Unless you are very new to the 11 plus exam process you will almost certainly have heard people mention 'the 21 question types'. What do they mean by this...

The 21 question types to which people refer are the distinct question types which tend to appear in the nfer based 11 plus verbal reasoning exams.

I use the word 'tend' because there is a slim chance that these question types could change. Nfer is not bound by law to set the same style questions every year for the 11 plus exam. However, the chances of them changing the question types are low because...

Well mainly money really. Nfer sells practice booklets for the 11 plus exam. It wouldn't do their reputation or profits much good if people who had used their books as study guides were suddenly faced with radically different question types. Others in the industry are also reluctant for change as they have invested much time and money into practice materials containing very specific question types.

I would love the exam to be totally different each year.  This would really 'level the playing field'. But, as this would cause a lot of admin and a loss of profits for many people it is unlikely to happen.

It makes me laugh when people claim that coaching / practice doesn't increase the child's chance of passing the 11 plus exam. I have 'bright' students come to us and get 50% in their first few tests. These children are top of their class. After a few weeks practice they are up to the 80% mark. A little bit more practice and they are able to consistently score in the 90s and occassionally hit 100%. Had they not prepared they would have scored 50%! People who claim coaching has no effect have their heads burried deeply in the ground. They don't want to admit that the test is unfair.

I am very pro Grammar Schools. I just think that there are many children who are missing out due to the nature of the admissions process.

One way to acheive a 'levelling of the playing field' is to say openly that people are practicing frantically for these exams well in advance. The next stage is to allow EVERYONE to practice the same amount. This brings me nicely back to what we are doing on this site.

MAKING 11+ EXAM  PREPARATION FREE FOR ANYBODY REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL OR FINANCIAL SITUATION.