11+ English Practice Paper

Read the following carefully:

This sample test has been designed to help you practise the types of questions
you will see in an 11+ independent school English exam

Both sections are worth equal marks

Once you have finished Section A you should immediately begin Section B

Section A assesses reading and is a combination of multiple choice and short

answer questions. The multiple choice questions only have one correct answer

Section B assesses creative writing: read the instructions and then continue the
story in the lined space provided

To answer both sections you will first need to read the passage over the page

You may find some of the questions difficult. If you cannot do a question, do not
waste time on it but go on to the next. If you are not sure of an answer, choose
the one you think is best.

Work as quickly and as carefully as you can.

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 Read this passage carefully, then answer the questions that follow.

The Secret Garden

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

She stood at the window for about ten minutes this morning after Martha had
swept up the hearth for the last time and gone down-stairs. She was thinking
over the new idea which had come to her when she heard of the library. She
did not care very much about the library itself, because she had read very
5 few books; but to hear of it brought back to her mind the hundred rooms with
closed doors. She wondered if they were all really locked and what she would
find if she could get into any of them. Were there a hundred really? Why
shouldn't she go and see how many doors she could count? It would be
something to do on this morning when she could not go out. She had never
10 been taught to ask permission to do things, and she knew nothing at all
about authority, so she would not have thought it necessary to ask Mrs.
Medlock if she might walk about the house, even if she had seen her.

She opened the door of the room and went into the corridor, and then she
began her wanderings. It was a long corridor and it branched into other
15 corridors and it led her up short flights of steps which mounted to others
again. There were doors and doors, and there were pictures on the walls.
Sometimes they were pictures of dark, curious landscapes, but oftenest they
were portraits of men and women in queer, grand costumes made of satin
and velvet. She found herself in one long gallery whose walls were covered
20 with these portraits. She had never thought there could be so many in any
house. She walked slowly down this place and stared at the faces which also
seemed to stare at her. She felt as if they were wondering what a little girl
from India was doing in their house. Some were pictures of children—little

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 girls in thick satin frocks which reached to their feet and stood out about
25 them, and boys with puffed sleeves and lace collars and long hair, or with
big ruffs around their necks. She always stopped to look at the children,
and wonder what their names were, and where they had gone, and why
they wore such odd clothes. There was a stiff, plain little girl rather like
herself. She wore a green brocade dress and held a green parrot on her
30 finger. Her eyes had a sharp, curious look.

"Where do you live now?" said Mary aloud to her. "I wish you were here."

Surely no other little girl ever spent such a queer morning. It seemed as if
there was no one in all the huge rambling house but her own small self,
wandering about up-stairs and down, through narrow passages and wide
35 ones, where it seemed to her that no one but herself had ever walked.
Since so many rooms had been built, people must have lived in them, but it
all seemed so empty that she could not quite believe it true.

It was not until she climbed to the second floor that she thought of turning
the handle of a door. All the doors were shut, as Mrs. Medlock had said they
40 were, but at last she put her hand on the handle of one of them and turned
it. She was almost frightened for a moment when she felt that it turned
without difficulty and that when she pushed upon the door itself it slowly
and heavily opened. It was a massive door and opened into a big bedroom.
There were embroidered hangings on the wall, and inlaid furniture such as
45 she had seen in India stood about the room. A broad window with leaded
panes looked out upon the moor; and over the mantel was another portrait
of the stiff, plain little girl who seemed to stare at her more curiously than
ever.

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 SECTION A

Please answer these questions. (Look at the passage again if you need to.) 

You should choose the best answer and write A, B, C, D or E in the space provided.

1 What do the words ‘hearth’ and ‘mantel’ have in common? (lines 2 and 46)

A They are parts of a window.

B They are used to display paintings.
C They both mean ‘stone’.
D They are parts of a fireplace.
E They are both abbreviations.

Your Answer: _______

2 What did Mary do after Martha had swept up the hearth?

A She went out to play.

B She opened the library door.
C She stood at the window and thought.
D She asked Mrs. Medlock for permission.
E She went to explore the house.

Your Answer: _______

3 What do the portraits in the house seem to be doing, according to Mary?

A sleeping
B dancing
C laughing
D staring at her
E talking to each other

Your Answer: _______

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4 What sparked Mary's curiosity about the locked rooms in the house?

A hearing about the library

B seeing a portrait in a bedroom
C Mrs. Medlock's instructions
D her desire to go outside
E finding an open door

Your Answer: _______

5 What is the effect of the rhetorical questions in the first paragraph? (lines 7-8)

A They provide answers to the questions posed.

