What age is the 11+, and which year do children sit it?

Why is it called the 11+ if many children are 10?

The name comes from the age children are when they start secondary school, not the age they sit the test. In England, a school year runs from 1 September to 31 August. A child born in early September is one of the oldest in the class and turns 11 just before the test. A child born in late August is one of the youngest and is still 10 on test day.

So in any September test, the children in the room are almost a whole year apart in age. That is why most 11+ results are age-standardised: scores are adjusted so that younger children are compared fairly with older ones. Our guide to standardised scores explains how that works.

What ages are children on test day?

As a rough guide, using England's 1 September to 31 August school year:

Exact ages depend on your child's birthday and the test date. The point to take away is that a child in a Year 5 testing area sits the test about two months earlier than a child in a September area, before the summer holiday rather than after it, even though both start secondary school at the same time.

Which year group sits the test in most areas?

In most grammar school areas in England, children sit the test in Year 6. The test is open to one school year group, defined by date of birth. For example:

• Kent's test for 2027 entry is for children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016Source for Kent 2027 entry: Birth date rangeKent 2027 entry: Birth date rangeCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Borden Grammar School.The source says: For children born between 1 September 2015 kent.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions and31 August 2016View the official source. The test took place on Thursday 10 September 2026 (in Kent primary schools)Source for Kent 2027 entry: Test dateKent 2027 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Kent County Council (hosted by school).The source says: Thursday 10 September 2026 Children who attend a Kent primary school sit the test in their school.View the official source.
• Buckinghamshire's published information for 2028 entry gives the age group as children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017Source for Buckinghamshire 2028 entry: Birth date rangeBuckinghamshire 2028 entry: Birth date rangeCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 will be moving up to secondary school in September 2028.View the official source, with the test in early September 2027Source for Buckinghamshire 2028 entry: Test dateBuckinghamshire 2028 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Early September 2027 Children who attend a state-funded Buckinghamshire primary school or Partner School will sit the Transfer Test in their school.View the official source.
• The CSSE test for grammar schools in Essex and Southend took place on Saturday 19 September 2026Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: Test dateEssex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: 19 September | 11 plus selection test to be taken by those pupils whose parents have registered for ... 2026 | them to take the test with the CSSE.View the official source.
• The Sutton SET for 2027 entry took place on 15 September 2026Source for Sutton SET 2027 entry: Test dateSutton SET 2027 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Greenshaw Learning Trust.The source says: 15 September 2026 (Tuesday) Selective Eligibility TestView the official source.

All of these are in the first weeks of Year 6. In September-testing areas, results are usually sent before the national deadline for secondary school applications on 31 OctoberSource for School place applications close (common application form, CAF)School place applications close (common application form, CAF)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.View the official source, so families know the outcome before they list their preferences.

A quick way to work out the year

If your child is in Year 6 now and you live in a September-testing area, the test is this autumn (or has just happened). If your child is in Year 5, it is next September. Children start Year 7 in the September after the test year, so a child who sits the test in September 2026 starts secondary school in September 2027. That is called "2027 entry", and it is the year to look for on official pages.

Which areas test in Year 5 instead?

A small number of schools and areas test in the summer term of Year 5, and some others are moving to this timing. Children are then 9 or 10 on test day.

These changes matter most for families who heard about the 11+ from an older sibling or friend. The timing that applied to them may not apply to you. If you are in one of these areas, our Gloucestershire dates, Reading dates and Trafford pages show what has been published.

What about Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has its own system. Most grammar schools there use the SEAG transfer test, which children sit in Primary 7, their final year of primary school. Primary 7 is the same stage as Year 6 in England, but the school year is set differently. For the 2026 tests, the age group was children born 2 July 2015 to 1 July 2016Source for SEAG (Northern Ireland): Eligibility2026SEAG (Northern Ireland): Eligibility2026CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Children born between 2nd July 2015 and 1st July 2016, who will be transferring from primary to Year 8 post- primary education in September 2027 are eligible to take the SEAG 2026 Entrance Assessment.View the official source.

