How is SPaG Tested in the QE Boys 11+ Exam? (2026 Guide)
If your child is preparing for the QE Boys 11+ exam, you’ll already know just how competitive the process is. Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, regularly tops national league tables. Every year thousands of boys sit the 11+ entrance exam for just over 180 places. This guide for SPaG has been updated for 2026 to reflect […]
SPaG vs Comprehension in the QE Boys 11+: What’s the Difference?
If your son is preparing for the QE Boys 11 Plus exam, you’ve probably already discovered how complex the English paper can be. It covers two main skillsets: SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and Comprehension. But which is most important, and what’s the difference between them? On the surface, SPaG seems “easier”: short questions, right-or-wrong […]
Essential SPaG Topics for the 11 Plus: What Your Child Needs to Master
One of the most common questions parents ask when preparing for 11 Plus exams is: “What exactly is tested in SPaG?” If you’ve ever flicked through a practice paper and found yourself wondering which rules matter (and which ones the examiners are really looking for), you’re not alone. SPaG (or spelling, punctuation and grammar) can […]
Top SPaG Mistakes in the QE Boys English 11+ Exam (and How to Avoid Them)
Preparing for the Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE Boys) entrance exam is one of the most daunting challenges a family will face in their educational journey. With up to 4,000 applicants competing for fewer than 200 places, every mark can make the difference between a place and a near miss. With so many variables, English is […]
QE Boys vs Wilson’s School: Which Top Grammar Is Best for Your Son?
Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current entry data for QE Boys and Wilson’s School. If you’ve been researching grammar schools in England, two names will almost certainly have come up again and again: Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (QE Boys) and Wilson’s School, Sutton. These two schools consistently top national league tables, often trading […]
How Hard is the QE Boys 11 Plus English Exam?
Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current QE Boys exam format and 2026 admissions data If you’re looking into Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, you probably already know that it’s one of the most competitive grammar schools in the UK. Year after year, QE Boys tops the league tables, sends dozens of students to Oxbridge, […]
Best 11 Plus English Practice Papers for QE Boys (2027 Guide)
Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current QE Boys exam format and 2027 entry information. Once you start thinking seriously about the QE Boys 11+ exam, it’s natural to turn to practice papers. Not just for revision, but to get a feel for what the exam even looks like. This guide has been updated […]
QE Boys vs Habs Boys: Which is Right for Your Child?
Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current entry data for QE Boys and Haberdashers’ Boys’ School. Choosing a school for your son is rarely as simple as comparing league tables. Yes, results matter, and both Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (QE Boys) and Haberdashers’ Boys’ School (Habs) have them in abundance. But so do the […]