Dorset grammar schools 11 plus guide

Which schools in Dorset use the 11 plus?

Four grammar schools in Dorset have a shared 11 plus exam. These schools are known collectively as the Dorset Consortium. These schools are:

• Bournemouth School (boys)

• Bournemouth School for Girls (girls)

• Parkstone Grammar School (girls)

• Poole Grammar School (boys)

Poole High School and Budmouth Academy are partially-selective secondary schools in Dorset. Only a small proportion of Year 7 places are based on academic criteria. These schools have their own admissions processes.

What's on the Dorset grammar schools’ entrance test?

The Dorset entrance test consists of three papers provided by GL Assessment. Most grammar schools in the UK use 11 plus papers provided by GL Assessment.

All three papers are multiple-choice. Your child will have separate pre-printed answer sheets, which they will use to mark the answer(s) they think are correct.

The three papers are:

Maths

The maths paper lasts 50 minutes. The questions are based on the topics your child will have learned at school during Key Stage 2. These cover Year 5 content, with some questions aimed at Year 6.

The topics normally assessed in a GL Assessment 11 plus maths paper include number, measurement, geometry and statistics. Your child will need to use their skills to solve new kinds of problems for some more advanced questions.

English

The English paper lasts 45 minutes. The test will assess your child’s understanding of English based on the national curriculum taught up to the start of Year 6.

Some questions will test reading comprehension. Your child will need to read a passage of text and answer questions to demonstrate their understanding. Other questions assess further English skills, such as spelling, vocabulary and punctuation.

Verbal reasoning

The verbal reasoning paper lasts 50 minutes. Unlike the English and maths paper, this paper is not based on topics your child will have learned at school. Verbal reasoning is not taught on the national curriculum, so the questions might be unfamiliar to your child. Grammar schools often use 11 plus verbal reasoning papers because they analyse children’s academic potential, rather than what they have already learned.

Verbal reasoning involves reasoning with written information, such as words, letters, numbers and symbols. Your child will need to understand how words are produced and used, and the relationships between them. They might also need to use logic to solve codes and work out the next item in a sequence.

There is a short unmarked practice exercise at the start of the test to help your child understand how to answer the different types of questions.

How can I help my child prepare for the Dorset 11 plus?

The 11 plus exam is designed to be challenging. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the Dorset grammar schools’ entrance test in September 2025.

Bitesize learning

It’s important to build a good knowledge base before the 11 plus. Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

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Read widely

11 plus exams test your child’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with the topics they’ve learnt in Year 5, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Practice tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and build confidence working under test conditions. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning and highlight knowledge gaps for further improvement.

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Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.