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11 Plus3 min read
CSSE Questions
CSSE 11+ — Overview
CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) administers the 11+ for grammar schools in Essex including Southend, Chelmsford and Colchester:
- Two-stage process: Stage 1 tests and Stage 2 for borderline candidates at some schools
- Maths and English papers with written (not multiple-choice) answers
- English includes comprehension and continuous writing sections
- Maths covers the full KS2 curriculum plus problem-solving at a higher level
CSSE Maths
The CSSE maths paper tests mathematical reasoning with written answers:
- Arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio at an advanced level
- Geometry including area, perimeter, angles and coordinate questions
- Multi-step word problems requiring clear working to be shown
- Questions increase in difficulty — the final questions are intentionally challenging
CSSE English
The CSSE English paper combines comprehension and creative writing:
- Comprehension: 15+ questions on an unseen passage covering retrieval, inference and language
- Continuous writing: two compulsory pieces — one from a picture prompt, one from a text prompt
- Strong vocabulary, accurate grammar and clear paragraph structure are essential
- Spelling and punctuation accuracy matters — marks are allocated for technical accuracy
How YearWise 11+ Practice Works
YearWise generates exam-specific 11+ questions calibrated to real grammar school entrance tests — GL, CSSE and more. Practise with timed mock papers, track progress across Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and use free area guides covering 25+ regions. Free to start, no account needed.