ChatGPT and the 11+: helpful or not?!

Over the past year, more and more parents have asked me about using AI for the 11+... and some are already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT at home.

On the surface, it sounds ideal — instant answers, unlimited practice, and support whenever you need it.

So I decided to test ChatGPT extensively across maths, comprehension, and creative writing to see how useful it actually is for 11+ preparation.

The conclusion? It can help — but only in very specific ways.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through where it works well and where I’d be more cautious as a parent preparing for the 11+.

Is ChatGPT Suitable for UK 11+ Exams?

To start with, the 11+ — particularly for grammar schools and highly selective independents — is quite specific in how it assesses children.

Depending on the provider (GL, CEM, or independent schools), children are expected to show:

• secure mathematical methods (not advanced maths)
• clear, methodical problem solving
• precise comprehension, including inference
• structured, high-quality writing

ChatGPT isn’t specifically designed for the UK 11+, so it doesn’t always match the way the exams are structured.

So it doesn’t always match:

• the style of questions
• the methods children are expected to use
• the marking standards used in real exams

Below, I’ll go through each subject, showing where it can be helpful and where I’d be more cautious.

Maths: I’d Be Cautious

After extensive testing, I found that the maths questions and marking were often unreliable.

The main issues were:

• it often uses methods for answer explanations that are too advanced
• questions can be inaccurate or unclear
• solutions don’t reflect how children are actually taught

And this really matters.

In the 11+, it’s not just about getting the right answer — it’s about using the right method.

If a child learns the wrong approach (or different from that taught at school), it can:

• confuse them
• create bad habits
• knock their confidence

For maths, I would stick to trusted 11+ resources that are designed around the exam.

Can ChatGPT Help with 11+ Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning?

I also found that ChatGPT struggled to generate accurate verbal reasoning questions. When I tried to create practice sheets across a range of question types, the answers were often incorrect or the formatting didn't quite work.

When it came to non-verbal reasoning, the limitations are even clearer. It isn’t able to reliably produce accurate visual questions, so I would recommend sticking to more traditional resources (such as CGP books or Atom) for this area.

ChatGPT for 11+ Comprehension: Helpful but Unreliable

When experimenting with English, ChatGPT was able to generate comprehension questions (both written and multiple-choice), but the level was inconsistent.

By default, questions tended to be too simple. However, when you increase the difficulty, it often created GCSE style questions.

What’s missing is that middle ground — the real 11+ standard.

The bigger issue, though, is marking. It can mark answers, but:

• it can be too generous
• or too harsh
• and often inconsistent

That makes it very difficult to trust.

And I find for most parents, that’s the real challenge: not finding practice — but knowing whether an answer is actually good enough.

Creative Writing: Helpful for Ideas

This is where ChatGPT is most useful.

It’s great for:

• story starters
• descriptive prompts
• generating ideas
• vocabulary lists

This can really help children get going, especially if they’re stuck.

But again, the issue is feedback.

Most parents don’t struggle with ideas — they struggle with knowing:

• Is this good?
• What should my child improve next?

And this is where ChatGPT falls short.

It tends to be too harsh or overly generous, and doesn’t apply 11+ marking criteria consistently, which makes it difficult to rely on when it comes to assessing written work.

And this is really the key issue with English for the 11+ — progress depends on accurate, structured feedback, not just practice.

Therefore this is why, over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time refining how to bridge that gap, combining the strengths of AI with over 10 years of 11+ teaching experience. The goal was simple: to create feedback that genuinely reflects what a tutor would say, while giving clear, practical next steps for improvement.

If you’d like to see what that looks like in practice, you can get Free Marking, Feedback and Next Steps and see how a typical answer would be assessed.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT can be a helpful part of 11+ preparation. It’s great for generating ideas for

• creative writing
• vocabulary lists
• offering extra practice for simpler maths questions
• explaining simpler concepts in maths and English

Where it falls short is its reliability. I would avoid using it:

• for generating verbal or non-verbal reasoning questions.
• to explain difficult maths questions.
• marking and feedback for comprehension and creative writing work.

As a starting point, ChatGPT and other AI tools can help. But they don’t have the expertise of a teacher, or the specific maths methods and feedback language children are used to. Used mindfully, they can support learning, but they work best alongside more structured guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ChatGPT help with 11+ preparation?

Yes, it can be useful as a starting point—particularly for ideas, extra practice, and simple explanations. However, it works best as a support tool rather than a replacement for structured teaching.

Is ChatGPT good for 11+ maths?

Not always. It often uses methods that are too advanced or don’t match how children are taught for the 11+, which can lead to confusion.

Can ChatGPT mark 11+ comprehension answers?

I would avoid as the marking is often inconsistent and doesn’t reliably follow 11+ criteria, which makes it difficult to track real progress.

Is ChatGPT useful for 11+ creative writing?

It’s helpful for generating ideas and prompts, but less reliable when it comes to giving accurate, structured feedback.

Can ChatGPT replace a tutor for the 11+?

Not yet! While it can support learning, it doesn’t replace the expertise of a teacher or the specific methods and feedback children need. However, I have designed my tool to help bridge that gap, combining the strengths of AI with structured, tutor-style feedback.

If you need more support decideing whether you need a tutor for the 11+, read my post Do You Need a Tutor for the 11+? (Honest UK advice for parents).