2. Does every school use the same number of questions?
A2. No. Different schools, regions, and exam boards (GL vs CEM) use different formats and question counts. Always check your target school’s admissions guide.
Q3. Where can I find the exact number of questions for my child’s school?
A3. Look at the school’s admissions webpage or candidate booklet for the 11 + exam. If not published, contact the school or admissions authority directly.
Q4. How should I practise for a high-stakes exam?
A4. Time practice papers to match the expected length, build speed gradually, skip difficult questions, and review mistakes carefully.
Q5. Do more questions mean more difficulty?
A5. Not necessarily. What matters more is pacing, accuracy, and dealing with question variety. Preparing for the correct number helps manage mental stamina, which makes a big difference.