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  • 11+ area guide

Plymouth 11+: one English and maths test, three grammar schools

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial Team

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

The Plymouth 11+ at a glance

For September 2027 entry

  • The test

    Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+

    Written by Quest Assessments, 2027 entry

    Checked, source: Devonport High School for Girls, checked

  • How places are given

    By rank, no pass mark

    Each school uses the test scores and its own admission arrangements.

    Checked, source: Devonport High School for Girls, checked

  • Schools on this page

    3

    Schools we cover in this area

Your next deadlines

  1. Not published yet: Test registration closes

    Not yet published

    For September 2028 entry. This is the test registration, not the school place application

  2. Next: School place applications close: Common Application Form ()

    in 11 days

    For September 2027 entry

  3. Coming up: School place applications close (CAF)

    in about 54 weeks

    For September 2028 entry

Every step and date

Happening now

What's happening now

Children now in Year 6 have sat both papers:

  • English paper: Saturday 12 September 2026Plymouth 2027 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: 12 September 2026 - Saturday ... 11 Plus real test - date 1 ... Quest Assessment English comprehension (no writing)View the official source
  • Second paper: Maths paper (test date 2): Saturday 19 September 2026Plymouth 2027 entry: OtherChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: 19 September 2026 - Saturday ... 11 Plus real test - date 2 ... Quest Assessment MathsView the official source

The girls' schools send results by emailPlymouth 2027 entry: Results methodChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: 11 Plus test results sent out ... Results sent via emailView the official source; DHSB sends its own (see its page). Whatever the result, apply to your home council by Saturday 31 October 2026Plymouth 2027 entry: School place applications close (CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth City Council.The source says: Applications close ... Saturday 31 October 2026View the official source.

For families with a child in Year 5, the 2028-entry test moves to a single morning, Saturday 18 September 2027Plymouth 2028 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Devonport High School for Girls.The source says: 18 September 2027 ... 11+ test date ... Quest Assessment Maths and English Comprehension (no writing)View the official source, and registration opens on Monday 19 April 2027Plymouth 2028 entry: Registration opensChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Devonport High School for Girls.The source says: 19 April 2027 ... 11+ registration opens (Real tests and must be taken in order to apply for a place at DHSG)View the official source.

How places are given

How the test scores are used

Children sit the Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+, written by Quest Assessments. There is no pass mark: each school uses the test scores and its own admission rules to decide who is offered a place.

You apply for school places through your home council, on its Common Application Form (CAF), by its deadline. Name the schools in your real order of preference: councils look at every preference at the same time.

Step by step

The Plymouth 11+, step by step

For children starting secondary school in September 2027 (Year 6 in 2026/27).

Add to my calendar

  1. Step 1: Register for the test

    Done

    Sign your child up for Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+. This is not the school place application.

    Show the dates

    1. Done: Test registration closes

      12pm

    2. Not published yet: Test registration opens

      Not yet published

  2. Step 2: Your child sits the test

    Done

    The test day, and any practice test before it.

    Show the dates

    1. Done: Test day

  3. Step 3: Results

    Done

    You find out whether your child reached the standard, and how to ask for a review.

    Show the dates

    1. Done: Results

  4. Step 4: Apply for school places

    Now

    List your schools on the Common Application Form (CAF) to your home council, in your real order of preference.

    1. Done: School place applications open (CAF)

    2. Next: School place applications close (CAF)

      in 11 days

  5. Step 5: Offers

    Dates not published

    Your council tells you which school has offered a place.

    1. Not published yet: National Offer Day

      Not yet published

  6. Step 6: Appeals and waiting lists

    Dates not published

    If you are refused a place, you can appeal and join waiting lists.

    1. Not published yet: Appeal deadline

      Not yet published

Year 5 now? Steps for September 2028 entryMost dates are only given as a month so far, so we mark them as expected.

  1. Step 1: Register for the test

    Now

    Sign your child up for Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+. This is not the school place application.

    1. Next: Test registration opens

    2. Not published yet: Test registration closes

      Not yet published

  2. Step 2: Your child sits the test

    Coming up

    The test day, and any practice test before it.

    1. Coming up: Test day

  3. Step 3: Results

    Dates not published

    You find out whether your child reached the standard, and how to ask for a review.

