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The Henrietta Barnett School 11+ - exam format & mock papers
The Henrietta Barnett School runs a two-stage test. Stage 1 is a short GL-standard English comprehension (25 minutes, five options) with Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning tests; the top scorers go through to Stage 2. Stage 2 Maths is exceptionally demanding and its hardest block carries negative marking. A 11Plus-Help HBS mock builds Stage 1 to standard and stretches Maths towards Stage 2.
Made for London and nearby grammars · Stage 2 written papers where schools set them · school-specific formats · "show your working" style maths
The papers
Stage 1: short English + VR + NVR (MC). Stage 2: the hardest maths in the London set, plus English and two writing tasks.
Stage 1 - English - 25 minutes
- English: one short passage - retrieval, inference, vocabulary in context with homophone-trap distractors
Stage 1 - Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning: all standard GL types
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: GL standard
Stage 2 - Mathematics - 60 minutes
- Maths: graded blocks (5, 6, 6 marks); the top block is negatively marked at -2 per wrong answer; the hardest 11+ maths in London
Stage 2 - English & Creative Writing
- English: 30 minutes, 30 marks
- Creative Writing: two structured tasks, 15 marks each
What it tests
English comprehension · Verbal Reasoning · Non-Verbal Reasoning · Maths (very hard) · Creative Writing
What to work on
- fast, accurate short-passage comprehension - there is little time
- hearing homophone traps in vocabulary questions
- the whole GL verbal and non-verbal range
- for Stage 2, deciding when NOT to guess (negative marking) and planning two writing tasks
Worth knowing
- Stage 1 English is short - about 25 minutes.
- Stage 2 Maths negatively marks its hardest questions - a wrong answer costs 2 marks.
- Creative writing at Stage 2 is two structured tasks, not one open prompt.
The HBS mock on 11Plus-Help
The HBS mock keeps Stage 1 English short and sharp and provides a hard-to-challenge Maths paper to build towards the Stage 2 standard.
Original practice in a GL-informed format. Not an official or past paper.
FAQs
Is there maths in Round 1?
No - maths appears in Stage 2 only; Round 1 is English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
How important is Stage 2?
Very - Stage 2 performance is crucial for final offers, and its hardest Maths block carries negative marking.
Admissions arrangements change. Always check the current policy and admissions page on the school (or local authority) website before relying on this information - especially catchment areas, score thresholds and registration deadlines.
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Practice materials are original and independently produced. They are not official school papers and do not guarantee admission. School arrangements can change; parents should check each school’s current admissions information.