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Academy11+

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Word Wizards & Brain Benders

A free 11+ card game for family game nights. 54 cards of vocabulary, verbal reasoning and maths puzzles for ages 8 to 11, with three ways to play. Print it, cut it out, and learn new words without it feeling like homework.

Ages: 8–11Players: 1–8Time: 15–30 minCards: 54

A peek at the cards

Every card is the size of a normal playing card (63 × 88 mm), nine to a page. The PDF has a cover, the rules, six pages of cards with dashed cut lines, an answer key for the Quizmaster and a score sheet.

Download the free PDF Open to print
Word WizardVocabularyW09

vanish

(verb)

Meaning

To go out of sight suddenly.

  1. 1. Say a SYNONYM (same meaning).
  2. 2. Use “vanish” in a sentence.
Up to 3 ptsacademy11.co.uk
Brain BenderVerbal reasoningB04

Hidden word

An animal is hidden across two words next to each other. Find it!

"We came late to the party."

2 ptsacademy11.co.uk
Number NinjaMaths puzzleN10

Think of a number

I think of a number, multiply it by 3 and add 4. The answer is 25. What was my number?

2 ptsacademy11.co.uk

What's in the deck

Word Wizard cards

24 cards · Vocabulary

A word, its meaning, then a synonym or antonym challenge and a sentence to make up.

Brain Bender cards

12 cards · Verbal reasoning

Odd one out, hidden words, letter codes and analogies, just like the 11+.

Number Ninja cards

12 cards · Maths puzzle

Quick mental maths, number patterns, money, time and fractions.

Wild Card cards

6 cards · Special move

Double points, swaps, steals and word-explaining to keep everyone on their toes.

How to play

Quick-fire

2–6 players

  1. 1Shuffle the cards and pick a Quizmaster, who holds the answer key.
  2. 2Taking turns, the Quizmaster reads a card to the next player, who has 30 seconds to answer.
  3. 3Score points as shown on the card. Wild cards are played straight away (or kept if the card says so).
  4. 4Swap Quizmaster every 6 cards. First to 15 points wins.

Teams

4–8 players

  1. 1Split into two teams. Each team chooses a captain.
  2. 2The teams take turns: the other team's captain reads a card and checks the answer key.
  3. 3Talk it over for up to 60 seconds; only the captain's answer counts.
  4. 4Play until the pile runs out. The team with the most points wins.

Solo challenge

1 player

  1. 1Deal yourself 10 cards (leave out the wild cards).
  2. 2Time yourself answering all ten: write your answers on paper.
  3. 3Check with the answer key (or ask a grown-up) and add up your points.
  4. 4Record your score and time, then try to beat your best with a new 10.

Scoring

  • Word WizardSay a correct synonym or antonym (as the card asks): 1 point. Use the word in a good sentence: 1 point. Bonus point if you said what the word means before the meaning was read out.
  • Brain BenderCorrect answer: 2 points. Explain how you got it for a smile from the Quizmaster.
  • Number NinjaCorrect answer: 2 points. No paper needed, but scrap paper is fine for younger players.
  • Wild CardDo what the card says. Some you keep and play later.

Printing tips

  • Print single-sided on A4 card (160–250 gsm) or plain paper glued to card.
  • Choose “Actual size” or 100% so each card is 63 × 88 mm (the size of a standard playing card).
  • Cut along the dashed lines. Pages 3 to 8 hold the cards; keep the answer key for the Quizmaster.
  • The answers are on a separate answer key rather than on the card backs, so you only print one side and nothing has to line up.
Download the free PDF Open to print

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