Grammar questions in the 11+ exam test whether students understand the rules that govern how English sentences work. While there are hundreds of grammar rules, a relatively small number appear again and again in exams. Focusing on these high-frequency rules gives the best return on study time.
Subject-verb agreement is tested in almost every 11+ paper. The rule is simple: singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. The tricky part is when the subject and verb are separated by other words: 'The box of chocolates was (not were) on the table.'
Apostrophes cause more errors than almost any other punctuation mark. Remember: apostrophes show possession (the dog's bone) or contraction (don't = do not). They never make words plural. 'The dogs played in the park' has no apostrophe because 'dogs' is simply plural, not possessive.
Homophones are a favourite of examiners because they test both vocabulary and understanding. The most commonly tested pairs are: their/there/they're, your/you're, its/it's, to/too/two, and where/were/we're. For each pair, understanding the meaning is the key to using the right spelling.
Tense consistency is another frequently tested area. In a passage or sentence, the tense should remain consistent unless there's a clear reason to change. Students often slip between past and present tense without realising.
Sentence structure questions test whether students can identify and fix run-on sentences, fragments, and comma splices. A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb and must express a complete thought.
Finally, the correct use of commas in lists, after introductory clauses, and around relative clauses is regularly tested. A good rule of thumb: if you would pause when speaking, a comma is likely needed.