Could you pass the 11-plus?

Thirty-two years after most grammar schools were abolished the 11-plus exam which controlled entry to them still divides opinion among parents and teachers. But how difficult was it?

Once it was the nerve-racking ritual faced by every schoolchild in the UK, but these days the 11-plus exam is a fading memory.

FIND OUT MORE... A Social Selection is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 11 December and 18 December at 2000 GMT Or catch up later on BBC iPlayer

The exam, which all children were required to take in their final year of primary school, decided what sort of education a child could go on to. Those who passed went to grammar schools, while those who failed didn't. There are now no grammar schools in Wales or Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, this is the last academic year to have an 11-plus style exam. In England, 164 grammar schools remain, and pupils wishing to attend must still pass an exam. Competition in these areas is fierce, and a BBC Radio 4 programme has found parents spend as much as £1,800 on private tuition to help their children. But without paying a penny to a private teacher, you can have a go by trying our timed mini-version of the test.

You have 10 minutes to answer 15 questions. Click the "start" button below and begin.

TIMER: 10:00

MOVING ONE LETTER

In these questions, one letter can be moved from the first word to the second word, to make two new words. The letters must not be otherwise arranged and both new words must make sense. Select the correct letter from those provided.

1. SCARF & RAIL

A    F    R    S

2. GUILT & POND

L    T    U    I

3. BLIND & SAY

N    B    L    I

WORD COMPLETION

In these questions, the same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and to start the word after the brackets.

4. THI ( ) ECK     STU ( ) OON

B    D    N    K

5. FOR ( ) ILL     PAC ( ) ICK

N    H    M    K

6. SHE ( ) ONE     COR ( ) INE

N    D    L    S

NUMERICAL CODES

Three of the four words are given in code. The codes are not arranged in the same order as the words and one code is missing. When you have cracked the code, use it to answer the next two questions.

TEAM      MALE      MAST      LEST
      6245      5326      1345

7. STEEL

62551    54223    13551    45331

8. TASTE

25625    53652    52453    56251

FILL IN THE MISSING NUMBER

In each of the following sets of numbers the number in the centre bracket is found in exactly the same way as the two examples. Find the number in the middle.

9.   48 (6) 8,   49 (7) 7,   63 ( ) 7

8    6    9    7

10.   72 (47) 24,   28 (18) 9,   84 ( ) 33

65    66    51    50

11.   3 (21) 27,   6 (25) 37,   11 ( ) 23

1    7    9    29

NUMBER SEQUENCES

In each question, find the number that continues the series in the most sensible way.

12.   30,  28,  32,  30,  34, ____

38    32    36    40

13.   17,  19,  23,  29,  37, ____

47    45    31    39

14.   7,  16,  34,  70, ____

35    49    140    142

15.   16,  17,  18,  18,  20,  19, ____

21    23    22    20

Click finish when you're done to mark your test.

You've scored %count% out of 15.

You can find out which questions you answered correctly by scrolling back up the page. The correct answers and explanations are available on this page.

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