11 plus forum – grammar school FAQs
Your 11 plus questions answered!
Applying to a grammar school? We’re here to help. Get advice and resources to help your child prepare for the 11 plus, apply to secondary schools, and get a place at their top choice school.
For definitions of key terms, take a look at our glossary.
FAQ
Applying to grammar schools
What are grammar schools?
Grammar schools are selective state secondary schools for children aged 11–18. Children applying to grammar schools need to take an academic test, commonly known as the 11+ (11 plus), to be eligible for a place. There are 163 grammar schools in England teaching around 176,000 pupils.
You can find more information about your local grammar schools here.
How do I apply to a grammar school?
There are two stages to the grammar school application process:
Register for the school's 11 plus exam. Information about how to register will be available on the admissions page of your target school's website. The registration deadline depends on the school, but is usually in the spring or summer of Year 5.
If your child meets the eligible score or required standard in the exam, you can apply for a school place. This involves listing the school as a preference on your common application form. This form will be available on your local authority website from September in Year 6. The deadline for submitting the form is 31st October.
In some areas, children are automatically registered for the 11 plus exam if they attend a local authority primary school. This does not mean the exam is compulsory – it's up to you and your child if you want to apply to grammar school.
Our grammar school guides walk you through the application process for your area.
Preparing for the 11 plus
Should my child take the 11 plus?
It's up to you and your child. Children who are within the top 25% of their year group are normally suitable for grammar school.
It can be helpful to have a discussion with your child's teacher and look at their previous school reports. If they are consistently working at ‘Greater Depth' in English and maths, they may be well-suited to grammar school.
When should my child start preparing for the 11 plus?
If you're thinking about applying to a grammar school, we always recommend starting preparation early. Your child will have the best chance of exam success if they have built their knowledge and ability over a long period of time.
Many grammar schools include verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning in their 11 plus exams. These subjects aren't taught on the national curriculum and involve unique skills. We recommend introducing these questions to your child well in advance of the exam.
Starting early and practising little and often helps keep stress to a minimum. It's important to ensure your child feels calm and confident in the exam. Regular bitesize learning is also a great way to instill habits for life!
For more guidance, take a look at our 5 top tips to build an effective study routine.
What subjects are on the 11 plus?
The 11 plus usually assesses any combination of these four subjects:
English: questions usually assess reading comprehension. This tests your child's ability to read, process and understand text.
Maths: topics tested can include any of those tested in Key Stage 2 maths. These are number, place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement, geometry and statistics.
Verbal reasoning: this assesses how well your child can use logic to solve problems with written information, such as letters and words.
Non-verbal reasoning: this tests your child's ability to apply logic and reasoning to non-verbal problems (i.e. shapes, diagrams and pictures).
11 plus English and maths content reflects the Key Stage 2 national curriculum. This includes Year 5 objectives, and in some cases, Year 6 objectives. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning aren’t taught at school, but are often included in 11 plus exams to see how children think and solve problems with unfamiliar information.
Different grammar schools include different combinations of subjects in their entrance exams. Most grammar schools test English and maths, but not all assess reasoning. Find out exactly what’s tested on your target school’s exam.
What different types of 11 plus exams are there?
Over 80% of grammar schools in England use 11 plus exams provided by GL Assessment. The combination of subjects can depend on the school or school consortium, but these are always multiple-choice. Children mark their answers on pre-printed answer sheets, which are marked electronically.
Other types of 11 plus exams include:
CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex): a bespoke 11 plus exam created for 10 grammar schools in Essex.
FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise): a smaller exam board used by a handful of grammar schools. This tests English, maths and creative writing.
Sutton Selective Eligibility Test: an entrance exam created by and for grammar schools (and one partially-selective school) in the London Borough of Sutton.
Bespoke exams: some grammar schools create their own 11 plus papers. This is common for schools who have a second-stage entrance exam. These often test English and maths.
What’s the best way to prepare for the 11 plus?
Learning and practising little and often is the best way to prepare for the 11 plus. It's important to ensure your child's study time is aligned to their age to help them stay engaged. For children aged 9–11, this can look like 20–30 minute study sessions. We recommend practising one or two different subjects each day of the week.
Every child is unique and has strengths in different subtopics. Your child should have a solid understanding of the whole curriculum before learning the most difficult content. Once they have covered all the subtopics in the curriculum, they should start to spend more focused time on the subtopics they find more challenging. Take the guesswork out of exam preparation with Atom Home subscription. Know exactly what your child needs to learn to pass their exam and get detailed insights into their progress.
Once your child is comfortable with the exam content, you can test their knowledge and build exam technique with mock tests. These are a great resource to assess your child's understanding, practise time management, and get used to the exam experience.
For more exam advice and top tips, take a look at our ultimate guide to the 11 plus.
Where can I find 11 plus practice papers?
You can purchase and download 11 plus practice papers for your target grammar school here. Atom’s practice papers are created by admissions and exam specialists and designed to replicate the real thing. They include separate answer sheets and invigilation and marking guidance.
