Editing Eleven-plus (section)

=== Structure ===

The structure of the eleven-plus varied over time, and among the different counties which used it. Usually, it consisted of three papers:

* Arithmetic&nbsp;– A [[mental arithmetic]] test.
* Writing&nbsp;– An essay question on a general subject.
* General Problem Solving&nbsp;– A test of general knowledge, assessing the ability to apply logic to simple problems.

Some exams have:

* Verbal Reasoning
* Non-Verbal Reasoning

Most children took the eleven-plus in their final year of primary school: usually at age 10 or 11. In [[Berkshire]] and [[Buckinghamshire]] it was also possible to sit the test a year early&nbsp;– a process named the ''ten-plus''; later, the Buckinghamshire test was called the ''twelve-plus'' and taken a year later than usual.

Originally, the test was voluntary; {{As of|2009|lc=on}}, some 30% of students in Northern Ireland do not sit for it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/85-schools/6-admission-and-choice/6-transfer-procedure.htm |title=Transfer Procedure – Department of Education, Northern Ireland |publisher=Deni.gov.uk |access-date=17 October 2009}}</ref>

In Northern Ireland, pupils sitting the exam were awarded grades in the following ratios: A (25%), B1 (5%), B2 (5%), C1 (5%), C2 (5%), D (55%). There was no official distinction between pass grades and fail grades.