52 selective schools and consortia, 520 timed mock papers — written in the format and style of each specific exam: CSSE free-response, Kent Test multi-choice, Habs two-stage, City Boys stage 1A online, Bolton entrance, plus all the major Northern grammars, London independents and consortia.
Every centre mock is free. Download every paper, marking scheme and OMR sheet for the centre your child is sitting — no account needed.
Sign up free →The single biggest wasted effort in 11+ preparation is practising the wrong format. Two children can master the same English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning content, yet one walks into the exam calm and the other freezes — because only one had rehearsed the exact shape of the paper in front of them. A GL Assessment multiple-choice test where answers are shaded on a separate OMR sheet feels nothing like a CSSE free-response paper where full written working is expected. Timing, question style, whether there is a separate answer sheet, and even how instructions are worded all differ from centre to centre. A centre-specific mock closes that gap by matching your practice to the real thing.
Every mock on Quest Arena is completely free — the full paper, the marking scheme, and, where the real exam uses one, a practice OMR answer sheet. There is no account required to download, no locked papers, and no paywall. Build a realistic run-through for your child's target school, then move on to our wider full-length mock papers and topic worksheets to fill any gaps the mock reveals.
Most selective schools in England draw on one of a handful of exam styles. Knowing which one your centre uses tells you exactly how to practise. Here is a quick reference to the families you will meet on this page.
| Format / provider | Typical answer style | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Multiple-choice, tightly timed, shaded on a separate OMR sheet; no calculator | Kent Test, Medway, many Northern & Midlands grammars |
| CSSE | Free-response, written working expected in English and Maths | Essex consortium (Colchester, Chelmsford, Southend area) |
| ISEB Common Pre-Test | Online, adaptive, multiple-choice; sat in Year 6 or 7 for many independents | London & regional independent schools |
| Bespoke / school-set | Varies — often two-stage, may include extended writing or stage-1 online screen | Habs, Hampton, Highgate, City of London and other independents |
Note: the former CEM separate 11+ paper was discontinued around 2022–2023, and those regions have moved to GL or to bespoke school-set papers. Always confirm the current format with your target school before you commit to a practice plan.
A mock is only as useful as the conditions you sit it under. To get a reliable signal about where your child stands, treat the practice paper like the real morning:
Real 11+ results are usually reported as a Standardised Age Score — a mark adjusted for how old your child is within the year group, so a September-born and an August-born child are compared fairly. These scores typically sit on a scale running roughly from the high 60s to the low 140s, with 100 representing the average for the age. Because the score is age-adjusted and moderated across everyone who sits the test, a raw mock percentage is only a rough guide. Use mocks to track the direction of travel — steady improvement, and which skill area is lagging — rather than treating any one number as a verdict. For a fuller explanation of scoring and what different schools look for, see our exam guides and the grammar schools directory.
Once you know your target school's format, a simple sequence works well: confirm the exam board and structure, download the matching centre mock above, sit it under timed conditions, then use the results to steer your week. Keep an eye on the 11+ key dates so registration deadlines don't creep up, and use the revision hub to turn weak spots into short, focused sessions. If you are preparing a GL region specifically, our GL 11+ papers and CSSE 11+ papers pages give you board-matched practice alongside the centre mocks here.
Are the centre mocks really free?
Yes. Every paper, marking scheme and OMR sheet on Quest Arena is free to download, with no account required and nothing locked behind a subscription. Everything on the platform is free, always.
How do I know which format my target school uses?
Check the admissions or registration page on the school's own website — it will state the exam board (most often GL Assessment) or whether the school sets its own paper. Consortia such as CSSE in Essex publish a shared format. When in doubt, our grammar schools directory and exam guides summarise the common regional formats.
What if my school isn't listed yet?
Pick the centre that shares your school's exam board and structure — a GL region can practise with another GL centre's mock, since the format and answer method are the same. You can also work through our general mock papers under timed conditions, which cover all four skill areas in the standard 11+ style.