As parents, securing a secondary school place for our children can be both exciting and daunting.
For those with current Year 5 children eyeing entry into Year 7 in September 2025, the journey begins with understanding the key dates and deadlines surrounding 11 Plus exams in 2024.
In this article, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to application and exam dates across the country. We’ll also address parents’ common questions and concerns, with expert insights to help your 11 Plus preparations.
What date is the 11 Plus 2024?
11 Plus exams in the UK typically take place in the autumn term of Year 6, which is the final year of primary school. The exact timing of exams varies depending on the region and individual schools administering the tests. However, for 2024, they generally occur between September and October.
Here’s a rough overview:
- Registration: Most Grammar Schools open registration for 11 Plus exams from March to May 2024.
- Exam Dates: Most Grammars hold 11 Plus exams in September, although there are a few schools with exams in October and November.
- Results and Places: Results are normally returned by November 2024, with school allocations officially confirmed by March 2025.
- School Starts: The new school year begins in September 2025.
It’s essential to check the specific exam dates for each school your child is applying to, as registration deadlines and testing schedules differ across the country.
How do I register my child for the 11 Plus?
To register your child for 11 Plus exams, you’ll need to follow the specific procedures outlined by your local authority or the individual schools you’re applying to.
In general, you should:
- Research schools: Firstly, research the Grammar Schools or selective schools in your area that use 11 Plus exams. Make a list of the schools you’re interested in.
- Registration deadlines: Check the registration deadlines for each school. These dates vary, so make sure you don’t miss them! We’ve listed application deadlines for every Grammar School in the country below.
- Contact schools: Contact schools directly or visit their websites to find out about their registration process. Most local authorities have online registration forms, while some schools use paper or PDF application forms.
- Complete the registration form: All that’s left to do is fill out the registration form accurately! Make sure to provide all required information, including your child’s details, contact information, and any supporting documents requested by the school.
To understand the secondary system in more detail, don’t miss our guide to Grammar Schools as well as an introduction to the 11 Plus and Grammar School teaching of the National Curriculum.
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024: Regional Deadlines
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Berkshire
There are six Grammar Schools in Berkshire, spread across Reading and Slough.
Reading School and Kendrick School are based in Reading. Grammar Schools in Slough are part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, with the same application deadlines and test dates.
For Reading School:
- Registration opens: 1 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 14 June 2024
- Test date: 4 September 2024
For Kendrick School:
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 1 July 2024
- Test date: 20 September 2024
For Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools:
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 12 June 2024
- Test date: 21 September 2024
Looking at Grammars in Slough? Here’s your essential 11 Plus entry guide.
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Birmingham
There are eight Grammar Schools in Birmingham, all members of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. This means they all have the same registration and exam dates.
- Registration opens: 7 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 28 June 2024
- Test date: 14-16 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Buckinghamshire
There are thirteen Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire, all part of the Buckingham Grammar Schools Consortium. As such, they all share the same key dates.
- Registration opens: 3 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 14 June 2024
- Test date: 12 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Cumbria
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Penrith is the only Grammar School in Cumbria.
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 12 July 2024
- Test date: 14 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Devon
There are seven Grammar Schools in Devon, spread across East Devon, Plymouth and Torquay. Some of these Devon Grammars share application and exam dates.
For Torquay Grammar Schools:
- Registration opens: March 2024
- Final registration deadline: 5 September 2024
- Test date: 14 September 2024
For Devonport High School for Boys and Plymouth Girls’ Grammar Schools:
- Registration opens: 22 April
- Final registration deadline: 31 August 2024
- Test date: 14-21 September 2024
For Colyton Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 1 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 6 September 2024
- Test date: 21 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Dorset
There are four Grammar Schools in Dorset, all sharing the same registration and exam dates.
- Registration opens: 15 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 6 September 2024
- Test date: 21 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Essex
There are 11 Grammar Schools in Essex. They’re all members of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, apart from Chelmsford County High School for Girls.
For Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex:
- Registration opens: 14 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 28 June 2024
- Test date: 21 September 2024
For Chelmsford County High School for Girls:
- Registration opens: 24 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 21 June 2024
- Test date: 13 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Gloucestershire
There are seven Grammar Schools in Gloucestershire, all with the same application and exam dates.
- Registration opens: 20 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 28 June 2024
- Test date: 14 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Greater Manchester
There are seven Grammar Schools in Greater Manchester. They are all members of the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium, apart from Saint Ambrose College and Loreto Grammar School.
For Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium:
- Registration opens: 25 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 21 June 2024
- Test date: 16 September 2024
For Saint Ambrose College:
- Registration opens: 18 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 14 July 2024
- Test date: 22 September 2024
For Loreto Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 29 June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 31 July 2024
- Test date: 20 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Hertfordshire
There aren’t any Grammar Schools in Hertfordshire, but there are partially-selective schools that are members of the South West Herts Schools Consortium.
- Registration opens: 8 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 14 June 2024
- Test date: 7 September 2024
For more information, read our guide to South West Herts Consortium Schools.
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Kent
There are 32 Grammar Schools in Kent, all using the “Kent Test” with the same registration deadlines and exam dates.
- Registration opens: 3 June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 1 July 2024
- Test date: 12 September 2024
Searching for schools in Kent? Here are the top ten Grammars and their 11 Plus formats.
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Lancashire
There are four Grammar Schools in Lancashire.
For Clitheroe Royal Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 3 June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 13 September 2024
- Test date: 28 September 2024
For Lancaster Royal Grammar School:
- Registration opens: April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 9 September 2024
- Test date: 28 September 2024
Specific details for Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School are yet to be published.
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Lincolnshire
There are sixteen Grammar Schools in Lincolnshire. They’re all members of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools, apart from Caistor Grammar School.
For Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools:
- Registration opens: 5 January 2024
- Final registration deadline: 21 March 2024
- Test date: 14-21 September 2024
For Caistor Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 1 March 2024
- Final registration deadline: 16 August 2024
- Test date: 21-28 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in London
There are 19 Grammar Schools in London. Here are the key deadlines for each borough.
Barnet
There are three Grammar Schools in Barnet, all with different admissions deadlines.
For Queen Elizabeth’s School:
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 12 July 2024
- Test date: 18-19 September 2024
For St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 15 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 2 July 2024
- Test date: 13 September 2024
For the Henrietta Barnett School:
- Registration opens: 15 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 12 July 2024
- Test date: First Round 3-4 September, Second Round 1 October 2024.
To find out more about the prestigious Queen Elizabeth’s School and Henrietta Barnett School, don’t miss our in-depth entrance guides.
Bexley
There are four Grammar Schools in Bexley, all using the Bexley Selection Test.
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 31 May 2024
- Test date: 9-12 September 2024
Bromley
There are two Grammar Schools in Bromley, with their own deadlines and processes.
For Newstead Wood School:
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 30 June 2024
- Test date: 27-28 September 2024
For St Olave’s Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 10 June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 1 July 2024
- Test date: Stage 1 Test, 20 September 2024. Stage 2 Test, 15 November 2024.
Enfield
There’s only one Grammar in Enfield, The Latymer School.
- Registration opens: 16 March 2024
- Final registration deadline: 14 June 2024
- Test date: 1st, 7th and 8th September 2024
Kingston-upon-Thames
There are two Grammar Schools in Kingston-upon-Thames, both using a two-stage application process.
For Tiffin School:
- Registration opens: 3 June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 2 September 2024
- Test date: Stage 1 Test, 15 October 2024. Stage 2 Test, November 2024 (date TBC).
For The Tiffin Girls’ School:
- Registration opens: June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 2 September 2024
- Test date: Stage 1 Test, 3-4 October 2024. State 2 Test, November 2024 (date TBC).
