--- type: "Article" title: "CSSE Essex 11+ Practice Questions Online: Free" description: "Free online CSSE Essex 11+ practice questions in maths and English, with answer and discussion notes, for the Southend, Chelmsford and Colchester selective schools." resource: https://pip11plus.com/csse-essex-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions tags: ["11+", "printables", "pip"] timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:42:37Z image: https://pip11plus.com/app-shots/pseo/pip-practice-hub.jpg --- Essex 11+ practice # CSSE Essex 11+ Practice Questions Online Write four short responses on paper, then open the answers and discussion notes. Use the subject paper hubs below for longer practice. No account is required. [Try 4 written tasks](#free-questions) [Get the papers](#papers) Free written tasks and discussion notes, no email required. Want a printable paper? Get our [free CSSE Essex 11+ practice papers (PDF)](https://pip11plus.com/csse-11-plus-practice-papers). ![The Pip 11+ practice hub used for Essex preparation](https://pip11plus.com/app-shots/pseo/pip-practice-hub.jpg) _Real practice screens from Pip._ ## CSSE Essex 11+ practice at a glance **Short answer:** The CSSE examination uses written English and maths papers rather than a standard four-part GL test. English preparation should include reading and continuous writing, while maths needs clear written working and strong KS2 problem solving. Paper 1 Mathematics Paper 2 English reading and writing Writing Continuous writing is part of English Official resources CSSE publishes familiarisation papers These are original Pip materials, not official exam questions. Arrangements can change. Confirm the current format and dates with [the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex](https://csse.org.uk/examination/). Write and review **Want the full papers?** These questions are useful for short bursts, but the real CSSE is two timed written papers. [Download our free CSSE style practice papers](https://pip11plus.com/csse-11-plus-practice-papers) (English 60 marks and maths 60 marks, with mark schemes) to rehearse the whole thing. ## Try four free CSSE Essex 11+ written tasks CSSE needs written responses. Work on paper, then open the discussion notes below. Review the writing together; it is not automatically scored. Reading Task 1 of 4 ### “The bell rang. Elin kept her eyes on the empty chair beside her, then folded the spare programme carefully.” What suggests Elin had expected somebody to join her? Give two details. Write your response on paper before opening the notes. **Show answer or discussion notes** A suitable answer identifies the empty chair beside Elin and the spare programme. These suggest she had saved a place and a programme. Do not award yourself an official mark: this is a discussion guide. Maths Task 2 of 4 ### A cinema sells 18 adult tickets at £8.50 and 24 child tickets at £5.75. It pays £95 to hire the room. How much ticket money remains after the hire cost? Show your working. Write your response on paper before opening the notes. **Show answer or discussion notes** Adult sales: 18 × £8.50 = £153. Child sales: 24 × £5.75 = £138. Total £291; subtract £95 to leave £196. Check both multiplications and label the final amount. Writing Task 3 of 4 ### Describe a school playground just after everyone has gone indoors. Write one paragraph using specific details to suggest the sudden quiet. Write your response on paper before opening the notes. **Show answer or discussion notes** There is no single correct paragraph. Look for selected details, such as a ball still rolling or a coat hanging from a bench. Check that sentences connect and punctuation helps the reader. A list of impressive adjectives is not enough. Maths Task 4 of 4 ### A ribbon is 2.4 m long. Six pieces, each 28 cm long, are cut off. How many centimetres remain? Write your response on paper before opening the notes. **Show answer or discussion notes** Convert 2.4 m to 240 cm. Six pieces use 6 × 28 = 168 cm. The remainder is 240 − 168 = 72 cm. **Review together** These written tasks are not automatically marked. The notes explain the maths and offer English discussion points; they are not official mark schemes. The practice continues in Pip ## Fresh questions, instant explanations and a clear next step Use Pip for supporting English and maths skills between written sessions. Keep writing on paper and review it with an adult; these tasks do not receive an automatic writing mark. - Free daily English, maths and reasoning practice - No ads or child data collection - Optional timed mock papers and progress reporting [Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) ![A homophones question in the Pip 11+ app](https://pip11plus.com/app-shots/pseo/pip-homophones-question.jpg) _Clear, focused questions._ ![Pip progress report with Pip Score and focus areas](https://pip11plus.com/app-shots/pseo/pip-progress-report.jpg) _A useful next step for parents._ Print and practise ## Free CSSE Essex 11+ practice papers by subject Use CSSE’s official familiarisation papers for the response format. Our English and maths hubs