    1. Not published yet: Results

      Not yet published

  4. Step 4: Apply for school places

    Coming up

    List your schools on the Common Application Form (CAF) to your home council, in your real order of preference.

    1. Coming up: School place applications close: Common Application Form (CAF)

      in about 54 weeks

  5. Step 5: Offers

    Coming up

    Your council tells you which school has offered a place.

    1. Coming up: National Offer Day

  6. Step 6: Appeals and waiting lists

    Dates not published

    If you are refused a place, you can appeal and join waiting lists.

    1. Not published yet: Appeal deadline

      Not yet published

All Plymouth 11+ dates, with notes

The schools

Grammar schools in Plymouth

3 schools on this test. Open a school for its rules, dates and past offers.

Listed A to Z by school name.

  1. Devonport High School for BoysBoys

    No distance published

    –

  2. Devonport High School for GirlsGirls

    No distance published

    –

    158 places, 2027 entry

  3. Plymouth High School for GirlsGirls

    No distance published

    –

    120 places, 2027 entry

Live near a border?

  • You can apply for schools in another council's area. You still apply through your own home council, on its form.
  • Each area runs its own test, with its own registration and dates. If you like schools in two areas, check both registration deadlines.
  • Schools often give priority to children living nearby or in a catchment area, so check each school's rules before you rely on it.
Every area's dates

Areas in the same part of the country: Bournemouth and Poole (BCP), Devon, Gloucestershire, Torbay, Wiltshire

How the test works

  • Papers: Mathematics; English Comprehension (English)Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+ (Quest): PapersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Devonport High School for Girls.The source says: 18 September 2027 ... 11+ test date ... Quest Assessment Maths and English Comprehension (no writing)View the official source
  • Number of questions: English: 60; Mathematics: 60Plymouth: Question counts2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: In 2026, the English Comprehension test and the Mathematics test will contain 60 questions each. The number of questions can vary year-on-year.View the official source
  • What it covers: Year 5 National Curriculum English and maths; nothing beyond Year 5Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+ (Quest): Curriculum basisChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: No content beyond Year 5 of the National Curriculum will be assessedView the official source
  • What it does not cover: Verbal, non-verbal and spatial reasoning are not tested; no free-writing element in EnglishPlymouth: Subjects not testedChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning are not tested. There is no longer a 'free-writing' element to the English test.View the official source
  • Writing (girls' schools): None (no writing)Plymouth girls' grammar schools 11+ (Quest): Writing taskChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Devonport High School for Girls.The source says: Quest Assessment Maths and English Comprehension (no writing)View the official source. Boys applying to DHSB also sit the school's own writing paper.
  • Practice material: Free test-provider English and maths familiarisation booklets with a practice answer sheet, plus guidance for children and parents; optional practice (mock) test at the schools in JulyPlymouth girls' grammar schools 11+ (Quest): Familiarisation materialsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: These booklets provide sample questions so your child can become familiar with the question format and filling in an OMR answer sheet.View the official source
  • Optional practice test (summer of Year 5): Practice (mock) test results are not used in allocationsPlymouth: Practice test not countedChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: No. The results of the Practice exam do not get considered in any way when school places are being allocated.View the official source.

Registering

  • How: Online form on either PHSG or DHSG website; choose test venue school or 'no preference'Plymouth: Registration routeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: Regardless of which school website you visit, the registration form allows you to choose which school you would like to sit the examinations at. You also have the option of 'no preference'.View the official source
  • One registration only: The single joint-test result counts for both girls' grammar schools, wherever it was satPlymouth: Scores shared withChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: You can then apply for a place at either (or both) grammar schools, regardless of where the student took the test.View the official source.

How girls' places are decided

There is no pass mark for the girls' schools.

