Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet uses a GL 11 Plus test covering English and Maths. The assessment is split into two separate papers: Paper 1 focuses on English and Paper 2 focuses on Maths. This guide explains the Queen Elizabeth’s School 11 Plus exam format, what its focused structure means for preparation, and how our GL courses and dedicated QE Boys mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet |
| Area | Hertfordshire/London – Barnet |
| Entrance test | QE Boys 11 Plus |
| Exam provider | GL |
| Exam structure | Two separate papers |
| Paper 1 | English |
| Paper 2 | Maths |
| Areas tested | English and Maths |
| Our mocks | QE Boys 11 Plus Mock Exams |
Information and Mock Exam review: Learning Street reviews the information on this page and our Queen Elizabeth’s School mock exams against the latest reliable information available about the entrance test.
We provide a dedicated QE Boys mock series alongside structured GL courses that can be used to develop the English, Maths and core skills required for the test.
Quick Contents
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus Exam Format
The Queen Elizabeth’s School 11 Plus is set by GL and consists of two separate papers: Paper 1 focuses on English and Paper 2 focuses on Maths.
Paper 1 – English requires children to apply secure literacy skills across a dedicated English paper. Strong comprehension, vocabulary and technical English skills are therefore important.
Paper 2 – Maths focuses on mathematical knowledge and problem solving. Children need secure KS2 methods, reliable arithmetic and the ability to decide independently how to approach unfamiliar questions.
Our current QE Boys information does not publish exact timings or a particular response format for either paper, so these should not be inferred from another GL test.
What Does the Queen Elizabeth’s School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The QE Boys test has a particularly focused structure because English and Maths are tested in separate papers.
This means children need enough depth and concentration to sustain performance across a complete subject paper rather than relying on frequent changes between different areas.
English preparation should develop careful reading, vocabulary and technical accuracy. Children need to understand unfamiliar passages and questions efficiently while avoiding unnecessary errors.
Maths preparation should build strong numerical foundations so routine calculations and methods are secure. Children can then devote more attention to recognising what an unfamiliar problem is asking and choosing an appropriate method.
The separate-paper structure also makes subject-specific stamina important. A child who performs well on short mixed exercises may still need practice maintaining accuracy throughout sustained English or Maths work.
A sensible progression is core literacy and numeracy → vocabulary and mathematical fluency → accuracy → flexible application → revision → timed subject work → complete QE Boys mock exams.
Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
At Learning Street, we research the known QE Boys format, paper length and timings when producing our mocks. We also provide realistic answer sheets, invigilation instructions and guidance on when time should be called so parents can reproduce the practical demands of the test at home as closely as possible.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48.
QE Boys 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Our QE Boys mocks are designed around the English and Maths structure used for Queen Elizabeth’s School and incorporate researched instructions and timings to help children become familiar with the demands of the test.
We provide detailed answers and parent invigilation guidance so each mock can also be used diagnostically to identify areas that need further preparation.
There is no repetition of questions between the four mock exams, allowing fresh mocks to be spaced throughout the later stages of preparation.
Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
We do not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Queen Elizabeth’s School 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on one of our QE Boys mocks should therefore be used primarily to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official entrance-test result.
The two-paper structure also means that an overall mock percentage can disguise an important difference between English and Maths performance.
A child may achieve a reasonable total score while repeatedly losing marks in one of the two papers.
Our detailed answers can help identify whether marks are being lost because of English knowledge, vocabulary, mathematical knowledge, accuracy, timing or exam technique.
Parents can then target those weaker areas before using another fresh QE Boys mock to assess whether performance improves.
How to Prepare for the Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus
Effective Queen Elizabeth’s School preparation should concentrate on developing strong English and Maths skills before children rely heavily on complete timed mock exams.
Our full GL programmes cover a wider GL syllabus that also includes Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. For Queen Elizabeth’s School specifically, however, the current QE Boys test information identifies English and Maths as the tested areas.
English Preparation
English preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar material accurately and understanding what each question is asking before substantial time pressure is introduced.
