The 11 Plus Explained: A Parent's Complete Guide

The 11 Plus (sometimes written as 11+) is an entrance examination used by grammar schools and some independent schools to select pupils for Year 7 entry. If your child is approaching the end of primary school and you're considering a grammar school place, this guide covers everything you need to know - from registration deadlines to what happens on results day.

What is the 11 Plus?

The 11 Plus is a selective admissions test typically sat by children in Year 6 (aged 10–11), though registration usually happens in Year 5. Grammar schools use the results to identify children who would benefit from a more academically rigorous education. The exam does not replace SATs - children sit both.

It's worth noting that the 11 Plus is not a national, standardised test. Different regions, and sometimes individual schools, use different test providers, formats, and scoring systems. This is one of the things that makes the process confusing for parents encountering it for the first time.

Which areas still have grammar schools?

Grammar schools exist in specific parts of England. There are no grammar schools in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland's system differs. The main areas with grammar schools include:

• Kent - the largest grammar school system in England, with over 30 grammar schools
• Buckinghamshire - a fully selective system where grammar schools serve most of the county
• Lincolnshire - another area with a comprehensive grammar school system
• Birmingham and the West Midlands - including Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas
• Essex - particularly Southend and Chelmsford
• Trafford - in Greater Manchester
• Wirral - in Merseyside
• Devon - Torquay and surrounding areas
• North Yorkshire - Ripon and surrounding areas
• Gloucestershire - Stroud, Cheltenham and surrounding areas

Some grammar schools also exist as standalone schools in areas that are otherwise non-selective, such as individual grammars in London boroughs. You can read more about the different types of schools in England to understand where grammar schools fit in.

Test formats: GL Assessment vs CEM

The two main test providers are GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, based at Durham University). The provider your child will sit depends on the area or school:

GL Assessment

GL tests are the more traditional format. They typically cover four subjects in separate papers:

• Verbal reasoning - working with words, finding patterns in language, vocabulary
• Non-verbal reasoning - spatial awareness, pattern recognition using shapes and diagrams
• English - reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, punctuation
• Mathematics - arithmetic, problem-solving, data interpretation

GL papers are multiple choice, and practice materials are widely available from publishers like Bond, CGP, and Letts.

CEM (Durham)

CEM tests are deliberately harder to prepare for. They combine subjects within papers rather than testing them separately, and the question types change from year to year. CEM tests typically include:

• Verbal reasoning and English - comprehension, synonyms, sentence completion, and cloze passages
• Numerical reasoning and mathematics - applied maths problems, sequences, and data
• Non-verbal reasoning - often embedded within other papers

CEM does not publish practice papers, making it harder for tutoring to give an unfair advantage - which is part of the design intention.

Registration and key dates

The 11 Plus timeline broadly follows this pattern, though exact dates vary by region:

1. Spring/Summer of Year 5 - Research grammar schools in your area and check their admissions criteria. Attend open days where possible.
2. May–July - Registration typically opens. In Kent, for example, registration is usually in early June. Some schools require separate registration.
3. September of Year 6 - Tests are usually sat in the first two weeks of September, though some areas test in October or November.
4. October - Results are released (often mid-October). You'll receive a score and typically an indication of whether your child has reached the qualifying standard.
5. October 31 - The national deadline for secondary school applications via your local authority (this is separate from the 11 Plus registration).
6. March 1 - National Offer Day, when you find out which school your child has been allocated.

It's crucial to check specific dates for your area - missing the registration deadline means your child cannot sit the test that year.

How scoring works

Scoring varies by region and provider. Some key concepts:

• Raw score - the number of questions answered correctly
• Standardised score - the raw score adjusted for age (since children in the same year group can be up to 12 months apart in age). A standardised score of 100 is average. Grammar school qualifying scores are typically in the range of 109–121, depending on the area.
• Qualifying score - the minimum standardised score needed to be considered for a grammar school place. In some areas this is a fixed threshold; in others it can vary year to year.

Reaching the qualifying score does not guarantee a place - if more children qualify than there are places, distance from the school (or other oversubscription criteria) determines who gets in.

Preparing for the 11 Plus

Preparation is one of the most debated aspects of the 11 Plus. Here's a balanced approach:

Familiarisation, not cramming

The most important preparation is ensuring your child is familiar with the question types, particularly for verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which are not covered in the primary curriculum. A child seeing a verbal reasoning paper for the first time on test day is at a significant disadvantage compared to one who has practised the format - regardless of underlying ability.

What actually helps

• Reading widely - a strong vocabulary is one of the best predictors of 11 Plus success, and it develops over years, not weeks
• Timed practice - the tests are time-pressured, so practising under timed conditions helps with pacing
• Working through unfamiliar problem types - particularly for non-verbal reasoning
• Maintaining solid maths fundamentals - the maths tested is broadly in line with the Year 5/6 curriculum, but requires quick and confident application

The tutoring question

Professional tutoring is common but not essential. The risk with intensive tutoring is that it can coach a child to a score that doesn't reflect their genuine ability, leading to a child being placed in a school where the academic pace is too fast. If you do use a tutor, look for one who focuses on building understanding rather than drilling techniques.

Most areas recommend starting preparation 6–12 months before the test. Beginning earlier than this can lead to burnout and anxiety.

What happens if your child doesn't pass

Not reaching the qualifying score is disappointing, but it's important to keep perspective:

• The 11 Plus tests a narrow range of skills at a single point in time - it is not a measure of your child's overall ability or potential
• Many excellent comprehensive schools deliver outstanding results and pastoral care
• Some grammar schools have waiting lists, and places occasionally become available after the initial allocation
• A few areas allow appeals, though success rates are generally low
• Some grammar schools offer entry at other points (Year 9 or Sixth Form)

Our guide to choosing a secondary school covers how to evaluate all your options, whether selective or comprehensive.

The debate around selective education

Grammar schools remain one of the most contested topics in English education. Supporters argue they provide social mobility by offering academically gifted children from all backgrounds access to a rigorous education. Critics point to evidence suggesting that grammar school areas have wider attainment gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils, and that the system disproportionately benefits children from wealthier families who can afford preparation.

The evidence is genuinely mixed. What's clear is that grammar schools work well for some children and less well for others. The decision about whether to enter your child for the 11 Plus should be based on your child's individual strengths, learning style, and temperament - not on status or pressure from other parents.

Understanding catchment and admissions

Grammar school admissions criteria vary. Some prioritise by score alone, others use distance as a tiebreaker, and some have designated feeder areas. Understanding how school catchment areas work is important when you're deciding which grammar schools to apply to - a high score doesn't help if you live outside the school's priority area.

Key takeaways

• The 11 Plus is a selective entrance exam used by grammar schools, not a national test
• Test formats vary by area - check whether your region uses GL Assessment or CEM
• Registration typically happens in the summer term of Year 5; don't miss the deadline
• Familiarisation with question types is essential; intensive tutoring is not
• Not passing is not a reflection of your child's worth or potential
• Consider whether a grammar school genuinely suits your child, rather than pursuing it by default