Pack sharp HB pencils, a soft plastic eraser and a sharpener that catches the shavings, all in a clear pencil case. That covers almost every 11+ and school test, but your child’s test letter has the final say, so read it the week before.
Why HB pencils?
Most 11+ answers go on a separate answer sheet that a computer reads. Your child draws a firm pencil line through a small box next to each answer, and the scanner looks for that dark mark.
HB is dark enough to scan clearly and hard enough not to smudge across the page. Pens are usually banned on these sheets, and in some areas an answer sheet filled in with pen isn’t marked at all.
Our pick is the Staedtler Noris HB, the yellow and black school pencil. It’s hexagonal, so it doesn’t roll off the desk, and its lead is made to resist breaking. For a child who likes a chunkier feel, the Faber-Castell Grip 2001 HB is triangular, with a raised grip zone that stops fingers sliding.
Pack three, sharpened the night before. Leave propelling pencils at home, as some areas don’t allow them.
Why does the eraser matter so much?
A scanner can’t tell a half-rubbed-out mark from a real answer. Test instructions ask children to rub out mistakes as completely as they can rather than cross them out, because the computer won’t be able to read their final answer. One area’s booklet even tells children to let the invigilator know if they rub a hole in the sheet.
So skip the little rubber on the end of the pencil, which wears down fast, and pack a proper plastic eraser. Any of these three works well:
- Staedtler Mars plastic. Rubs out cleanly with very few crumbs, and its sleeve keeps it clean in the pencil case.
- Tombow MONO. Soft and clean, with a paper sleeve cut away at the corners so it doesn’t dig into the eraser when your child presses hard.
- Pentel Hi-Polymer. Lifts pencil with very light pressure, which is kind to thin answer paper.
Which sharpener?
A tub sharpener has a box that catches the shavings, so there’s no graphite dust on the desk or the answer sheet. The Staedtler 512 has two holes, one for ordinary pencils and one for chunky ones, and a lid that locks shut so it can’t spill in the bag.
Even so, spare sharp pencils are quicker than sharpening in the middle of a test.
Why a clear pencil case?
Many 11+ tests only allow a see-through pencil case or a clear plastic bag, so invigilators can check what’s inside without opening it. Any clear zip case will do. It also lets your child see at a glance that everything’s there.
What’s not allowed
Rules vary by area and by school, so check your letter. These are commonly banned:
- Phones, smart watches and fitness trackers.
- In some areas, any watch at all. Others only ban smart ones.
- Calculators.
- Rulers, protractors and compasses, in some tests.
- Pens on a multiple-choice answer sheet.
- Scrap paper, notes, and in some areas even a lucky mascot on the desk.
If watches are banned where you live, take your child’s off for a few practice papers so working without one feels normal.
Independent school exams with a written English paper often ask for a pen as well, and the letter will say which colour. In Year 6 SATs, children use a dark pencil or a blue or black pen.
Practise with the same kit
Use the exam pencils and eraser for practice papers in the last few weeks, so nothing feels new on the day. If your area’s familiarisation booklet has sample answer sheets, print one and let your child practise a firm line through each box, and rubbing out cleanly. Our guide to the tests explains how each one works.
Packing checklist
The night before, check the bag has:
- Three sharpened HB pencils
- A plastic eraser
- A tub sharpener
- A clear pencil case or clear plastic bag
- A watch, only if the letter allows one, with any alarm switched off
- A drink and a snack, if the letter allows them
- Anything else the letter asks for
Phones stay with you.
Questions parents also ask
Can my child use a 2B pencil?
Stick with HB unless the letter says otherwise. Softer pencils like 2B make a darker mark but smudge more easily on the answer sheet.
Will the test centre have spare pencils?
Don’t count on it. Some centres keep a few, but most letters ask children to bring their own, so pack spares.
What if my child changes an answer?
Rub the first mark out completely, then mark the new answer. Crossing out confuses the scanner, so it may not pick up the answer your child meant.
