What is a good 11 Plus score or pass mark?

Understanding the 11 Plus Exam

The 11 Plus exam typically consists of 4 core subjects—English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning—delivered in 45-60 minute papers per section across 2-4 testing days depending on the exam board.

GL Assessment uses four separate 50-minute papers. These cover English with around 60 multiple-choice questions on comprehension and vocabulary, Maths with 80 problems, Verbal Reasoning with 80 items in 45 minutes, and Non-Verbal Reasoning with spatial tasks.

CEM Select differs by combining subjects into two 50-minute papers. One mixes Verbal Reasoning and Maths, the other pairs Non-Verbal Reasoning with comprehension, using a mix of multiple-choice and free-response formats.

Variations include multiple choice scanned via OMR sheets for GL, while CEM often uses online adaptive tests. Parents check official GL and CEM specs for local grammar school entrance rules.

Exam Structure and Subjects

GL Assessment exams feature four distinct 50-minute papers covering English (comprehension/vocabulary), Maths (numerical reasoning), Verbal Reasoning (word puzzles), and Non-Verbal Reasoning (spatial patterns).

English includes 60 MCQs testing spelling and grammar. Maths has 80 problems on arithmetic and shapes, often timed tightly. Verbal Reasoning packs 80 items into 45 minutes, like analogies.

For example, a VR question might read: bird is to fly as fish is to ___, with options like swim, water, scale, ocean. Non-Verbal Reasoning uses patterns and sequences.

CEM combines skills to test adaptability under time pressure. Practice with CGP books or Bond papers helps familiarise children with these formats for better exam technique.

What Constitutes a 'Good' Score?

A good 11 Plus score typically means 111+ standardised score (top 25% nationally), with 121+ considered excellent (top 10%) and 130+ exceptional for grammar school priority. These SAS scores come from GL Assessment, which uses age-standardised scoring based on 2023 norms. Parents often aim for these bands to meet qualifying scores in selective areas.

Score bands help define performance levels. A score of 111-120 falls at the 75th percentile, often securing selective places in grammar schools. Higher ranges like 121-130 hit the 91st percentile for top grammar entry, while 131+ reaches 98th percentile or above, ideal for oversubscribed schools.

The SAS score distribution follows a bell curve with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, as per normal distribution principles. Most pupils score around this average, but high scores stand out in the right tail. Understanding this helps set realistic target scores during exam preparation.

For example, a raw score of 75/90 in Maths might convert to an SAS of 115 using a score calculator. Tools like these account for age standardisation from the GL Assessment technical manual. Practice with bond papers or mock exams builds confidence toward these benchmarks.

National Pass Marks and Standards

Nationally, no fixed pass mark exists as 11 Plus scores are standardised with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, but grammar schools typically require 110-113+ with Birmingham setting 104 as baseline in oversubscribed years. The Department for Education guidelines outline this national standardisation process to ensure fairness across age groups and test versions. Scores adjust for difficulty and pupil age using a normal distribution or bell curve.

Each local authority or school sets its own cutoff score based on available grammar school places and applicant numbers. In high-demand areas like Kent or Trafford, competition pushes thresholds higher. Parents should check school prospectuses for exact admissions criteria including tie-breaks and catchment rules.

Standardised Age Scores, or SAS scores, from providers like CEM Select or GL Assessment, form the basis for decisions. A score around 100 represents average performance, while 121 is the top end. Practice with mock exams and past papers helps predict a child's qualifying score.

Understanding score distribution aids preparation. Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and English tests contribute to the aggregate. Aim for a competitive score through targeted tutoring and exam technique practice.

Typical Pass Thresholds

Typical pass thresholds range from 104-113 SAS depending on competition: 110+ safe nationally, 104 Birmingham baseline, 113+ Kent/Trafford minimums. These threshold scores reflect oversubscription levels in the 11 Plus exam. Schools use them to rank candidates for limited places.

In 2023 Birmingham admissions data, 2,126 places led to a cutoff score of 104 SAS aggregate across tests. This shows how local authority tests adjust yearly. Families in areas like Sutton or Redbridge face similar patterns with score bands shifting based on applicant pools.

To achieve a good 11 Plus score, focus on score conversion from raw marks to standardised ones. Use practice papers from CGP books or Bond to build skills in comprehension, vocabulary, and numerical reasoning. Track progress with a score calculator or mock results for a realistic target score.

Regional and School-Specific Variations

Cutoffs vary dramatically by region: Birmingham (104), Kent (113+), Trafford (116+), with individual schools adjusting based on applicant numbers and catchment priority. The DfE School Admissions Code shapes these through oversubscription criteria. Schools publish annual cutoff scores to guide parents on competitive 11 Plus scores.

In high-demand areas, a qualifying score like 121 might secure a place, while borderline scores hover near the threshold. Parents check school prospectuses and local authority data for score distributions. Grammar school places often prioritise catchment, siblings, or looked-after children in tie-breaks.

Understanding oversubscription ratios helps set a target score. For example, practice with GL Assessment or CEM Select papers to predict performance. Experts recommend aiming above the previous year's pass mark for a safe score.

Admissions criteria evolve yearly, so review performance tables and forums like Mumsnet 11+ for insights. This prepares families for eleven plus variations across the UK.

