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100+ Free CSSE 11+ Practice Questions

Pass your CSSE Essex 11 Plus (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: CSSE 11+ Exam

2 papers

CSSE 11+ has English and Maths written papers, sat on the same day

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

60 marks each

Each CSSE paper is marked out of 60 and the two papers are equally weighted

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

70 minutes

English paper is 60 minutes plus 10 minutes additional reading time

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

60 minutes

Mathematics paper lasts 60 minutes and covers the Key Stage 2 curriculum

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

303

Minimum standardised total across both papers needed to be considered

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

Age-standardised

Scores are adjusted for date of birth so younger pupils are not disadvantaged

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

No fee

There is no entrance-exam fee and CSSE grammar schools charge no tuition

CSSE - The 11+ Examination

100

Free original multiple-choice practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

The CSSE 11+ is the Year 6 entrance test for grammar schools in the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, sat on one Saturday for Year 7 entry the following September. It has two equally weighted written papers, each marked out of 60: English (60 minutes plus 10 minutes reading, with comprehension and creative writing) and Mathematics (60 minutes of Key Stage 2 number and reasoning). There is no Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning paper. Scores are age-standardised and a total of at least 303 is needed to be considered, with offers competitive. This 100-question bank gives original multiple-choice practice across the same English and Maths skills.

Sample CSSE 11+ Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CSSE 11+ exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read: 'Tom hadn't slept all night. As the first grey light crept under his curtains, he heard the front door click and footsteps fade down the path.' What time of day is it in this passage?
A.Midday
B.Early morning
C.Late evening
D.Midnight
Explanation: The phrase 'the first grey light crept under his curtains' signals dawn, so it is early morning. The writer uses the slow arrival of light to show daybreak rather than stating the time directly.
2Read: 'The market was a riot of colour: scarlet peppers, golden mangoes and bunches of violet flowers crowded every stall.' The phrase 'a riot of colour' suggests the market was:
A.Dangerous and violent
B.Full of bright, varied colours
C.Quiet and empty
D.Dull and grey
Explanation: 'A riot of colour' is a figurative phrase meaning an abundance of bright, varied colours, supported by the list of scarlet, golden and violet items. The word 'riot' here means a lively profusion, not actual violence.
3In the sentence 'The explorer was undaunted by the towering cliffs and pressed on,' the word 'undaunted' most nearly means:
A.Frightened
B.Not discouraged
C.Exhausted
D.Confused
Explanation: 'Undaunted' means not put off or discouraged by difficulty. The clue 'pressed on' despite the towering cliffs shows the explorer kept going without fear.
4Read this poem opening: 'The fog comes / on little cat feet. / It sits looking / over harbour and city.' The fog is being compared to:
A.A harbour
B.A cat
C.A city
D.A boat
Explanation: The phrases 'little cat feet' and 'sits looking' give the fog the qualities of a cat, which is a metaphor describing how silently and slowly the fog moves and settles.
5Read: 'Although Priya had practised the piece a hundred times, her fingers trembled as she stepped onto the stage.' Why do Priya's fingers tremble?
A.Because she has not practised
B.Because she is nervous
C.Because the stage is cold
D.Because she has hurt her hand
Explanation: Despite lots of practice, her fingers tremble as she steps on stage, which shows nervousness about performing. The word 'Although' signals that the trembling is not due to a lack of preparation.
6Which word is the closest SYNONYM for 'reluctant'?
A.Eager
B.Unwilling
C.Cheerful
D.Sudden
Explanation: 'Reluctant' means unwilling or hesitant to do something. 'Unwilling' carries the same meaning of holding back.
7Which word is the closest ANTONYM (opposite) of 'generous'?
A.Kind
B.Mean
C.Wealthy
D.Friendly
Explanation: 'Generous' means giving freely, so its opposite is 'mean', which describes someone unwilling to share or give.
8Read: 'The detective examined the muddy footprints, the broken window and the open drawer, then nodded slowly.' What can we infer the detective is doing?
A.Cleaning the house
B.Gathering clues about a crime
C.Looking for a lost pet
D.Repairing the window
Explanation: Muddy footprints, a broken window and an open drawer are clues, and a detective examining them is gathering evidence about a crime. The slow nod suggests they are piecing together what happened.
9In the sentence 'The ancient oak tree stood in the meadow,' which word is an adjective?
A.oak
B.tree
C.ancient
D.stood
Explanation: 'Ancient' is an adjective because it describes the noun 'tree', telling us how old it is. Adjectives describe or modify nouns.
10Which sentence uses an apostrophe CORRECTLY?
A.The dog wagged it's tail.
B.The childrens' toys were everywhere.
C.The girl's coat was on the hook.
D.The cat's are sleeping.
Explanation: 'The girl's coat' correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession: the coat belonging to one girl. The apostrophe before the 's' marks singular ownership.

