What is the 11 Plus exam? A parent’s guide for 2027

The 11 Plus is a name used for entrance assessments around the end of primary school. In England, grammar schools use academic selection; some independent schools also hold entrance assessments at 11+. There is no single national 11 Plus paper, timetable or pass mark. Start with the schools your child might attend, then check their requirements.

Who takes the 11 Plus?

Children applying to selective schools may need to sit an entrance test, commonly during Year 6 when they are 10 or 11. The admissions authority determines the relevant age range and any arrangements for children outside the usual year group. The exam is not compulsory for every primary pupil, and it is separate from primary-school SATs.

A school’s name alone is not enough to identify its admissions route. State grammar schools and independent schools can both have “grammar” in their name. Check whether the school is state-funded or fee-paying and whether its entrance test is shared with other schools. This guide focuses on England; admissions arrangements differ elsewhere in the UK.

What subjects are tested?

Not every test contains all four areas. A provider’s practice range does not prove that your school tests every subject in that range. Do not use a generic subject weighting, question count or time limit in place of the school’s instructions.

What does a question look like?

• Maths example: three quarters of 28 is 21, because 28 ÷ 4 = 7 and 7 × 3 = 21.
• Vocabulary example: a synonym for “reluctant” is “unwilling”; the surrounding sentence helps decide which meaning fits.
• Letter-code example: moving each letter forward three places changes HOUSE to KRXVH. Explain the rule before increasing speed.

These are original teaching examples, not questions taken from a school’s exam. For the actual layout, read the official sample or familiarisation paper. Written comprehension may require evidence and explanation; a multiple-choice paper also requires accurate use of its answer sheet.

How do providers and school tests differ?

GL Assessment supplies admissions tests and publishes familiarisation materials, but the combination of subjects and timings varies by area. Other schools use different providers or their own assessments. The useful question is “What will this school assess in this admissions cycle?”, rather than “Which provider is easiest?”. See our provider guide before selecting resources.

Registration is not the school-place application

Keep separate records for test registration, requests for access arrangements where relevant, and the application for a school place. Completing one does not necessarily complete the others. State-school applications normally involve your home local authority; independent-school applications go directly to the school. Check official instructions, including any supplementary forms, rather than relying on another family’s dates.

• Record the school-entry year and test date separately.
• Save the registration confirmation and candidate details.
• Record any evidence deadline for access arrangements.
• Read the oversubscription policy: catchment, priority groups and distance may matter.
• Keep realistic non-selective options on your shortlist.

Does passing guarantee a place?

No. A qualifying result can establish academic eligibility without guaranteeing an offer. An oversubscribed school applies its published criteria; another may rank eligible candidates by score. A raw practice percentage is not an official standardised result. Read our scoring explanation before interpreting a score.

How to begin preparing for a 2027 exam

First, compare your school shortlist against official admissions documents. Next, try a small amount of suitable practice to find specific gaps. Teach those skills, review mistakes and add timed work when the method is understood. Use the Maths hub, English hub and study timetable to organise work around the relevant subjects. Retain time for school homework, reading for pleasure, clubs and rest.

Sources and review scope

Reviewed 7 October 2026 against GL Assessment’s parent information, GOV.UK school admissions and GOV.UK school types. School-specific 2027 dates must be checked in the relevant published arrangements. This page does not promise a place or assess an individual child’s suitability.