11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning Exam Preparation Year 5

A list of schools/areas this advice applies to is at the bottom of the page.

Skills development and exam preparation – Year 5

If preparing at home you have a choice between:

1. Using a structured course

2. Using books

In summary, if you choose a structured course all the planning is done for you, everything is included and you just have to print it out and do it. On the other hand, if you choose to buy books you would need to do the planning yourself and decide what to do when.

Please download our FREE 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning preparation guide which gives detailed explanations of how to structure a preparation programme at home and how to use the resources we have recommended below.

1. Using Structured Courses For Preparation

2. Using Books For Preparation

Step One (see guide) – Introductory phase

Use one of the following books.

Bond – How to do Non-Verbal Reasoning

Schofield and Sims – Non-Verbal Reasoning

CGP – Non-Verbal Reasoning Study Book

Step Two (see Guide) – Familiarisation

Use both of the following books.

CGP – Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Book 9 – 10

CGP – Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Book 10 – 11

Step Three (see guide) – Initial testing and exam technique development

Use some of the following books.

Bond – Non-Verbal Reasoning Assessment Papers 10 – 11 Book 1

Bond – Non-Verbal Reasoning Assessment Papers 10 – 11 Book 2

Letts – Non-Verbal Reasoning Assessment Papers 10 – 11

Step Four (see guide) – Exam skills development using 11 Plus standard tests

Use some of the following books.

GL – 11 Plus Practice Papers Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 1

GL – 11 Plus Practice Papers Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 2

Bond – 11 Plus Test Papers Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 1

Letts 11+ Success Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers

Step Five- Do some home based Mock Exams using realistic papers

Suppliers are now producing realistic mock paper packs. These are very useful because unlike the papers in step four they are structured in the same or similar way to the exam itself. Not all schools and areas are covered as of yet but most are. There are two main suppliers of these and we recommend the one below as they offer much better value. These papers are more expensive than mass produced /one size fits all but they are also about 80% cheaper than doing a hall based mock.

We’d recommend doing perhaps 4 of these ( one every weekend) as you near the exam to really sharpen up that exam technique. You can also do them in advance of doing a hall based mock so you get best value from that larger investment.

This link will take you to a listing of the 11 plus mock exam papers available

Schools/areas this advice applies to

Buckinghamshire – all schools

Devon – all schools

Essex – all schools – apart from Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Gloucestershire – all schools

Kent – all schools

London Kingston-upon-Thames – all schools

London Redbridge – all schools

Kendrick School – Berkshire Reading

Reading Girls’ Grammar School – Berkshire Reading

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School – Cumbria

Parkstone Grammar School – Dorset

Poole Grammar School – Dorset

Stretford Grammar School – Greater Manchester

Urmiston Grammar Academy – Greater Manchester

Newstead Wood School – London Bromley