Eleven plus

The Eleven Plus was an examination given to students in their last year of primary education in the United Kingdom under the Tripartite System. It is still used in a number of counties, and in Northern Ireland. The test examines the student's ability to solve problems using verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Contrary to its designers? intentions, the exam came to be seen as determining whether a student went to a grammar school or to a secondary modern.

Structure

The structure of the eleven plus varied over time and between counties. Usually, it consisted of three papers

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• Arithmetic ? A mental arithmetic test. Set in a pre-calculator era, it was arguably more challenging than the GCSE mathematics non-calculator paper.
• Writing ? An essay question on a general subject.
• General Problem Solving ? A paper assessing ability to apply logic to simple problems and to test general knowledge.

Most children sat the test in their final year of primary school. In certain counties, such as Buckinghamshire, it was also possible to sit the test a year early- a process nicknamed the ?ten plus?. The test was voluntary, but it was extremely rare not to enter.

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