Pip the magpie Parent Guides

Everything you need to know about the 11+

Practical, no-nonsense guides to help your child prepare with confidence.

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Comparison

Atom Learning Alternative: An Honest Comparison

Atom is the big name, but it's pricey and not every child takes to it. A straight parent-to-parent look at price, accuracy, fun and how easy each is to cancel.

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Free Practice

Free 11+ Practice Questions (Maths, English & Verbal Reasoning)

Real 11+ questions with worked answers, free and no sign-up. Maths, English and verbal reasoning, pulled straight from our 100,000+ question bank. Try them right now.

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Exam News

Some Grammar Schools Are Moving the 11+ to July

A growing group of grammar schools is shifting the 11+ from September to July, sitting children in Year 5 instead of Year 6. Which schools, why, and how to adjust your preparation.

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Exam Formats

GL vs CEM 11+: What's the Difference and How to Prepare

CEM withdrew from paper-based 11+ tests in 2023. GL Assessment now covers most grammar schools. Find out what changed and what your child will actually sit.

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Verbal Reasoning

11+ Verbal Reasoning: 10 Tips to Boost Your Score

Verbal reasoning is one of the most practiced - and most misunderstood - parts of the 11+. Here's what the question types actually test and how to get faster.

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Exam Dates

11+ Exam Dates 2025–2026: When Is the 11+ and How to Register

GL exams typically fall in September and October of Year 6. Here's a full guide to timing and registration deadlines by region.

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Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning for the 11+: A Parent's Complete Guide

NVR is the 11+ subject parents worry about most - because it's hard to explain and almost impossible to practice with a pen and paper at home.

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Parent Story

Why I Built This App (And Why It Nearly Broke Our Family)

The honest story behind PipPrep - what went wrong, what worked, and why consistent daily practice matters more than any single resource.

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Getting Started

What Actually Is the 11+?

GL, CSSE, SET, ISEB - a plain English guide to what the 11+ tests, who sets it, when it happens, and what you need to do before buying a single practice book.

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Study Tips

How Much Should Your Child Practice?

Why 15 minutes a day beats two hours on Saturday - what a realistic preparation week looks like, and how to spot burnout before it sets in.

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Advice

Tutors vs Apps: What's Actually Worth the Money?

An honest breakdown of what each does well, when you genuinely need both, and the red flags to watch for when hiring an 11+ tutor.

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Parent Guide

How to Prepare Without Destroying Your Relationship

The 11+ preparation period damages more families than the exam does. A practical guide to keeping it calm, consistent, and survivable for everyone.

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Selective Schools

How to Prepare for the Tiffin Test

Tiffin Boys and Girls are genuinely oversubscribed. What the test covers, realistic timelines, how to practice, and when to start without burning out.

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Regional Guides

The Kent 11+ Test: What You Actually Need to Know

GL Assessment format, which Kent grammars participate, exam dates, scoring, and how familiarisation beats cramming.

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Question Breakdown

Every Verbal Reasoning Question Type (With Examples)

All 21 GL verbal reasoning types explained with examples and tips. Long-form reference guide for pattern recognition and practice.

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Exam Formats

CEM vs GL: How the Two 11+ Exams Differ

CEM withdrew from the 11+ in 2023. GL is now the standard. Here's what the two formats were, how they differed, and what that means for preparation today.

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Getting Started

Starting 11+ prep in Year 4

Should you start this early? The honest answer - what Year 4 looks like vs Year 5, building foundations without drilling, burnout prevention.

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Independent Schools

Independent School 11+ Exams vs Grammar Schools

ISEB Common Pre-Test, bespoke school papers, interview components, and how independent schools use exam results differently.

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App Comparison

Best 11+ Apps in 2026: An Honest Comparison

Atom Learning, Bond, EdPlace, PipPrep - what the main apps actually cost, what they cover, and which suits different families.

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Free Resources

Free 11+ Practice Online: What's Actually Available

An honest guide to what's genuinely free, what has a catch, and how far free resources will realistically take you.

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Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning Practice for the 11+: What Works

Verbal reasoning scores improve fastest with targeted, frequent practice. Here's what actually works - and how to make kids want to do it.

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Home Prep

How to Prepare for the 11+ at Home

A practical weekly structure for home prep - what to do, when to do it, and the situations where a tutor actually adds value.

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