add topic practice, but an instant-marked quiz cannot replace continuous writing. [Maths practice papers](https://pip11plus.com/11-plus-maths-papers): Free PDF practice Printable maths papers with worked answers Open practice hub → [English practice papers](https://pip11plus.com/11-plus-english-papers): Free PDF practice Comprehension, grammar and vocabulary practice Open practice hub → ## What should CSSE Essex 11+ practice cover? | Practice area | What to work on | Good first step | | --- | --- | --- | | Reading | Comprehension, vocabulary and inference | Quote or point to evidence before answering | | Continuous writing | Ideas, structure, accuracy and control | Plan briefly, then leave time to proofread | | Maths fluency | Secure arithmetic without a calculator | Show a clean method for every multi-step problem | | Maths reasoning | Interpreting unfamiliar problems | Estimate first to catch unreasonable answers | ## How to use CSSE Essex 11+ practice papers effectively 1. Use the actual CSSE familiarisation papers to see how written responses are presented. The tasks here are shorter skill checks, not copies of those papers. 2. For reading, answer the question before adding explanation. If it asks for two details, make both easy to find. 3. Set continuous writing as its own activity. Read it together for clarity, organisation and accuracy; a multiple-choice score cannot assess it. 4. In maths, retain the working when an answer is wrong. A correct first calculation followed by a unit error tells you what to practise next. Built for steady progress ## Turn paper practice into a five-minute daily habit Note the skill behind a missed answer, such as inference, unit conversion or rotation. Choose that topic for the next practice session, then return to a fresh paper question. [Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) ![Pip practice hub covering English, maths and reasoning](https://pip11plus.com/app-shots/pseo/pip-practice-hub.jpg) ## CSSE Essex 11+ written tasks: FAQs **Are these official CSSE Essex 11+ questions?** No. These are original Pip written tasks covering the relevant broad skills. Pip is not affiliated with the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. Use the official familiarisation material for the exact current instructions. **What should my child practise for the CSSE Essex 11+?** The CSSE examination uses written English and maths papers rather than a standard four-part GL test. English preparation should include reading and continuous writing, while maths needs clear written working and strong KS2 problem solving. **How should we use CSSE Essex 11+ practice papers?** Use the actual CSSE familiarisation papers to see how written responses are presented. The tasks here are shorter skill checks, not copies of those papers. For reading, answer the question before adding explanation. If it asks for two details, make both easy to find. **Does passing the CSSE Essex 11+ guarantee a grammar-school place?** No. Test qualification and school allocation are separate. Each school applies its published admissions and oversubscription rules, and parents must complete the required school application. ## Continue preparing for the CSSE Essex 11+ [CSSE Essex 11+ explained](https://pip11plus.com/csse-essex-11-plus-explained) [Essex grammar-school guide](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/essex) [Schools to compare in Essex](https://pip11plus.com/best-schools-in-essex) [When to start 11+ preparation](https://pip11plus.com/when-should-you-start-preparing-for-the-11-plus) ## Other free regional 11+ practice pages [Kent free practice](https://pip11plus.com/kent-test-practice-papers-and-questions) [Buckinghamshire free practice](https://pip11plus.com/buckinghamshire-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Sutton free practice](https://pip11plus.com/sutton-set-practice-papers-and-questions) [Birmingham and the West Midlands free practice](https://pip11plus.com/birmingham-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Lincolnshire free practice](https://pip11plus.com/lincolnshire-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Trafford free practice](https://pip11plus.com/trafford-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Bexley free practice](https://pip11plus.com/bexley-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Medway free practice](https://pip11plus.com/medway-test-practice-papers-and-questions) [Gloucestershire free practice](https://pip11plus.com/gloucestershire-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Slough free practice](https://pip11plus.com/slough-consortium-11-plus-practice-papers-and-questions) [Independent school free practice](https://pip11plus.com/iseb-common-pre-test-practice-questions) [FSCE free practice](https://pip11plus.com/fsce-practice-questions-and-writing-prompts) [Sutton Stage 2 free practice](https://pip11plus.com/sutton-stage-2-practice-papers-and-questions) [St Olave's free practice](https://pip11plus.com/st-olaves-stage-2-writing-and-maths-practice) [Henrietta Barnett free practice](https://pip11plus.com/henrietta-barnett-round-2-practice)