Reading grammar schools 11+ (11 plus) guide

What is the 11 plus?

The 11 plus is an academic test. Grammar schools use the results of the test to decide whether to offer a child a place at the school. Children who are working in the top 25% of their year group are generally more likely to do well in the 11 plus exam.

Children can only take the test once per academic year, in September while they are in Year 6.

You might also be considering grammar schools in other local authorities. These schools have different exams and admission processes:

• Grammar schools in Buckinghamshire: Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test

• Grammar schools in Slough: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools 11 plus

How is the 11 plus marked?

Scoring and marking depends on your target school’s exam provider.

The Kendrick School 11 plus and the English and maths papers in the Reading School 11 plus are marked using a process called Optical Mark Recognition (OMR). This scans the answer papers to detect the marks your child has made to indicate which answer or answers they think are correct.

The CEM Select assessment for Reading Girls’ School’s selective stream is taken online and marked automatically.

The creative writing paper for entry to Reading School is marked internally by school staff.

All three schools’ tests (with the exception of Reading School’s creative writing paper) are age-standardised based on your child's age in years and months at the time of taking the test. This is to ensure that younger children aren't disadvantaged. Standardised age scores normally range from 60 to 142, where a score of 100 represents the average for the year group. Grammar schools are normally looking for children whose scores place them above average.

After the tests are standardised, children are usually ranked in order from highest score to lowest score.

What's the pass mark for the 11 plus in Reading?

Each school has its own factors for deciding which children are eligible for a place at the school.

Girls applying to Kendrick School are allocated places based on their total standardised score in the ranked list. The school has a priority area, so children living within this area are prioritised for places.

Boys applying to Reading School need to achieve an ‘eligible score’ to be considered for a place at the school. If they achieve an eligible score in the rank order of standardised scores, their creative writing test will be marked. If they then meet a minimum standard in their creative writing test, they will be eligible for a place.

Girls applying for one of the 42 places on the selective stream at Reading Girls’ School are ranked according to their final standardised score.

How to apply to Reading grammar schools

If you're considering a grammar school for your child, it's a good idea to speak to your child's teacher first.

Grammar schools are academically-selective and select children working towards the top of their year group. Your child's teacher will be able to indicate whether they think your child will be able to keep up with the pace in a grammar school.

1. Register for the school’s entrance exam

To apply to a grammar school, you need to complete a registration form – sometimes known as a Supplementary Information Form (SIF). This will be available on your target school’s website.

The grammar schools in Reading open their 11 plus registration in the spring of Year 5. The deadline varies for each school, but is usually in April or May. 11 plus exams then take place in the autumn term of Year 7.

If you are considering grammar schools elsewhere – such as in Slough or Buckinghamshire – remember to register for their exams too.

2. Apply for school places

You will be sent your child's results in October 2025.

You can use the results to decide which schools to include on your secondary school common application form. Before listing a school on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2025.

3. National school offer day

On 2nd March 2026, will find out which school your child has been allocated a place at. They will be allocated a place at your highest-preferred school for which they meet the entry criteria and which has places available.

If your child was not allocated a place at your first-choice school, you have the right to appeal the decision. You should contact your child’s headteacher to discuss whether a request for a review can or should be made.