11 Plus Year 5 Syllabus

There is no official 11 plus syllabus. Each area or school chooses its own test, and most are based on the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum. So the 11 plus Year 5 syllabus is mainly the Year 5 maths and English curriculum, plus verbal and non-verbal reasoning for tests that include them. Key skills are numbers up to 1,000,000, fractions, decimals and percentages, comprehension, vocabulary, spelling and grammar. A healthy amount of practice is about 3 to 5 hours a week, with rest days. 

Year 5 is the year when 11 plus preparation gets real. This guide explains the 11 plus Year 5 syllabus. You will see what to cover in maths, English and reasoning, which dates matter, and how to plan the year calmly. 

What is the 11 plus Year 5 syllabus?

Many parents ask for "the 11 plus syllabus for Year 5", as if there were one official list. The honest answer is that there is not. What we have is the National Curriculum, which sets out what every child in England should learn each year. Most 11 plus tests build on the Key Stage 2 curriculum, often with harder questions than normal school work.

So, in this guide, the 11 plus Year 5 syllabus means the Year 5 learning that gives your child the strongest base, plus the reasoning skills that many tests add.

Year 5 children are around 9 and 10 years old. For many, the test is about a year away. Our approach to 11 plus preparation Year 5 starts with the curriculum, then adds practice with the style of the questions.

Is there an official 11 plus syllabus for Year 5?

No. The 11 plus is not one national exam. Grammar schools and independent schools each pick their own tests, so subjects, formats and levels differ.

11 plus Year 5 maths syllabus

This is what the National Curriculum asks Year 5 children to learn in maths. These topics are the base for 11 plus maths.

Two small habits make a big difference. First, fast times tables up to 12 x 12, because they save time in nearly every question. Second, careful word problems: read slowly, underline the key facts and explain each step out loud.

11 plus Year 5 English syllabus

In Years 5 and 6, the National Curriculum asks children to read more widely and to use more advanced grammar. Here are the main areas. 

For 11 plus English, vocabulary is king. A child who reads widely meets thousands more words, and that helps with comprehension, spelling and verbal reasoning too. Many 11 plus comprehension passages also use older, richer language, so reading classic stories alongside modern ones pays off.

11 plus Year 5 verbal reasoning syllabus

Verbal reasoning uses words and letters. It is not part of the National Curriculum, but many 11 plus tests include it. Year 5 is a good time to learn the common question types, in a calm and playful way.

11 plus Year 5 non-verbal reasoning syllabus

Non-verbal reasoning uses shapes and patterns. It is also outside the National Curriculum, so it feels new to many children. Here are the skills to practise.

• Sequences: Ask, "What comes next?" using shapes, colours and sizes.

• Rotations and reflections: Use paper shapes and a small mirror to see how shapes turn and flip.

• Odd one out: Find the shape that does not belong, and explain why.

• Building and drawing: Build a model with blocks, then draw it from above or from the side. Some tests, such as ISEB, include 3D spatial puzzles.

• Say the rule out loud: For example, "The shape turns a quarter turn each time."

Year 5 dates that shape your 11 plus plan

Because there is no national test, dates depend on your school. Here are real examples and what they mean for a child who is in Year 5 now.

How to practise the 11 plus Year 5 syllabus

Practice works best when it is planned, short and reviewed. Here are five easy ways to build the syllabus into your week.

1. Start with a free check

Try our 11+ free practice papers to see which topics feel easy and which need more time. It is a friendly way to find your starting point.

2. Learn the question styles

Our 11+ past papers help children get used to the wording and layout of real questions. Remember to match practice to your child's own test, because formats differ.

3. Practise like the real thing

Once most topics are covered, our 11 plus mocks let your child practise pacing, working to a timer and staying calm in a quiet room.

4. Keep an error log

After each paper, write down every mistake and why it happened. Then practise exactly that topic.

5. Use the summer well

The summer before Year 6 is a great chance to put it all together. Our 11 plus intensive summer course brings the key topics into one focused, friendly block.

How Pass 11 Plus Grammar helps Year 5 children

Many Year 5 children do well with the school curriculum and a clear plan at home. But extra help can make a real difference when a child keeps getting stuck on the same topics, loses confidence, or when parents are short on time.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, our Year 5 11 plus tuition covers English, maths and reasoning, step by step. We start with a clear picture of where your child is today, then build a calm plan from there, so children feel proud and confident.

If you would like friendly advice, you can meet our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham, and we will happily talk through your options. Our online tuition is also open to families across the UK.

Final thoughts

The 11 plus Year 5 syllabus is clearer than it first seems. There is no single official list, so build on what the National Curriculum asks of Year 5: large numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages, wide reading, spelling and grammar, and add the reasoning skills many tests use. Check each school's dates early, because some test at the end of Year 5.

Keep the work short, steady and kind, and save timed papers and mocks for when topics are secure. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we are always here to help you and your child feel ready.