B They build suspense and make the reader curious to read on.
C They establish the author's authority and knowledge.
D They offer a direct critique of the characters in the passage.
E They aim to disorient the reader so they don’t know what to expect.

Your Answer: _______

6 What type of words are the following? really (line 6), never (line 20), always (line
26)

A adverbs
B adjectives
C conjunctions
D nouns
E prepositions

Your Answer: _______

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7 Which of the following best summarises Mary's thoughts about the locked rooms
in the house?

A She was eager to explore all of them immediately.

B She wondered how many rooms there were.
C She was uninterested and didn't want to enter any of them.
D She was afraid of what she might find behind the doors.
E She thought the rooms were empty and unimportant.

Your Answer: _______

8 Based on the passage, which of the following best describes Mary’s character?

A loud and outgoing

B timid and shy
C knowledgeable and well-read
D wary and risk-averse
E inquisitive and curious

Your Answer: _______

9 As used on line 33, which of the following is the best definition of ‘rambling’?

A leisurely walking in the countryside

B talking continuously without a clear point
C a type of plant with long, spreading branches
D a sprawling and irregular layout
E a competition involving long-distance running

Your Answer: _______

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10 Why was Mary ‘almost frightened’ when she opened the door on the second floor?

A The door made a loud noise when she opened it.

B She saw a ghostly figure inside the room.
C The room was completely dark.
D She hadn’t expected the door to be unlocked.
E She heard strange voices coming from the room.

Your Answer: _______

11 'there was no one in all the huge rambling house but her own small self...' (line 33)

What technique is being used here?

A simile
B metaphor
C alliteration
D hyperbole
E personification

Your Answer: _______

12 '"Where do you live now?" said Mary aloud to her. "I wish you were here."' (line 31)

What does the author imply with this statement?

A Mary misses the person in the portrait.

B Mary is yearning for a friend in the house.
C Mary is suspicious of the portrait’s origin.
D Mary is wondering why the girl in the portrait left.
E Mary is reminiscing about her previous home in India.

Your Answer: _______

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13 How does the writer build tension at the end of this passage?

14 Describe how the atmosphere created by the portraits in the long gallery affects
Mary.

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15 What do Mary's actions in the passage reveal about her character and why?

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 Now turn to Section B and begin the writing task.

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 SECTION B
Respond to the task in the lined space provided over the page.

You do not have to finish the story – quality over quantity is preferred.

You are being assessed on your ability to

Write using accurate sentences, spelling and punctuatio
Develop a realistic, well‐paced stor
Write engagingly to interest the reader

Task:
Continue the story, describing what happens next as Mary explores the
unlocked room
Spend 5 minutes planning your writing in the box below

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atomlearning.com
 11+ English Practice Paper

Parents’ Guide

About this test

This is a paper designed to familiarise your child with the types of questions they might see in
an 11+ independent school English exam.

There are 15 comprehension questions and one creative writing question.

What you’ll need

Printed question booklet and answer ke
Penci
Rubbe
Timer

How to prepare
Your child should take the test at a time when they feel alert. Choose a quiet area where they
can work comfortably without distractions.

Talk with your child about the reasons for taking the practice test. Explain that this paper looks
similar to the one they will see in the real 11 plus exam. The questions will help them know what
to expect on exam day.

Explain that they might find some of the questions difficult, especially as they progress through
the paper. They should work as quickly and carefully as possible.

If they get stuck on a question, they should move on to the next one. If they have time left over
at the end, they can go back to any skipped questions. If they have more time left over, they
should check their answers.

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 11+ English Practice Paper

Parents’ Guide

Taking the test

Your child should write their answers in the test booklet in the spaces provided.

Timing
It’s helpful for children to get comfortable with taking tests under timed conditions. You should
allow them 60 minutes to take the test. Only start timing when they have finished reading the
instructions.

If they haven’t finished the test after 60 minutes, circle the question they got to, then let them
carry on. When you mark the test you’ll be able to see how many questions they got right in 60
minutes and how many overall. This will show you whether your child needs to work on their
speed, accuracy, or both.

Marking
You can find the answers on the Answer Key. For the multiple choice questions, give your child
one mark for each correct answer (no half-marks are available in the real test!). Do not take
marks off for wrong answers.

Take time to discuss your child’s results in a positive and encouraging way. Work through the
corrections, what they would do differently next time, and pick out key areas to revise next.

