If you search online for an "11+ vocabulary list," you will likely find massive PDFs containing anywhere from 500 to 2,000 words sorted in alphabetical order. While these lists are comprehensive, they are a terrible way to actually learn.
Handing a child an A-Z "word dump" ignores how language acquisition actually works. A 9-year-old shouldn't be struggling to learn a highly advanced word like arcane before they have mastered fundamental 11+ words like adequate or comprehend.
Find your child's starting level
Our app automatically diagnoses your child's vocabulary tier and serves words at the exact right difficulty.
Try 10 free words todayOur Tiered 11+ Vocabulary List
To prepare effectively for grammar school and independent school exams, children need to build their vocabulary progressively. Here is a sample of our tiered approach, showing how words scale in difficulty from late-primary foundations up to scholarship-level stretch targets.
1. Onboarding Vocabulary
These are core vocabulary words that most children encounter in late primary school. Mastery of these is required before moving on to tougher abstract concepts.
- Avoid
- Bitter (angry)
- Disobey
- Embarrassed
- Vanish
2. Foundation Late-Primary
Slightly more advanced verbs and abstract nouns. Children must be comfortable using these in multiple contexts.
- Abandon
- Ambition
- Courageous
- Defeat (verb)
- Firm
3. Early 11+
This is where 11+ preparation truly begins. These words frequently appear in GL and CEM comprehension passages.
- Adequate
- Altitude
- Comprehend
- Influence
- Veil (noun)
4. Standard 11+
The core battleground for the 11+. A firm grasp of these words is essential for finding synonyms and antonyms in timed conditions.
- Commission
- Compassion
- Debate
- Flustered
- Ingenious
5. Selective 11+
Vocabulary often found in highly competitive grammar school exams (such as the Sutton S.E.T. or Tiffin Stage 1) and top-tier independent school papers.
- Elaborate
- Exquisite
- Inkling
- Opaque
- Tedium
6. Scholarship Stretch
Advanced words designed to separate the top 5% of candidates. These are often used as "trap" words in multiple-choice questions.
- Acumen
- Disingenuous
- Loath
- Tempestuous
- Unorthodox
7. Advanced Secondary
Highly literary and complex vocabulary. While rarely the main focus of the 11+, knowing these guarantees a child will not be intimidated by difficult 19th-century reading texts.
- Abstruse
- Arcane
- Corroborate
- Paradoxical
- Unfathomable
Note: The app also supports advanced stretch levels above 13, but most 11+ pupils will practise mainly between Levels 7 and 12.
Why learning by difficulty matters
When a child practises vocabulary at the edge of their current capability—not too easy, but not overwhelmingly hard—they retain information much faster. Targeted practice builds confidence, while A-Z lists often result in frustration and forgotten words.