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Is the 11+ worth it?

The short answer

It depends on your child, your local schools and your family. The 11+ can open the door to a free, selective school that suits some children very well. It also takes time, can cost money and can put real pressure on a child. The most useful question is not "is the 11+ worth it?" but "would a grammar school be the right place for this child, compared with the other good options near us?"

What to do next

  1. Step 1: Visit the schools near you

    Look at grammar and non-selective schools, and think about where your child would be happy.

    Find grammar schools

  2. Step 2: Check the practical facts for your area

    Find the test, the dates and how places are given.

    Find your 11+ area

  3. Step 3: Talk it through with your child

    Their feelings about the test matter as much as the practical facts.

What does a grammar school place offer?

Grammar schools are state schools that select pupils by academic ability, using a testWhat a grammar school isChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: grammar schools, which can be run by the local authority, a foundation body or an academy trust - they select their pupils based on academic ability and there is a test to get inView the official source. Families who choose them often value:

  • a pace and level of challenge that suits children who love learning and work quickly;
  • being with others who enjoy the same;
  • a free alternative to independent schools.

Many non-selective schools also stretch able children well, through top sets, extension work and enrichment. Visiting both kinds of school is a good way to compare.

What does the 11+ cost a family?

  • Time: months of regular practice for many children, alongside school and everything else.
  • Money: this can range from almost nothing, using free official materials and library books, to a lot. See preparing without a tutor.
  • Pressure: for the child and for parents. Some children enjoy the challenge; others find it stressful.
  • Travel: some grammar schools are a long way from home, every day for years.

Who is the 11+ likely to suit?

There is no test for this, but some questions help:

  • Does your child enjoy puzzles, reading and being stretched?
  • Do they cope reasonably well with tests and timed work?
  • Would they be happy at the grammar school you have in mind, and is the journey manageable?
  • How do they feel about it? Children who want to try often cope better than children who are doing it for their parents.

What are the risks of going ahead?

  • Disappointment. Passing is not guaranteed, and even a pass does not always mean a place. The School Admissions Code says admission authorities must take all reasonable steps to tell you the test outcome before 31 October, and must make clear that the outcome does not by itself mean a selective placeTest results before the application deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: take all reasonable steps to inform parents of the outcome of ... selection tests before the closing date for secondary applications on 31 October so as to allow parents time to make an informed choice of school - while making clear that this does not equate to a guarantee of a selective place.View the official source.
  • Over-preparation. Long periods of practice can make children tired and anxious. FSCE, one test provider, puts it plainly: children do not need a tutor, and its website and familiarisation guides give all the information neededFSCE: what it says about tutoringChecked 9 Oct 2026 against FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise).The source says: All the information you and your child will need can be found on this website and in our Familiarisation Guides.View the official source.
  • Fit. A child who only just gets in after heavy preparation may find the pace hard. Talk to schools about how they support every pupil.

What are the alternatives?

  • Your local non-selective schools, which you can visit and compare on the same terms.
  • Partially selective schools, where some places are offered by ability.
  • Independent schools, with their own tests and fees. See independent school entrance exams, with area guides for London and Surrey.
  • Later entry, at 12+, 13+ or sixth form, where schools offer it.

How do you decide?

  1. Visit schools of every kind near you, with your child.
  2. Check the practical facts: the test, dates, and how places are given. See find your 11+ area.
  3. Talk to your child, honestly and without pressure.
  4. Decide what a good outcome looks like for your family, including if the 11+ doesn't work out.

Choosing not to sit the 11+ can be a good, loving decision. So can trying it calmly. See keeping perspective.

Sources

Facts on this page come from GOV.UK (types of school), the School Admissions Code 2021 and FSCE, archived on 9 October 2026. The rest of this page is general guidance to help you think it through.

ExamKind is independent and takes no position on whether selection by ability is right or wrong. How we make our content.

Facts used in this guidesources in each row
FactDetailSource
What a grammar school isstate schools that select pupils by academic ability, using a testSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Test results before the application deadlineadmission authorities must take all reasonable steps to tell you the test outcome before 31 October, and must make clear that the outcome does not by itself mean a selective placeSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
FSCE: what it says about tutoringchildren do not need a tutor, and its website and familiarisation guides give all the information neededSource: FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise), checked

Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.