Redbridge 11 plus selection test guide

Thinking about a grammar school in Redbridge for your child? This guide walks you through how the system works, key dates for entry, and how to support your child through the 11+.

In this guide, you’ll find:

• How the Redbridge grammar school system works
  
• Key 11+ dates and deadlines for 2027 entry
  
• Which schools use the Redbridge 11+
  
• What your child will be tested on
  
• How the exam is scored and how places are allocated
  
• Practical ways to support your child’s 11+ preparation
  

Redbridge grammar schools

There are two grammar schools in Redbridge that use the Redbridge 11+.

• Ilford County High School (boys)
• Woodford County High School (girls)

Key dates for 2027 entry

• Thursday 30th April 2026: Open evenings at both Ilford County High School for Boys and Woodford County High School for Girls
  
• Friday 1st May 2026: test registration opens
  
• Monday 15th June 2026 (5pm): test registration closes
  
• Friday 18th September 2026: Redbridge 11+ test day
  
• Mid-October 2026: parents receive test results
  
• Saturday 31 October 2026: secondary school common application deadline
  
• Monday 1 March 2027: national school offers day
  

Dates can vary, so always check with your target schools!

What is the Redbridge 11+?

The Redbridge 11+ is the 11+ exam used by both Redbridge grammar schools to help decide which children are offered a place.

The test is taken in September of Year 6. Children born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 will sit the test on Friday 18th September 2026 for entry to Year 7 in September 2027.

The test is designed to assess a child’s academic ability across reasoning, maths and English. Grammar schools offer places to children performing towards the top end of the national ability range for their age group. 

If your child is applying for a place at the nearby Latymer School, they will need to register for this school’s exam separately.

What’s in the Redbridge 11+ exam?

The Redbridge 11+ consists of two test papers supplied by GL Assessment. The test takes place on Friday 18th September 2026. 

Your child will take both papers on the same day, with a short break in between. Each paper lasts about 50 minutes to one hour. 

Your child will be given a question booklet and separate answer sheets, and all questions are multiple choice. Answers must be marked on the answer sheets.  

1. English and verbal reasoning

This paper tests Key Stage 2 English and verbal reasoning:

• English: reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary
• Verbal reasoning: using logic and reasoning to solve problems with written information, like letters, words, symbols and numbers. Verbal reasoning is not taught on the national curriculum, so your child will likely be unfamiliar with these types of questions

2. Maths and non-verbal reasoning

This paper tests Key Stage 2 maths and non-verbal reasoning:

• Maths: Key Stage 2 maths topics covering number, geometry, measurement and statistics‍
• Non-verbal reasoning: using logic and reasoning to solve problems with visual information, like shapes, diagrams and pictures. Non-verbal reasoning is not taught on the national curriculum

How is the Redbridge 11+ exam scored?

After the test, answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology.

Scores are then age-standardised, which means younger children aren’t disadvantaged.

Your child’s results will be sent to you in mid-October 2026. If they meet the qualifying standard for your target school, you can then apply for that school through your common application form (CAF).

What’s the pass mark for the Redbridge 11+?

The pass mark for the Redbridge 11 Plus is 104. Any child who scores 104 or higher will be eligible for a place at Woodford County High School or Ilford County High School.

Achieving the pass mark doesn’t guarantee that your child will be offered a place at the school. Both grammar schools also apply their own admissions criteria when allocating places.

How to apply for Redbridge grammar schools

1. Register for the Redbridge 11+

To be considered for a place, you must register your child to take the Redbridge 11+ during the registration window.

• Registration opens: Friday 1st May 2026
• Registration closes: Monday 15th June 2026. 

2. Apply for school places

Test results are sent in mid-October 2026.

If your child meets the qualifying standard for a school, you can list it on your secondary school common application form, which must be submitted to your local authority by Saturday 31st October 2026.

Before listing a school, check the admissions policy to make sure your child meets all criteria.

3. National Offer Day

On Monday 1st March 2027, you’ll be informed which secondary school your child has been allocated.

If your preferred school isn’t offered, your child will receive another local school place, and you’ll be given information about how to appeal.

How can I help my child prepare for the Redbridge 11+?

The Redbridge 11+ can feel like a big milestone, but preparation doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some practical ways to support your child in a calm, structured way.

Stay on track with a clear Redbridge 11+ revision plan

One of the hardest parts of 11+ preparation isn’t motivation – it’s knowing what to work on, when, and how to stay consistent without it taking over family life.

A clear plan helps your child build skills in the right order and avoid last-minute cramming.

With Atom’s Exam Plan, you enter your child’s exam date and target schools, and Atom builds a personalised weekly plan based on the key skills they’ll be tested on. It adapts as they improve and shows them exactly what to focus on each week.

That means less guesswork for you, less stress for them, and a clearer path to exam day.

Build 11+ exam technique with realistic practice papers

Once your child feels secure with the main topics, paper practice tests help them feel more confident with the exam format.

Atom’s 11+ practice papers are designed to reflect real test conditions. Parents simply photograph their child’s answer sheets and upload them to Atom for instant marking.

You’ll get:

• a Standardised Age Score (SAS)
  
• clear insight into strengths and areas for improvement
  
• a comparison with other children applying to the same schools
  

The papers are unlimited, meaning your child can practise again and again with new questions each time.

Encourage regular reading for 11+ English success

Strong reading skills underpin almost every part of the 11+.

Encourage your child to read for 10–15 minutes a day, focusing on variety – fiction, non-fiction, different genres and authors.

This helps build:

• vocabulary
  
• comprehension and inference
  
• confidence with unfamiliar texts
  

If you’re looking for ideas, Atom’s recommended reading lists for Years 3–6 include a wide range of age-appropriate books.

Celebrate progress, not just 11+ scores

When you’re supporting your child through 11+ preparation, what really matters is knowing they’re moving in the right direction.

Atom’s progress tracking gives you a clear, simple view of how your child is doing across topics and how their performance is developing over time.

That makes it easier to give meaningful encouragement, keep motivation steady and focus on consistent improvement – not just one-off test results.