LumoWhat does the 11+ test?
The 11+ is an entrance test that some grammar schools and independent schools in the UK use to decide on places for Year 7. Children usually sit it in Year 6, so preparation often starts in Year 5.
There isn't one single 11+. Which subjects are tested, and in what format, varies by area and by school, so check the details for the schools you're interested in. Most tests draw on some mix of these four areas:
Thinking with words and letters
Letter series, letter and number codes, word analogies and odd-one-out puzzles. It rewards careful reading and spotting patterns in the alphabet.
Thinking with shapes
Shape sequences, shape analogies and "which one doesn't belong?" questions. No reading needed, just close looking and logic.
Problem solving
Multi-step word problems, fractions and percentages of amounts, ratio and sharing, averages, number sequences, and area and perimeter.
Reading and writing accuracy
Reading comprehension and inference, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling, including plurals, past tenses and contractions.
Practice that adapts, then tests
- Adaptive practice. Questions ease off after a wobble and stretch after a good run, so your child spends their time at the level where they're learning.
- An 11+ hub. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, 11+ maths and spelling drills sit together in one place, alongside the everyday English and Maths topics.
- Timed practice papers and a full mock. Once the skills are there, papers help your child get used to working at pace. The mock is sized to your child's year.
- A 60-second speed round. Typed mental arithmetic at your child's level, with no multiple-choice guessing, to build quick, confident recall.
- Review of mistakes. Tricky questions come back a few days later in a review queue so they actually stick, and the parent area shows weak spots and what's due for review.
- Fresh questions. Many questions are generated fresh, so practice doesn't run out or repeat word for word.
Lumo stays kind throughout: no score ever counts down, and a wrong answer is "not quite, let's look again together", never a red cross.
What 11+ style questions look like
Four of the question types your child can practise in Lumo, described in words. The examples are illustrations, not questions from any real exam.
Find the next pair
A row of letter pairs follows a rule, such as each letter moving on by one or two places in the alphabet. Your child works out the rule and picks the next pair.
AB, CD, EF, … ? → GH
Crack the code
A word is written in code by shifting each letter along the alphabet. Your child works out the shift and uses it to code or decode another word.
If CAT is DBU, DOG is … ? → EPH
What comes next?
A row of shapes changes step by step: something rotates, a line is added, or a shading moves round. Your child spots every change and chooses the shape that continues the pattern.
Share it out
A word problem asks your child to share an amount in a given ratio, often in two or three steps, so reading carefully matters as much as the arithmetic.
Share 20 sweets in the ratio 3 : 1 → 15 and 5
Frequently asked questions
Is Lumo's 11+ practice free?
Yes. Lumo is free to use, with no ads and no account needed. Your child can start practising straight away in a browser.
Which 11+ subjects does Lumo cover?
Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths problem solving and English, including reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling. There are also timed practice papers and a full mock.
Does Lumo follow a specific exam board's format?
No. The 11+ varies by area and by school, so Lumo covers the common skills and question types rather than copying one exam's format. Check the details for the schools you're applying to.
When should my child start 11+ practice?
Many children sit the 11+ early in Year 6, so preparation often starts in Year 5. Lumo's 11+ hub opens from Year 5, and the everyday English and Maths topics build the groundwork before that.
Other ways Lumo helps
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