About the CSSE 11+ Exam

The CSSE 11+ is the shared entrance examination run by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex for admission to its grammar schools, such as King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford), Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Colchester Royal Grammar School, Colchester County High School for Girls and Westcliff High Schools. Pupils sit two written papers on the same day: an English paper of 60 minutes plus 10 minutes reading time, combining a reading-comprehension section with a creative-writing task, and a Mathematics paper of 60 minutes covering the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Each paper is marked out of 60 with equal weight, and raw marks are age-standardised so children born later in the school year are not disadvantaged. A standardised total of at least 303 is required for consideration, but places are competitive and allocated using each school's admission criteria.

Assessment

Two written papers sat on the same day: English (reading comprehension plus creative writing) and Mathematics. Each paper is marked out of 60 and the two papers are equally weighted. There is no Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning paper.

Time Limit

English 60 minutes plus 10 minutes additional reading time; Mathematics 60 minutes.

Passing Score

No simple pass mark. A total age-standardised score of at least 303 across both papers is needed to be considered, with final offers depending on overall score, ranking and each school's oversubscription criteria.

Exam Fee

There is no entrance-exam fee to register for and sit the CSSE 11+; CSSE grammar schools are state schools and charge no tuition. (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE))

CSSE 11+ Exam Content Outline

50%

English

The official English paper (60 minutes plus 10 minutes reading) has a comprehension section on a fiction, non-fiction or poetry passage and a creative-writing task. This practice focuses on the multiple-choice-testable skills: reading comprehension, inference, vocabulary in context, grammar, punctuation, spelling, word classes, synonyms and antonyms, and figurative language.

50%

Mathematics

The official Maths paper (60 minutes) covers the Key Stage 2 curriculum. This practice covers number and place value, the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion, money, time and measurement, perimeter, area, angles, 2D and 3D shapes, coordinates, reflections and translations, sequences, averages and multi-step worded problems, with no calculator.

How to Pass the CSSE 11+ Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No simple pass mark. A total age-standardised score of at least 303 across both papers is needed to be considered, with final offers depending on overall score, ranking and each school's oversubscription criteria.
  • Assessment: Two written papers sat on the same day: English (reading comprehension plus creative writing) and Mathematics. Each paper is marked out of 60 and the two papers are equally weighted. There is no Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning paper.
  • Time limit: English 60 minutes plus 10 minutes additional reading time; Mathematics 60 minutes.
  • Exam fee: There is no entrance-exam fee to register for and sit the CSSE 11+; CSSE grammar schools are state schools and charge no tuition.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CSSE 11+ Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the comprehension passage carefully and underline the exact words that prove each answer; CSSE questions reward evidence from the text, not guesses.
2Build a strong vocabulary by reading widely across fiction, non-fiction and poetry, since the English paper tests word meanings and inference as well as plain detail.
3Revise grammar and punctuation rules such as apostrophes, speech marks, commas and clauses, because accuracy is assessed in both the comprehension and the writing task.
4For Maths, master quick and accurate arithmetic with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio, as these underpin many of the worded multi-step problems.
5Practise worded problems by writing down the steps and units; CSSE Maths questions often hide the calculation inside a real-life situation.
6Sit full-length English and Maths papers under timed conditions so your child builds the reading stamina and pace needed for two 60-minute papers in one day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers are in the CSSE 11+?

There are two written papers sat on the same day: English and Mathematics. The English paper combines reading comprehension with a creative-writing task, and there is no separate Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning paper.

How long is each CSSE 11+ paper?

The English paper lasts 60 minutes with an extra 10 minutes of reading time, and the Mathematics paper lasts 60 minutes. Both papers are taken on the same test day.

What score do you need to pass the CSSE 11+?

There is no simple pass mark. A total age-standardised score of at least 303 across both papers is required to be considered, but offers are competitive and depend on overall score, ranking and each school's oversubscription criteria.

When is the CSSE 11+ exam?

The CSSE 11+ is sat on a single set Saturday in September. For 2027 entry the test takes place on Saturday 19 September 2026, with results sent to parents in mid-October 2026.

Is the CSSE 11+ multiple choice?

No. The official CSSE papers are written, with comprehension answers, a creative-writing task and worked maths answers. This OpenExamPrep bank uses multiple-choice questions to practise the same English and Maths knowledge.

Are these official CSSE practice questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the CSSE English and Maths skills. CSSE publishes its own familiarisation and sample materials separately on the official website.