How many children pass the 11 Plus (pass rate)?

What is the 11 Plus Exam?

The 11 Plus exam is a selective entrance test for grammar schools and some independent schools in the UK, taken by approximately 250,000 Year 6 pupils aged 10-11 annually to determine eligibility for around 30,000 grammar school places.

This eleven plus test assesses skills in core areas like English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Providers shape the format, with GL Assessment using 80% multiple choice questions across four sections, while CEM offers longer papers with a strong vocabulary focus.

Typical papers last 45-60 minutes each, and scores get standardised to a mean of 100 with a standard deviation of 15. Pass marks vary regionally, often ranging from 109-121 standardised score, depending on the local authority and competition.

DfE data highlights a national qualification rate of 10-12% for grammar school places. Regional providers include Kent using GL, Birmingham with CEM, and Trafford employing a hybrid approach, affecting preparation strategies for parents.

GL Assessment Format

GL Assessment papers feature mostly multiple choice formats, split into English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Each section tests specific skills, like pattern recognition in non-verbal tasks or comprehension in English.

Papers run about 45-60 minutes, allowing time for careful reading of options. Practice with Bond papers helps familiarise children with this style, building speed and accuracy.

Scores convert to age-adjusted standardised scores, where 100 is average. Parents should target practice papers matching GL to simulate real 11+ exam conditions effectively.

Regional areas like Kent rely on this format, so checking local pass mark by area guides realistic goals during 11 Plus preparation.

CEM Exam Structure

CEM exams use longer papers with less multiple choice, emphasising vocabulary and problem-solving in maths and English. Verbal reasoning often includes unseen words, testing broader language skills.

Each paper extends beyond 60 minutes in some cases, demanding stamina from 10-11 year olds. Mock exams reveal strengths in areas like extended comprehension passages.

Standardised scoring applies here too, with qualifying score thresholds set locally. Birmingham families prepare by focusing on vocabulary lists and timed drills.

This format suits children strong in reasoning, but tutoring addresses vocabulary gaps common in CEM selective school tests.

Regional Variations and Pass Marks

Pass marks differ by region, from 109 in some areas to 121 in highly competitive ones like Trafford. Kent uses GL with consistent pass thresholds, while Birmingham's CEM adjusts for cohort performance.

Local authorities publish pass mark ranges post-exam, influenced by oversubscription and grammar school places. Parents track Kent pass rate or Birmingham pass rate trends for planning.

Hybrids like Trafford combine elements, requiring versatile prep with both GL and CEM practice. Understanding regional pass rates sets expectations for success.

Factors like distance criteria and sibling priority affect final offers beyond scores, so review local council stats early.

National Pass Rates Overview

Nationally, only 10-12% of 11 Plus test-takers qualify for grammar schools, with DfE data showing 28,000-32,000 successful candidates from 250,000-270,000 Year 6 pupils annually across England. In 2023, 261,000 eligible pupils sat the exam, and 29,400 qualified at an 11.3% pass rate. This reflects the high competition, with typically 8-10 applicants per selective place.

GL Assessment sets the baseline at the 80th percentile, requiring a score of 111 or higher. CEM exams use a median pass mark of 110-112, adjusted for age. Parents often review these benchmarks when planning 11 Plus preparation.

National trends show stability, with a 11.2% pass rate in 2022 rising slightly to 11.5% in 2023. Year 6 pupils in selective areas face oversubscription, where grammar school places go to top scorers. Practice with mock exams helps children aim for these qualifying scores.

Regional variations affect local authority pass rates, such as higher rates in Kent or Buckinghamshire. Families check DfE data for cohort size and success rates before registering. Understanding the bell curve scoring prepares parents for realistic expectations on exam results.

Typical Pass Percentage

The typical national 11 Plus pass percentage hovers at 11%, meaning roughly 1 in 9 children qualify despite 20-25% attempting the exam. In 2023, 29,452 qualified from a 261,000 cohort per DfE figures, confirming the 11.3% rate. This low percentage passing underscores the selective nature of grammar school entrance.

Score distribution follows a bell curve, where the top 10% achieve 121 or higher, and the next 10-15% fall in the borderline 111-120 range. The bottom 75% score below 110, missing the pass threshold. Stanine 7-9 scores, often 121+, mark qualification in many areas.

