11Plus Exam How Many Questions? The Answer Might Shock You
- Suratna Solutions
- Oct 23, 2025
- 4 min read
If you're preparing your child for grammar school entry, you've probably asked yourself: "11plus exam how many questions?" The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think and understanding the variations could be the difference between success and disappointment.
Table of Content
11Plus Exam How Many Questions: The Essential Breakdown
The number of questions in the 11+ exam varies significantly depending on which exam board and region your child faces. The two main providers, GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring), take completely different approaches to question counts and timing.
GL Assessment 11Plus: Standard Format
GL Assessment dominates the 11+ exam landscape, used by over 80% of grammar schools across England. Here's exactly what your child can expect when asking "11plus exam how many questions":
English: 49–56 questions in 50 minutes
Maths: 50 questions in 50 minutes
Verbal Reasoning: 80 questions in 50-60 minutes
Non-Verbal Reasoning: 80 questions in 40-60 minutes (typically split into four 20-question sections)
This means if your child sits all four GL papers, they could face between 259-266 questions in total. That's approximately one question every 30-45 seconds when you factor in reading time and thought processes.
Why the Question Count Matters More Than You Think
Understanding "11plus exam how many questions" isn't just about numbers, it's about strategy. The sheer volume means children must master time management alongside academic content. Many parents focus solely on teaching reasoning techniques or mathematical concepts, neglecting the crucial skill of working quickly under pressure.
GL Assessment
GL Assessment uses multiple-choice formats predominantly, which means your child needs rapid decision-making skills. With 80 verbal reasoning questions in 50 minutes, that's less than 40 seconds per question including the time to read, process, solve, and mark the answer sheet correctly.
CEM Exams: A Different Beast Entirely
CEM exams take a radically different approach. Rather than providing a fixed question count per subject, CEM combines subjects within papers and uses strictly timed sections lasting just 6-12 minutes each. The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring deliberately avoids publishing exact question counts to prevent "coaching to the test".
Typically, CEM papers contain:
Two 45-50 minute papers
Mixed content (one paper combines English and verbal reasoning; another blends maths and non-verbal reasoning)
Shorter timed sections that candidates cannot return to once complete
The time pressure is intentionally severe, most students won't finish every question, which is factored into the standardisation process. When parents search "11plus exam how many questions" for CEM tests, they're often surprised to learn there's no definitive answer published.
Regional Variations: The Kent Test Example
Regional consortiums add another layer of complexity. The Kent Test, used by 32 grammar schools competing for 16,000+ applicants annually, structures its assessment differently:
Paper 1 (English & Maths): One hour total
5-minute practice + 25-minute English section
5-minute practice + 25-minute Maths section
Paper 2 (Reasoning): One hour total
10-minute practice + 20-minute verbal reasoning test
Multiple shorter sections (4-5 minutes each) for non-verbal and spatial reasoning
Creative Writing: 40 minutes (10 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing) - not scored but reviewed for borderline cases
Exact question counts aren't published for the Kent Test, but parents report approximately 25-30 questions per subject section.
What This Means for Your Child's Preparation
When researching "11plus exam how many questions," parents should focus on three critical preparation areas:
Speed and Accuracy: Your child needs to work at pace whilst maintaining high accuracy. Quality tutoring programmes like Math & Reason | Affordable 11+ tutor UK and Mock Tests provide timed practice that mirrors real exam conditions, building the stamina children need for 250+ questions across multiple papers.
Subject-Specific Strategy: English comprehension questions require different time allocation than quick-fire maths problems. Professional tutors help children develop subject-specific pacing strategies rather than treating all questions equally.
Mock Exam Experience: Nothing prepares children for the reality of high-volume, time-pressured testing like realistic mock tests. Math & Reason | Affordable 11+ tutor UK and Mock Tests comprehensive 11plus mock tests replicate actual exam conditions, helping children understand exactly what "11plus exam how many questions" means in practice.
The Bottom Line
So, to directly answer "11plus exam how many questions"? for GL Assessment, expect 250-266 questions total across four papers, with individual papers ranging from 50-80 questions. For CEM, question counts vary deliberately and aren't published. Regional tests like Kent use different structures entirely.
The real question isn't just quantity, it's whether your child can handle that volume confidently and accurately under timed conditions. That's where expert preparation makes all the difference.
Give your child the competitive edge they deserve. Explore Math & Reason | Affordable 11+ tutor UK and Mock Tests specialist 11plus tutoring and experience realistic mock tests that prepare children for the actual challenge ahead.
