Vocabulary is the skill that quietly decides the 11 plus. It powers comprehension, cloze and synonym questions, every verbal reasoning puzzle, and the quality of a child's writing. Elevenplus FC gives your child a carefully chosen library of 1,500 11+ words — and a method that makes them stick.
Why vocabulary matters so much in the 11+
An 11+ English or verbal reasoning paper can test the same word in several ways: its meaning in a passage, a synonym or antonym, the right word to fill a gap, a word hidden inside another word. A child who meets tenacious, dubious or obstinate for the first time in the exam hall is guessing. A child who has learned them properly isn't.
Vocabulary is also the part of the 11+ that takes longest to build — which is why it's the best place to start. See our free list of 100 essential 11+ words for a taste of the level.
What's in the Elevenplus FC word library
- 1,500 curated words — adjectives, nouns, verbs and adverbs pitched at 11+ level, in three difficulty tiers.
- Everything a child needs per word — a child-friendly definition, an example sentence, synonyms, antonyms, an illustrative image and, where it helps, a memory hint.
- Word roots — seven categories covering prefixes, suffixes, Latin roots, Greek roots, word building and multi-affix words, so children can decode words they've never met.
- Figurative language — similes, metaphors, personification, pathetic fallacy and more.
- Your own words — add words from school or reading, and build custom decks by category, tag or difficulty.
How children learn the words
1. Spaced-repetition flashcards
The app uses the SM-2 spaced-repetition algorithm. Each day brings a manageable number of new words plus the reviews that are due. Children rate each card (Again, Hard, Good, Easy) and the app schedules the next review accordingly — tomorrow for a tricky word, weeks away for an easy one.
2. Quizzes for recall
Multiple-choice quizzes test whether a child can pick the right meaning, synonym or antonym — the same skill as a 11+ synonym question.
3. Use it in a sentence
Write practice asks the child to use the word in a sentence of their own. The app checks sentence structure instantly (even offline), and an optional AI check judges whether the word's meaning was used correctly. This is the deepest form of learning — and it feeds straight into better creative writing.
4. Games
Speed Match, Synonym Basket and other quick games make review feel like play on the days motivation is low.
Watch our 11+ Word of the Day videos — one ambitious word, its meaning and an example sentence, in under a minute. Perfect for the car or the breakfast table.
Tips for building 11+ vocabulary at home
- Ten minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday. Spaced repetition only works if it's regular.
- Read above their level. Classic children's fiction and quality non-fiction expose children to words no list can cover.
- Talk about words. Use new words at the dinner table. Ask "what's another word for that?"
- Learn families, not single words. Knowing bene- means "good" unlocks benevolent, benefit and beneficial.
- Keep a word wall or notebook for words met in reading — then add them to a custom deck in the app.
Frequently asked questions
How many words does my child need to know for the 11+?
There is no official 11+ word list. What matters is a broad, active vocabulary well beyond what most Year 5 and 6 children use day to day. Our 1,500-word library focuses on the words that appear in 11+ comprehension passages, synonym and antonym questions, cloze tests and verbal reasoning.
What is the best way to learn 11+ vocabulary?
Little and often, with spaced repetition: reviewing each word just before it would be forgotten. Seeing words in context through reading, and using them in your own sentences, turns recognition into real understanding.
Is there an official 11+ vocabulary list?
No. Exam boards don't publish word lists. Any '11+ word list' — including ours — is a curated selection of the kind of ambitious vocabulary that appears in past-paper-style questions and children's literature.
Are the vocabulary words free?
The first 100 words, with every practice mode, are free forever. A one-time Premium payment unlocks all 1,500.