Parents use GL Assessment or CEM stanine breakdowns to gauge progress during tutoring. For example, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning papers contribute to the aggregate score. Mock exams reveal if a child nears the minimum score for their target grammar school.

Competition ratios amplify the challenge, with 8-10 candidates per place in popular regions like London or Essex. Families consider pass mark by area, such as Kent pass rates, when choosing practice papers. Reviewing historical pass rates aids in setting preparation goals for 10-11 year olds.

Regional Variations in Pass Rates

Pass rates vary dramatically by region, from 35%+ in Buckinghamshire to under 5% in non-selective areas, driven by grammar school density and local competition. England has 164 local authorities, but only 36 with grammar schools. This creates wide differences in places per 100 pupils, ranging from 0.2 to 12.5.

In high-density areas, more Year 6 pupils qualify for grammar school entrance. Non-selective regions see fierce competition ratios for few spots. Parents check local authority pass rates via council stats or DfE data.

11 Plus preparation adjusts to these trends. Families in low-rate areas focus on mock exams and tutoring early. Historical pass rates, like 2023 results, guide realistic expectations for 10-11 year olds.

Trends show stable regional variations, with some impact from COVID on pass rate 2022. Experts recommend reviewing pass mark by area for CEM exam or GL Assessment formats.

High-Selectivity Areas

Buckinghamshire boasts a 38.2% pass rate (2023), highest nationally, with 2,180 qualifiers from 5,705 test-takers for 1,800 grammar places. These areas offer more selective places per cohort. Qualifying score often hits age-adjusted thresholds on maths paper and English paper.

Source: Individual LA data/grammar school stats. In Trafford grammar zones, pupils aim for standardised score around 121. Practice with bond papers helps master verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

Parents target aggregate score above pass threshold. Oversubscription uses sibling priority or distance criteria. Tutoring boosts chances in these high success rate spots.

Low-Selectivity Areas

Comprehensive areas like Manchester report pass rates below 3%, with only 156 qualifiers from 5,200+ test-takers competing for limited Altrincham Grammar places. Failure rates exceed 95%, fuelling demand for 11 Plus preparation. Few grammar school places mean high oversubscription.

This spurs a preparation industry boom, with focus on multiple choice questions and practice papers. In pass rate Manchester or Liverpool, aim for exceptional score 130+. Mock exams build resilience against low acceptance rate.

Check pass mark Manchester or London rates like Redbridge grammar. Appeals and waiting lists offer hope, plus priorities for Pupil Premium or looked after children. Early tutoring targets bell curve scoring for edge.

Factors Affecting Pass Numbers

Pass numbers depend on cohort size (growing 2-3% yearly) versus fixed selective places (30,000 max), creating 8:1 competition ratios in popular areas. DfE data for 2023 shows 261,000 Year 6 pupils nationally against 29,500 grammar places, yielding an 11:1 ratio overall. These dynamics mean 11 Plus pass rates fluctuate with pupil numbers and local demand.

In grammar-heavy regions like Kent or Buckinghamshire, high participation drives down the percentage passing. Parents often weigh this when planning 11 Plus preparation, including tutoring and mock exams. Understanding these factors helps set realistic expectations for grammar school entrance.

Regional variations amplify competition, with urban areas like London facing tighter ratios than rural ones. Schools use criteria like sibling priority or distance alongside exam scores. Families can check local council stats for pass rate trends to gauge chances.

Trends show rising cohort sizes pressuring fixed places, especially post-COVID with delayed impacts on 2023 and 2024 results. Experts recommend focusing on standardised scores over raw marks for better odds. This balance shapes the national success rate for the 11+ exam.

Number of Test-Takers

Only 60-70% of eligible Year 6 pupils (156,000-182,000) actually sit 11 Plus exams, with participation varying from 20% (comprehensive areas) to 95%+ (grammar-heavy regions). DfE pupil numbers contrast with LA entry data, highlighting selective entry. This directly impacts the national pass rate.

In Kent, 95% of the 18,000 cohort tests, while Bucks sees 85% of 6,700, Barnet 75% of 6,000, and Manchester just 25% of 20,000. Higher test-takers lower the pass percentage, as more candidates chase limited spots. An extra 1,000 entrants can drop rates by 0.5-1%.

