What is the 11+?

Who sits the 11+, and when?

Most children sit the 11+ early in Year 6, the last year of primary school, for a place starting in Year 7 the following September. A few areas are moving earlier. Gloucestershire's grammar schools: FSCE from 2028 entry, tested in July of Year 5Source for Gloucestershire: change to FSCE testsGloucestershire: change to FSCE testsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test for entry into Year 7 in September 2028 will take place on Saturday 3 July 2027.View the official source. Trafford's grammar schools: FSCE from 2028 entry; Year 5 testing from 2029 entrySource for Trafford: change to FSCE testsTrafford: change to FSCE testsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2028, the test provider will be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in September of Year 6.View the official source. In Northern Ireland, children sit the transfer test in P7.

Sitting the 11+ is a choice. Many children never sit it, and many parts of England have no grammar schools at all. If you are unsure whether it is right for your family, our guide Is the 11+ worth it? is a good place to start.

Grammar school or independent school: what's the difference?

Grammar schools are free state schools. By law, only designated grammar schools may select all their pupils by ability, and they can leave places emptySource for Which schools may select every pupil by abilityWhich schools may select every pupil by abilityCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Only designated grammar schools are permitted to select their entire ... intake on the basis of high academic ability . They do not have to fill all of their places if applicants have not reached the required standard.View the official source. Other schools cannot start selecting: new selection by ability must not be introducedSource for No new grammar schools can openNo new grammar schools can openCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: introduce any new selection by ability ;View the official source. Some schools are partially selective: they select some of their pupils by ability, and must not exceed the lowest proportion they have selected since 1997/98Source for Partially selective schoolsPartially selective schoolsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Partially selective schools select a proportion of their intake by ability.View the official source.

You apply for a grammar school place through your home council, on the same application as other state secondary schools. The test decides whether your child is eligible; the school's admission rules decide who is offered a place. More on this in what is a grammar school?.

Independent (private) schools are fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculumSource for What a private (independent) school isWhat a private (independent) school isCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge fees to attend instead of being funded by the government. Pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum.View the official source. You apply to them directly. Many use their own tests, a shared test such as the ISEB Pre-Tests, interviews and school references. See independent school entrance exams.

Which 11+ tests are used now?

Each area or school chooses its test. The main families are:

You may still see older practice books labelled "CEM". What happened to CEM explains what we can and cannot confirm about it. To compare all the formats side by side, see the 11+ formats compared.

What does a typical 11+ timeline look like?

Every area sets its own dates, so always check your area's dates. This is the general shape for a September test:

In Northern Ireland the order is different: the SEAG papers are in November and results come in January. See the Northern Ireland transfer test.

How is the 11+ marked?

Most 11+ tests turn a child's raw marks into a standardised score, which adjusts for age and for how everyone else did. Areas then use the score in different ways:

• some set a qualifying score. In Buckinghamshire it is 121Source for Buckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreBuckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The qualifying score for Buckinghamshire grammar schools is a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above.View the official source. Does a higher score help there? NoSource for Buckinghamshire: Score used for rankingBuckinghamshire: Score used for rankingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: When applying their admission rules grammar schools do not use STTS scores to rank order children so children with higher scores are not at an advantage for entry to grammar school.View the official source: schools do not rank children by score;
• others rank children by score and offer places from the top;
• many combine a pass mark with other rules, such as distance from the school.

Our guide to standardised scores explains this in plain English.

Does passing the 11+ mean a place?

Not always. Passing usually means your child is eligible. Places then go by each school's published admission rules, which can include distance, catchment area, siblings and priority for children eligible for the pupil premium. A pass is only useful if you also name the school on your application by the deadline. If your child is not offered a place, you can ask to join waiting lists and you have the right to appeal.

Where should you go next?

• Find your 11+ area and its test, dates and schools
• 11+ dates by area
• 11+ registration: windows and deadlines
• 11+ scores explained and pass marks by area
• Standardised scores explained
• 11+ questions parents ask
• How to choose a grammar school
• Can you prepare without a tutor?
• Keeping perspective

Sources

Every fact on this page links to an archived copy of an official source, checked on 9 October 2026, including: GOV.UK (types of school, school admissions), the School Admissions Code 2021, GL Assessment, Quest Assessments, FSCE, the CSSE information guide for 2027 entry, the Sutton SET consortium's information for 2027 entry, the SEAG, the ISEB, Gloucestershire and Trafford grammar school admissions pages, and our verified Buckinghamshire records.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any test provider, school or council. How we make our content.