Vocabulary is particularly important because unfamiliar words can make both passages and individual questions significantly harder to interpret.
Because English has its own dedicated paper, children should eventually practise sustaining concentration throughout longer English work rather than completing only short exercises.
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become accurate and reliable before significant time pressure is introduced.
Children should then progress towards mixed mathematical problems where they need to decide independently which method is required.
This helps develop flexible problem solving rather than dependence on questions being grouped by topic.
Because Maths has its own dedicated paper, children should eventually practise maintaining accuracy and concentration throughout sustained Maths work.
Vocabulary Development
Vocabulary development supports the English paper by helping children understand unfamiliar passages, instructions and questions accurately.
New words should be introduced systematically and revisited repeatedly rather than memorised briefly before moving on.
A stronger vocabulary also allows children to spend less time decoding unfamiliar language and more time concentrating on what an English question actually requires.
Building Exam Technique and Stamina
Once the underlying English and Maths skills are secure, timed work should become increasingly important.
Children should move progressively from accurate untimed work to shorter timed exercises, longer subject sections and finally complete QE Boys mock papers.
Our QE Boys mocks can then bring the preparation together under realistic test-style conditions and help identify any remaining weaknesses before the real assessment.
View the QE Boys 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
We provide Complete, Enhance and Boost GL preparation routes for children preparing for Queen Elizabeth’s School.
Learning Street’s full GL programmes cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This is broader than the current QE Boys test structure, which specifically identifies English and Maths.
The most suitable programme depends mainly on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Course | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete GL | Our most comprehensive GL preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance GL | A shorter structured GL programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost GL | Focused GL preparation when less time remains |
Complete GL — 30–40+ Weeks
Our Complete GL 11 Plus Programme is the most comprehensive GL preparation route.
It contains 40 structured parts covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The programme includes more than 60 timed papers and tests, full answers with detailed explanations and additional work focused on core skills such as vocabulary development and accuracy in English and Maths.
For Queen Elizabeth’s School, the English, Maths and vocabulary content is directly relevant to the current QE Boys test. The programme also contains Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning because it is designed for the wider GL 11 Plus.
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Focused Complete options are also available:
Complete – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Complete – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
For Queen Elizabeth’s School, the first focused course contains the relevant English and vocabulary work alongside additional Verbal Reasoning, while the second contains the relevant Maths work alongside additional Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Enhance GL — 15–30 Weeks
Our Enhance GL programme provides a shorter 20-part preparation route covering Vocabulary Development, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
It contains more than 35 timed papers and tests alongside structured learning and detailed answers.
Enhance is most suitable where there is still enough time for substantial preparation but not enough time to work properly through all 40 parts of Complete.
Focused Enhance options are also available:
Enhance – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Enhance – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Boost GL — 6–15 Weeks
Our Boost GL programme is the shortest full GL preparation route.
It contains 10 intensive parts covering Vocabulary Development, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning and includes more than 25 timed papers and tests.
Boost is most suitable where there is insufficient time to work properly through Complete or Enhance but a family still wants structured learning, revision and testing.
Focused Boost options are also available:
Boost – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Boost – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the literacy, numeracy and vocabulary foundations needed before dedicated Queen Elizabeth’s School 11 Plus preparation begins, our primary-school course chooser can help you select an appropriate starting point.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Already Completed Substantial Preparation?
Our 11 Plus Revision Course – GL is suitable for children who have already completed substantial preparation through books, tutoring or another programme but now want a more structured period of GL-style revision.
It should not normally be completed after one of our Complete, Enhance or Boost programmes because there is some crossover in the material.
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests may need additional preparation in subjects or formats beyond the Queen Elizabeth’s School QE Boys test.
The courses below are separate supplementary options and should not be interpreted as additional subjects or components of the Queen Elizabeth’s School entrance test.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Queen Elizabeth’s School – Barnet Admissions Information
Admissions arrangements can change from year to year. For general guidance on 11 Plus preparation and our courses, use our FAQs below.
