How Many Questions Are in the 11+ Exam? What Parents Need to Know
One of the questions I get asked most often is how many questions are actually in the 11+ exam. The honest answer is that it depends. The 11+ is not a single standardised test. Different schools and exam boards use different formats, which means the number of questions can vary quite a bit. That said, there are some helpful patterns that give you a clear idea of what to expect.
Understanding the Different Providers
In the UK, most 11+ exams fall under a few main providers: GL Assessment, CEM, or independently set papers by highly selective schools. Each has a slightly different structure, and this affects the number of questions your child will face.
It is also worth understanding whether your child's exam is multiple choice or written, as this affects how questions are structured significantly.
GL Assessment
GL papers tend to be more predictable and structured. Maths papers often contain around 40 to 50 questions, and English and verbal reasoning papers can range from 40 to 80 questions depending on the format. Questions are usually shorter and more clearly defined, which means children often work through them at a steady, consistent pace.
CEM
CEM papers are a little different. They often contain fewer questions overall, but each question may be more complex or more time pressured. Sections can also be mixed, combining comprehension, vocabulary and reasoning within the same paper. This means it is not just about the number of questions. It is about how quickly and confidently your child can process each one.
Written Papers at Independent and Selective Grammar Schools
Highly selective independent schools often set their own papers, and these can vary widely. Some include longer written responses rather than large numbers of short questions, and creative writing tasks may replace substantial sections of multiple choice questions entirely.
In these cases, quality of response matters far more than quantity of questions answered. The children who do best on written papers are not the ones who rush through every question, but the ones who read carefully, think deeply and express their ideas with precision and detail.
For more on what written 11+ English papers involve and what selective schools are specifically looking for, visit study-planet.co.uk.
Adaptive Versus Non-Adaptive Tests
One thing that can make the number of questions feel confusing is whether the test is adaptive or non-adaptive. Understanding the difference is genuinely useful for preparation.
Non-Adaptive Tests
In a non-adaptive test, every child is given the same set of questions. This is the most traditional format and is still widely used in paper-based exams. The number of questions is fixed, and every child works through the same paper under the same timed conditions.
Adaptive Tests
In an adaptive test, the questions change depending on how your child is performing. If they answer a question correctly, the next one may become slightly more challenging. If they get something wrong, the test may adjust and offer something more accessible. This means your child will not necessarily see the same questions as other children, the difficulty level is tailored as they go, and the total number of questions can sometimes vary slightly.
Adaptive testing is only used in computer-based exams, such as those used by some grammar schools or platforms like Atom Learning.
Understanding whether your child is sitting an adaptive or non-adaptive test changes how you should prepare them. With non-adaptive tests the focus is on covering the full range of question types and working steadily through a fixed paper. With adaptive tests it becomes more about confidence and consistency, as the test is constantly adjusting to your child's level.
Does the Number of Questions Actually Matter?
It is tempting to focus on the number of questions as a measure of difficulty, but in reality the number itself is not the most important factor. What really matters is the time pressure involved, the style of questions being asked, and the expected level of accuracy.
Fifty short multiple choice questions can feel very different from twenty longer written ones. A child who is well prepared for the specific format of their target school will always be better placed than one who has simply done a large volume of practice without understanding what they are preparing for.
What This Means for Your Child's Preparation
Rather than focusing on the number of questions, it is much more helpful to prepare your child to work steadily under timed conditions, stay calm if they cannot answer every question immediately, and move on quickly when they are stuck rather than losing time on a single question.
In most 11+ exams, children are not expected to answer every question perfectly. Learning how to manage time and maintain composure under pressure is just as important as knowing the content.
A More Useful Way to Think About It
Instead of asking "how many questions are there?", it is more productive to ask: how quickly does my child work through questions? Can they stay focused under time pressure? Do they recognise different question types quickly and know how to approach each one? These are the skills that make the biggest practical difference on exam day.
A Note on Written English Papers
If your child is sitting a written English paper at a selective independent school or a highly competitive grammar school, the number of questions becomes almost irrelevant. What matters is the depth and quality of each response. Children sitting these papers need to be able to analyse language carefully, write with precision and vocabulary, and sustain a high level of performance across both comprehension and creative writing sections.
Study Planet has been built specifically to support children preparing for written 11+ English papers. The Writing Accelerator gives your child expert level feedback on their comprehension and creative writing, assessed against the real standards of the most selective schools. Rather than guessing whether an answer is good enough, you will know exactly where the marks are being won and lost, and precisely what to do to improve. Try it completely free at study-planet.co.uk, with no payment details required.
Final Thoughts
The number of questions in the 11+ varies depending on the exam board, the school and the format of the test. What matters far more than the exact number is how your child approaches them. With the right preparation, genuine familiarity with the format and confidence built through consistent targeted practice, the number of questions becomes much less intimidating and much more manageable.
If you found this post helpful, you might also want to read our guide on How to Prepare for the 11+ in 3 months, our guide to The Best 11+ Resources and our post on the Main 11+ Comprehension Types.