The test is also later in the autumn and is split over two Saturdays. For 2027 entry, the first paper is on Saturday 14 November 2026Source for SEAG (Northern Ireland): Paper1SEAG (Northern Ireland): Paper1CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Saturday, 14th November 2026View the official source and the second on Saturday 21 November 2026Source for SEAG (Northern Ireland): Paper2SEAG (Northern Ireland): Paper2CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Saturday, 21st November 2026View the official source. Our Northern Ireland transfer test page has the details.

What about independent schools?

Many independent (private) schools set their own entrance tests for Year 7 entry, usually during Year 6. Each school publishes its own dates, so check the school directly.

Some independent schools use the ISEB Pre-Tests instead of, or as well as, their own exam. ISEB says most children take the Pre-Tests once, in Year 6, for Year 7 entry; some senior schools use them ahead of Year 9 entrySource for ISEB Pre-Tests: When takenISEB Pre-Tests: When takenCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: Your child will most likely take the ISEB Pre-Tests once during their Year 6 for Year 7 entry (11+), however, some senior schools, such as Eton and Harrow, use the Pre-Tests as a precursor to Year 9 entry (13+).View the official source. ISEB also says results are age-standardised, so younger and older applicants, and different testing dates, can be compared fairlySource for ISEB Pre-Tests: age-standardised resultsISEB Pre-Tests: age-standardised resultsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: Results are age-standardised so that appropriate comparisons can be made between younger and older applicants and between dates of testing.View the official source. Our ISEB Pre-Test page explains more.

Can a child sit the 11+ a year early or a year late?

Usually not. The 11+ is designed for one year group, and children outside the published date-of-birth range can normally sit it only in exceptional circumstances.

The main exception is summer-born children who are educated out of their chronological year group, for example a child born in July or August who started Reception a year later than usual. Rules vary by area. CSSE's rule for Essex and Southend is one published example: Summer-born children admitted out of age group may sit if registered in Year 6; otherwise over-age applicants only in verified exceptional circumstancesSource for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Over age summer bornEssex and Southend (CSSE): Over age summer bornCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE).The source says: Consortium Schools do not otherwise accept over aged applicants unless there are verified exceptional circumstances.View the official source. If this applies to your family, contact the admissions team for your area as early as you can, and read our guide to the 11+ for summer-born children.

Sitting the test early because a child seems ready is generally not an option for state grammar schools. If you are thinking about it, ask the admissions authority before you plan anything.

When should you start thinking about it?

You do not need to do anything in Reception or Year 1. A sensible way to look at it is to count back from the test, not forward from your child's age:

• Two or more years before the test: focus on reading, vocabulary and number confidence. These help at school whatever you decide later. See the 11+ in Year 3.
• About eighteen months before: find out which schools and tests apply to you. See the 11+ in Year 4.
• The final year: register on time and get to know the format. See the 11+ in Year 5.

In a Year 5 testing area, everything moves earlier by about two months, which is why these plans are worth reading with your own area's dates in mind. Our separate guide on when to start 11+ preparation looks at how much preparation makes sense and when.

What if you have missed the test?

If your child is past the test date, there may still be a route. Many areas offer late testing for families who move into the area or apply late, though the timing and rules differ. Our guide to late applications and late tests explains the general picture, and your area page shows what is published locally.

How do you check the timing for your area?

1. Find your area or school on find your 11+ area, or use the which test tool.
2. Look for your child's entry year, not the current year. A child in Year 4 now is applying for entry two years from next September.
3. Note three dates: when registration opens, when it closes and when the test is. The 11+ dates page brings published dates together.
4. Check again each spring. Official dates for the next test are often confirmed only a few months ahead, and some areas are changing their timing.

Related pages

• When to start 11+ preparation
• The 11+ for summer-born children
• 11+ dates by area
• Standardised scores explained
• The 11+ formats compared

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 13 October 2026: Kent County Council, Borden Grammar School, Buckinghamshire Council, the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE), Southend-on-Sea City Council, Greenshaw Learning Trust (Sutton SET), Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire), Reading School, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford), SEAG, the ISEB and GOV.UK (School Admissions Code).

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