Examples from Key Areas

Birmingham grammar schools set 104 SAS as 2023 cutoff (King Edward VI: 2,800 apps for 180 places), while Kent Test requires 113+ with ranked lists. These reflect competitive scores influenced by applicant volume. Parents use this to gauge a good 11 Plus score locally.

Trafford demands higher thresholds due to selective systems. Sutton schools prioritise catchment areas alongside scores. Always verify with LA admissions statistics for the latest.

Aim for scores well above these cutoff scores to account for changes. Use mock exams and score calculators for score conversion. Tutoring focuses on verbal reasoning and maths test weaknesses to hit a strong performance.

Raw Scores vs Standardised Scores

Raw scores (e.g., 72/90 correct answers) convert to standardised SAS via age norms: 72/90 ≈ 115 SAS for Year 6 autumn term child per GL conversion tables. This process starts with the raw score, which counts correct answers from the 11 Plus exam. It then adjusts for age using a Z-score before arriving at the final SAS with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15.

The conversion uses age standardisation from the CEM Select technical report formula. Younger children in Year 6 autumn receive a slight boost to reflect their academic potential fairly. This ensures a grammar school entrance score compares children across the normal distribution or bell curve.

Parents often confuse raw scores with SAS, but only the standardised version matters for pass marks and qualifying scores. For example, a 60/90 raw score might equal 100 SAS, the average, while higher raw marks push into competitive percentile bands. Check school prospectuses for specific threshold scores in areas like Kent or Birmingham 11+.

This table shows typical score conversion for GL 11+ exams. Use it as a score calculator guide alongside practice papers from CGP books or Bond papers. Aim for a safe score above local cutoff in mock exams to predict eleven plus success.

Factors Affecting Score Benchmarks

Cutoffs fluctuate yearly based on applicant cohort strength and oversubscription. Birmingham dropped from 109 in 2022 to 104 in 2023 due to a weaker cohort. Local authorities adjust these threshold scores after marking to match available grammar school places.

Primary factors include applicant numbers, cohort ability, and test difficulty. In high-demand areas, more applicants per place raise the qualifying score. A tougher exam or stronger year group shifts the pass mark higher on the standardised scale.

Exam boards like CEM Select and GL Assessment use age-standardised scores to account for test date variations. This ensures fair comparison across the 11 Plus score distribution. Parents should check school prospectuses for specific cutoff score trends.

Local authority tests often apply score adjustments post-exam. Oversubscription triggers tie-breaks like distance from school. Tracking league tables helps predict a competitive score for areas like Kent or Sutton.

Competition and Cohort Performance

High competition areas see 10-15 applicants per place, pushing cutoffs up 5-10 SAS points in strong cohort years per league table analysis. Birmingham's ratio reached 14:1 in recent years. This drives the need for a high 11 Plus score to secure a place.

Cohort performance varies yearly, affecting the bell curve of scores. A weak year lowers the cutoff score by several points, as seen in some regions. Strong performers set a higher benchmark score, making 110+ a safer target.

• Apps:places ratio determines oversubscription levels.
• Cohort standard deviation influences score spread.
• Tie-break rules, like distance 0.1km apart, decide borderline cases.

In Sutton's 2023 stats, competition raised cutoffs notably. Parents use practice papers and mock exams to aim for top percentiles. Forums like Mumsnet discuss expected scores based on past trends.

Benchmarking Top Performances

Top 1% achieve 130+ SAS across papers (≈90/90 raw per section), securing priority at elite grammars like Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. These top scores reflect exceptional mastery in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths test, and English test. Parents often target this range for competitive grammar school entrance.

A high SAS score like 140+ places pupils in the top 0.5%, earning highest priority in oversubscription scenarios. Schools use these benchmarks for admissions criteria, including tie-breaks and catchment areas. Practice with CEM Select or GL 11+ papers helps predict such performance.

Stanine conversion shows Stanine 9 = 127+ SAS, aligning with excellent scores on the stanine scale. This table aids in setting a target score for 11 Plus exam preparation. Use mock exams and score calculators to track progress towards these bands.

Understanding score distribution on the bell curve helps contextualise results. A strong performance above 121 SAS boosts selective eligibility for schools like those in Birmingham 11+ or Kent 11+. Combine tutoring with past papers for score improvement.

Implications of Different Score Bands

Score bands determine outcomes: 121+ (automatic grammar offers), 110-120 (competitive), 104-109 (unlikely unless catchment priority), and under 104 (comprehensive allocation). These 11 Plus score bands reflect standardised age scores, or SAS, which adjust for age and exam difficulty. Understanding them helps parents set realistic target scores during exam preparation.

Higher bands like 121+ often secure places in top grammar schools, especially in areas with oversubscription. For instance, in regions like Kent or Trafford, this excellent score bypasses tie-breaks and catchment rules. Families can use practice papers from GL Assessment or CEM Select to aim for such high scores.

Borderline scores in the 104-109 range rarely lead to grammar offers without strong local ties. Competitive bands around 110-120 depend on available grammar school places and school admissions criteria. Mock exams and score calculators help predict if a child's raw score converts to a competitive SAS.

This table, drawn from 2023 multi-LA data, shows how score bands influence secondary school transfer. Parents should check local authority tests, like those in Birmingham or Sutton, for specific cutoff scores. Tutoring focused on verbal reasoning, maths test, and non-verbal reasoning boosts chances across bands.