Haberdashers’ Elstree Boys’ and Girls’ Schools 11+ Test & Preparation Guide
Haberdashers’ Boys’ School and Haberdashers’ Girls’ School publish a shared 11+ first-round Quest assessment route.
The current route covers Maths and NVR, English and VR, Creative Comprehension and Creative Writing, so preparation should be broad and balanced across core subjects, reasoning and writing.
Confirmed 11+ Assessment Route
| Assessment area | What parents should prepare for |
|---|---|
| Assessment provider / route | The schools use the same Quest first-round assessment. |
| Maths and NVR | A combined Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning paper. |
| English and VR | A combined English and Verbal Reasoning paper. |
| Creative Comprehension | A separate creative comprehension component. |
| Creative Writing | A separate creative writing component. |
How Scholars Tutorial Covers the Required Preparation
The most useful preparation plan is to match Scholars Tutorial practice directly to the published assessment areas, rather than using a generic grammar-school 11+ plan.
| Required skill | Scholars Tutorial online categories | Printed paper support | Preparation emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths and NVR | 11+ Maths, 11+ Maths : Word Problems, 11+ Advanced Maths, 11+ NVR | 11+ Maths Practice Papers, 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers, 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers | Prepare both calculation/problem solving and spatial reasoning. |
| English and VR | 11+ English, 11+ SPAG, 11+ Advanced English, 11+ Advanced VOCAB, 11+ VR | 11+ English Practice Papers, 11+ SPAG Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers, 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers | Build reading accuracy, grammar, vocabulary and verbal deduction. |
| Creative Comprehension | 11+ Advanced English, 11+ Advanced VOCAB, 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE | 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers, 11+ Mixed Practice Papers | Practise unfamiliar formats, synthesis, logic and deeper comprehension. |
| Creative Writing | Creative Writing, 11+ Advanced SPAG | Creative Writing practice, 11+ Advanced SPAG Practice Papers | Develop original, accurate and structured writing under tight time pressure. |
Suggested Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route
1. Cover all four published blocks
Do not leave any published block until the end: Maths/NVR, English/VR, Creative Comprehension and Creative Writing all need preparation.
2. Use Quest-style mixed practice
Use 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE and 11+ Mixed Practice Papers for cross-subject flexibility and unfamiliar question styles.
3. Strengthen English depth
Use 11+ Advanced English, 11+ Advanced VOCAB and 11+ SPAG because English and VR share a strong vocabulary base.
4. Practise writing little and often
Use Creative Writing practice frequently so pupils can plan quickly and produce accurate, original work.
What Not to Over-Prepare
FAQ
Should this be one combined guide for Habs Boys and Habs Girls?
Yes for 11+ test preparation, because the schools publish that they use the same Quest first-round assessment.
Is Creative Writing a core element?
Yes. Creative Writing is listed as a separate part of the assessment, so it should be included in the main preparation route.
How to Use This Guide
Use this page as a preparation guide, then check the school’s latest official admissions page before applying. Independent schools can change assessment providers, paper lengths, shortlist rules and interview arrangements. This guide deliberately avoids fixed calendar dates and wider admissions-policy detail so that parents can focus on the test preparation that matters.