  • In short: No pass mark for the girls' schools: Plymouth City Council allocates girls' places in rank order of 11+ score combined with which grammar school is named first; the first ~278 who name a grammar school and accept get places (after looked-after and up to 12 pupil-premium places per school within 5 points below the adjusted cut-off). DHSB applicants must also pass DHSB's writing paper.Plymouth: Qualifying ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Devonport High School for Girls.The source says: There is no 'pass mark' for the 11+. ... Allocations are made for both Plymouth girls' grammar schools based on the first 278 students who have put a grammar school as their first or second choice, and who have accepted a grammar school place.View the official source

  • Ranking: Rank order of highest score in the 11-plus examination (aggregate of the English and maths papers)Plymouth: Score used for rankingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: 3. Other candidates by rank order of highest score in the 11-plus examination. [...] Should it prove necessary to distinguish between candidates with identical aggregate scoresView the official source

  • First choice matters: Girls are allocated in score order to the grammar school named first; the second-choice grammar school is offered only once the first is fullPlymouth: Allocation by first choice grammarChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: Children are allocated based on their 11 Plus result and their first choice of school. ... You will only get your second choice grammar school once either PHSG and/or DHSG is full; this could happen anywhere up to the 278th student depending on preferences.View the official source

  • Who decides: Plymouth City Council makes all allocations; the schools do not choosePlymouth: Allocations made byChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: Neither of the Plymouth girls' grammar schools can choose which students are allocated to them. All allocations are made by Plymouth City Council.View the official source

  • Combined girls' places: 278Plymouth: Combined girls placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: Allocations are made for both Plymouth girls' grammar schools based on the first 278 students who have put a grammar school as their first or second choice, and who have accepted a grammar school place.View the official source across the two schools.

  • No catchment area: the girls' schools do not use catchment areas.

DHSB sets a standard on its writing paper as well as using the English and maths scores; its page explains how.

Pupil premium

  • Places: up to 12Plymouth: PlacesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Devonport High School for Girls.The source says: Up to 12 places will be allocated to candidates who achieve a score equal to or higher than 5 points below the adjusted cut off score for this schoolView the official source places at each girls' school for looked-after and pupil-premium girls.
  • Score condition: Looked-after and pupil-premium priority applies only to candidates scoring no more than 5 points below the school's adjusted cut-off scorePlymouth: Minimum score ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: Up to 12 places will be allocated to candidates who achieve a score equal to or higher than 5 points below the adjusted cut off score for this schoolView the official source.
  • Who counts: Pupils recorded in the January school census as currently receiving free school meals or eligible for FSM at any time in the past six years (Ever 6 FSM)Plymouth: EligibilityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: This refers to pupils recorded in the January school census who are either currently receiving Free School Meals (FSM) or have been eligible for FSM at any time in the past six yearsView the official source
  • What to do: return the supplementary information form by Saturday 31 October 2026Plymouth: Form deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: You then need to return the completed form by 31 October 2026 to be included in the allocations made on 1 March 2027.View the official source.
  • Across the three schools: All three grammar schools give pupil premium priority, confirmed via a supplementary information formPlymouth: Council pupil premium statementChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth City Council.The source says: All three Plymouth grammar schools include this in their admissions process. Eligibility is confirmed through the completion of a Supplementary Information Form (SIF).View the official source.
  • Free practice: Free online KS2 learning and 11+ familiarisation platform for pupil-premium-eligible candidates, arranged by the grammar schools with the test provider's partner; eligibility verified by the primary schoolPlymouth: Support programmeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: The grammar schools of Plymouth and Quest have worked together to ensure every child has access to high-quality preparation materials, regardless of their family's circumstances. In partnership with Atom Learning, they are offering free access to Atom Home for all pupil premium eligible candidatesView the official source

Appeals

General information, not legal advice.

  • How: Appeals are submitted online to Plymouth City Council's School Appeals team and heard by an independent appeal panelPlymouth: RouteChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth City Council.The source says: After you submit an appeal the School Appeals team will contact you to explain what happens next and the appeal process.View the official source.
  • When: for 2027 entry, hearings are expected in May and June 2027Plymouth: Schedule2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth City Council.The source says: When are the appeals scheduled? | June and July | May and JuneView the official source.
  • Missed the test? Parents who miss registration still apply via the council; the council contacts families whose child has no 11+ resultPlymouth: Missed registrationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Plymouth High School for Girls.The source says: If you choose to put either or both of the grammar schools as your choices, and your child did not sit the exams in September, then the local authority will note that your child does not have an 11 Plus examination result, and they will get in contact with you.View the official source.

Most appeals for full grammar schools do not succeed, so keep a realistic choice on your application as well.

Official sources

18 sources: the council, the test administrator and each school

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with any council, school or test provider, and nobody pays to appear on this page. How we check facts