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11+ English Practice Paper

Answer Key

1.
D

2.
C

3.
D

4.
A

5.
B

6.
A

7.
B

8.
E

9.
D

10.
D

11.
C

12.
B

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11+ English Practice Paper

Parents’ Guide
Short Answer Questions (13, 14, 15)
Please use the following mark scheme for each of the short answer questions (total = 12 marks).

Excellent (4 marks)
Comprehensive and insightful analysis
Deep understanding of the text and effective exploration of relevant techniques, details, and
context
Well-structured, clear, and supported by specific examples
Uncovers subtleties and nuances in the text, providing a thorough response.

Proficient (3 marks)
Clear and detailed analysis
Identifies key techniques, details, and context
Well-structured and supported by relevant examples
Strong analysis but may lack some depth or detail compared to an excellent response.

Adequate (2 marks)
Basic analysis
Mentions relevant elements but lacks full exploration
Related to the text but may lack depth
Addresses the question but may not fully capture text's subtleties.

Limited (1 mark)
Minimal or vague analysis
May mention some relevant elements but lacks depth or insight
Somewhat related to the text but lacks clarity or thoroughness
Addresses the question at a basic level without delving into complexities.

Insufficient (0 marks)
Does not adequately address the question or is incorrect or unrelated to the text
Explanation may be incorrect or off-topic, failing to engage with the text's content or the
question's focus.

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 11+ English Practice Paper

Parents’ Guide
MODEL ANSWERS

Question 13
The writer builds tension at the end of the passage through the use of suspenseful descriptions
and the portrayal of Mary's actions. As Mary turns the massive door handle with ease and pushes
the door open slowly, the author creates a sense of anticipation. The detailed description of the
room, with its embroidered hangings and inlaid furniture, adds to the tension by contrasting the
opulence of the room with the mystery surrounding it. Additionally, the reappearance of the
portrait of the stiff, plain little girl staring at Mary intensifies the eerie atmosphere, leaving the
reader eager to discover what lies beyond the door.
Question 14
The portraits in the long gallery create an atmosphere of intrigue, curiosity, and perhaps a touch
of eeriness. The passage describes these portraits as mostly depicting men and women in
strange, grand costumes made of satin and velvet, as well as some of children in unique attire.
The descriptions of the dark, curious landscapes and the sharp, curious look in the eyes of the
figures add to the mysterious atmosphere. The effect on Mary's experience is significant. She
feels as if the portraits are wondering about her presence in the house, which adds to a sense of
unease and fascination. This atmosphere of curiosity and the feeling of being observed intensify
Mary's exploration and her desire to uncover the secrets of the house.

Question 15
Mary's actions in the passage reveal several key aspects of her character and her approach to
unfamiliar situations. First, her actions show curiosity and adventurousness. She opens the door
to the corridor and begins exploring the house without hesitation, showing her willingness to
explore the unknown. Her decision to wander through the house, even when she's uncertain
about the locked rooms, highlights her independent nature and her lack of fear in the face of
uncertainty. Additionally, her interactions with the portraits, particularly her spoken words to the
stiff, plain little girl, suggest a desire for connection and companionship. This shows that beneath
her independent exterior, there may be a longing for human connection. Overall, Mary's actions
reveal her as a curious, independent, and potentially emotionally complex character who
embraces the unfamiliar rather than shying away from it.

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11+ English Practice Paper

Parents’ Guide
Creative Writing
When marking creative writing, examiners look at the whole text and assess the following four
areas:

Sentence structure and punctuation ~25% of total mark

Are sentences easy to read and follow? How does punctuation and grammar help the
reader

Text structure and organisation ~25% of total mark

Is the text structured in a clear and effective way
Do paragraphs present one idea? Are paragraphs connected in a cohesive way

Composition, vocabulary and effect ~ 45% of total mark

Is the main idea of the text expressed effectively?
Is the text enjoyable and interesting to read? How do word choices and idea
development help with this?
Is the text appropriate for its purpose, audience and form

Spelling ~ 5% of total mark

Is spelling accurate throughout the text?

The goal is for students to write a text that is easy (containing not too many errors) and
enjoyable to read. 

Understanding the level of your child’s writing can be difficult. Knowing what they need to work
on next can be even more challenging! 

11 plus mark schemes are often filled with technical terms. To help, we’ve put together a
glossary of English technical terms. To learn more, head to your parent portal to check out our
English learning resources.

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with interactive questions, progress tracking and unlimited practice papers.