• State schools send 65% of pupils to exams, versus 40% from private ones.
• Parents in low-participation areas face less competition for qualifying scores.
• Practice with CEM exam or GL Assessment papers boosts readiness amid varying turnout.

Families should review local authority pass rates and historical data for insights. Tutoring centres track pupils sitting exams to advise on timing mocks. This prepares 10-11 year olds for verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and English papers.

Selective School Places Available

England has 163 grammar schools offering 29,500 Year 7 places fixed by government funding, creating a national bottleneck despite rising demand. Capacities are set under the Education Act 1996, limiting expansion. This caps the number of children passing into selective places.

Key areas include Kent with 26 grammars and 3,900 places, Birmingham with 8 grammars and 2,400, Bucks 13 grammars and 1,800, and Trafford 5 grammars and 650. Oversubscription is fierce, like Wilson Grammar at 6.5 applicants per place or Wallington County at 5.8:1. Schools prioritise aggregate scores and ties via distance or Pupil Premium.

• Newstead Wood sees 4.2:1 ratios, favouring high standardised scores.
• Waiting lists and appeals follow pass thresholds like 121 or 130+ for exceptional entry.
• SEN adjustments and access arrangements aid borderline candidates.

Parents track oversubscription ratios via school websites for London pass rates or Kent pass rates. Preparation with bond papers targets pass marks by area. Fixed places mean even top scorers face rejection in high-demand spots like Redbridge or Trafford grammars.

Historical Trends in Pass Rates

11 Plus pass rates fluctuated between 8% and 14% from 2000 to 2023, peaking at 13.8% in 2008 during grammar expansion, bottoming at 8.2% in 2019 amid testing controversies. These shifts reflect changes in grammar school places and exam formats. Parents tracking historical pass rates can better gauge competition for their Year 6 pupils.

The table below shows key years in 11 Plus pass rates, highlighting trends for selective school tests. Use this timeline to understand pass percentage patterns across regions like Kent and Buckinghamshire.

Sutton Trust analysis notes a stable decade average around 11% for eleven plus exams. Factors like a 2009 grammar place increase of 12% drove up success rates, while 2016 testing format changes led to a 1.5% drop. COVID catch-up efforts boosted rates by 2% in recent years.

For 11+ preparation, review these trends by local authority pass rate, such as lower rates in oversubscribed areas like Trafford grammar schools. Practice with GL Assessment or CEM exam papers to target the typical pass mark around 121 standardised score.

Recent Statistics (2020s)

2023 recorded 29,452 qualifiers (11.3%) from 261,000 cohort, the highest since 2015 and recovering from COVID disruptions that dropped 2020-21 rates to 9.1%.

These figures come from DfE data and individual local authorities, tracking Year 6 pupils sitting the 11 Plus exam across selective areas. The upward trend reflects post-pandemic recovery in preparation and testing.

Pass rates vary by region, with areas like Kent and Buckinghamshire showing steady qualification numbers amid oversubscription. Parents should check local council stats for precise cohort size and qualifiers in their area.

Preliminary 2024 data suggests a continuing 11.4% trend, with more pupils achieving the qualifying score. Focus on regional pass rates like Kent or Essex for targeted 11 Plus preparation.

Comparing Pass Rates Across Years

Pass rates grew 28% from 2020 COVID low (9.1%) to 2023 recovery (11.3%), though Bucks maintained 36-39% consistency while Barnet dropped from 12% to 8%. This shift highlights regional pass rate differences in the 11 Plus exam. Parents often track these trends to gauge grammar school entrance chances for Year 6 pupils.

The table below shows 11 Plus pass rates by region, including year-on-year changes and five-year trends. Bucks saw steady growth, while Barnet faced declining pass rates. Such data from local council stats helps families assess competition ratio for selective places.

Visualise these pass rate trends with a line graph for quick insights, plotting years on the x-axis and percentages on the y-axis. This format reveals COVID impact on test takers and recovery patterns. Experts recommend reviewing such charts alongside cohort size to understand oversubscription.

Factors like exam format change in GL Assessment or CEM exams influenced these shifts. For instance, more pupils sitting exams post-2021 led to higher national qualification rates. Parents can use historical pass rates to plan 11 Plus preparation, focusing on mocks that match local pass mark by area.