If you’re looking for full data and insights on your child’s performance, why not consider signing up to Atom Home? You’ll get a learning plan tailored to the exams used by your target grammar schools. Watch your child enjoy their revision with interactive learning journeys, know they’re on track with detailed insights into every subtopic, and see their performance compared to other children applying to the same schools. You’ll also get access to hundreds of online mock tests for your target schools’ exams, saving you the hassle of marking!
Tailored preparation for your local 11+
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11 plus exam day
When are 11 plus exams?
11 plus exams take place in September (or in some cases, early October) when your child is in Year 6. Find more details on 11 plus exam dates for all grammar schools.
Some schools have a two-stage entrance process. This means that children who perform well in the first-stage exams are invited back for a second test. These usually take place between October and November in Year 6.
Where will my child take the 11 plus exam?
Your child will either take the 11 plus exam at a grammar school or at their primary school.
In some counties, such as Kent and Buckinghamshire, children who go to a local primary school take the exam in their school classroom during the school day.
If your child’s primary school is in a different local authority to your target grammar school, or if local primary schools don’t facilitate the test, your child will take the 11 plus at a grammar school in your target region. They will be assigned a desk in a classroom or a school hall. If there are lots of grammar schools in the area, the test venue assigned to your child might not be the same school as the one you’re applying for. This doesn’t have any effect on your child’s application.
How long are 11 plus exams?
The length of the 11 plus exam depends on the papers chosen by your target school. Many grammar school exams consist of two papers, each around an hour. There is usually a short break between the papers so your child can have a snack, use the toilet and stretch their legs.
If your child is taking the exam on a Saturday morning, you can normally expect to drop them off at the test venue around 9am and pick them up at lunchtime. Exact timings will be provided to you by your target school after you register your child for the exam.
What should my child take to the 11 plus exam?
The school will let you know what your child can and cannot take with them to the exam shortly before the exam date.
Items that are allowed usually include stationery (such as a couple of pencils and an eraser), a water bottle, and a nut-free snack. Items such as calculators, smart watches and mobile phones (unless switched off and stored out of reach) are normally forbidden.
How can I help my child manage test anxiety?
It’s natural to feel a little nervous before an exam. Nerves are a human emotion! However, excessive anxiety can impact your child’s performance.
We’ve created a child-friendly resource about test anxiety that you can share with your child.
11 plus results
How is the 11 plus marked?
Your child’s 11 plus papers will be marked by the exam provider (e.g. GL Assessment. Most multiple-choice exams like GL are marked by computer. A device called an Optical Mark Reader (OMR) picks up the lines your child makes on their answer sheets and translates them into raw marks.
Your child’s raw score is usually converted into a standardised age score. This takes into account:
your child’s age in years and months at the time of taking the test. For example, a child born on 1st June taking the test on 12th September would be 10 years and 3 months.
the number of questions answered correctly
the difficulty of the questions they answered
Standardised age scores (SAS) allow children to be ranked nationally against others of the same age. A score of 100 is usually average for the year group. Children who achieve an SAS of 120 or above are usually working within the top 10% of their year group.
What is the 11 plus pass mark?
There isn’t a single 11 plus pass mark. While some grammar schools and consortiums have set pass marks, most select eligible children from a ranked list of scores. For instance, children applying to Kent grammar schools have to achieve a total score of 332 or more (combined scores from English, maths and reasoning), and no single score lower than 107, to be eligible for a place. However, there is no set pass mark for grammar schools in Bexley. Children’s scores are placed in rank order and those with the highest scores are eligible for a place until all places are filled.
Admissions criteria also plays a significant role in determining which children to offer places to. Achieving a high score isn’t a guarantee that your child will be offered a place. When you receive your child’s 11 plus results, you’ll find out whether they have met the required standard for entry to that school. This means you can apply for a secondary school place. Admissions authorities then work through certain criteria to decide which children to prioritise when they offer places. This can include children in public care, children who qualify for free school meals, and those who live within a catchment area.
Can my child retake the 11 plus?
Unfortunately, your child cannot retake the 11 plus. However, if your child is applying to multiple grammar schools that are not members of the same consortium or local authority, they may take several different exams.
If your child is unwell on the exam day, they may be able to take the test on a different date. Your target school will be able to advise on this.
What is the appeals process?
If your child is not offered a place at your first-choice school, you are entitled to appeal. According to the Department for Education Appeals Code, you have at least 20 school days to prepare an appeal.
We recommend confirming the specific appeals process and deadline with the admissions office at your target school. The appeal is usually heard by an independent appeal panel, who will make the final decision.
In the meantime, it's always best to accept the place your child has been given. You can still appeal the decision and join your preferred school's waiting list after accepting the assigned place. If your child is then offered a place at your preferred school, you can accept it and transfer your child – even if the school year has already begun.
Looking for more advice?
Join Atom's free parent webinars to learn more about 11 plus entrance exams, building key subject skills, and how to positively influence your child's learning.