Redbridge
There are two Grammar Schools in Redbridge (Ilford County High School and Woodford County High School), sharing key application and exam dates.
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 31 May 2024
- Test date: 20 September 2024
Sutton
There are five Grammar Schools in Sutton, that all use the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test. Those performing well are invited for a second test at individual schools.
For the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test:
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 2 August 2024
- Test date: 17 September 2024
Second-round test dates
For Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls:
- Test date: 28 September 2028
For Sutton Grammar School, Wilson’s School and Wallington County Grammar School:
- Test date: 5 October 2024
Searching for the best schools in the capital? Check out our guides to the best Grammar Schools, private schools and state secondaries in London.
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Medway
There are six Grammar Schools in the Medway area, all using the “Medway Test”.
- Registration opens: 20 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 14 June 2024
- Test date: 17-22 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Merseyside
There are six Grammar Schools in Merseyside. One in Liverpool and six on the Wirral. Four schools use the “Wirral Admissions Test”, the others have their own tests and application deadlines.
For Wirral Admissions Test Schools:
- Dates for 2024 will be published soon.
For St Anselm’s College:
- Final registration deadline: 13 September 2024
- Test date: 20 September 2024
For Upton Hall School:
- Final registration deadline: 12 July 2024
- Test date: 14 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in the West Midlands
All Grammar Schools in the West Midlands (including Grammars in Birmingham) are part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. This means students sit the same tests at the same time.
- Registration opens: 7 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 28 June 2024
- Test date: 14-16 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Wiltshire
There are two Grammar Schools in Wiltshire.
For Bishop Wordsworth’s School:
- Registration opens: 15 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 13 September 2024
- Test date: 28 September 2024
For South Wiltshire Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 1 June 2024
- Final registration deadline: 1 September 2024
- Test date: 21 September 2024
When to apply for 11 Plus exams 2024 in Yorkshire
There are six Grammar Schools in Yorkshire, with separate application and exam dates.
For Crossley Heath School and North Halifax Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 22 March 2024
- Final registration deadline: 28 June 2024
- Test date: 21 September 2024
For Ermysted’s Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 8 April 2024
- Final registration deadline: 2 September 2024
- Test date: 28 September 2024
For Heckmondwike Grammar School:
- Registration opens: 15 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 24 June 2024
- Test date: 13 September 2024
For Ripon Grammar School:
- Registration opens: April 2024
- Final registration deadline: June 2024
- Test date: Early September 2024 (date TBC)
For Skipton Girls’ High School:
- Registration opens: 1 May 2024
- Final registration deadline: 28 August 2024
- Test date: 28 September 2024
Preparing for the 11 Plus: A Quickfire Guide
When should I start preparing for the 11 Plus?
Optimal timing for starting 11 Plus preparation varies depending on your child’s academic abilities, temperament and experience.
While some children require only a few months of targeted practice closer to the exam date, most benefit from at least a year of structured support and tuition to build confidence and proficiency across core skills.
With this in mind, many parents start 11 Plus preparation from Year 4 or Year 5.
What is a good score for the 11 Plus?
The pass mark for 11 Plus exams varies across schools and local authorities.
On average, a score of around 80% is considered “good”, though this threshold differs from school to school.
Standardised age scores generally range from 60 to 142. While 100 is the “average” score, 120 or above represents the top 10% of students.
Some Grammar Schools set a qualifying score for entry (say 110), but this won’t be consistent across the country. So it’s essential to check with individual schools or consortiums for specific information.
Other schools rank scores from highest to lowest, offering places to a set amount of the highest-achieving pupils. This means a “good” score (i.e. one that gets your child a place at Grammar School) changes each year.
Can an average child pass the 11 Plus?
Yes, absolutely!
Success in 11 Plus exams is more than achievable with dedication, appropriate preparation and perseverance. At Achieve Learning, our 1-1 tuition (tailored exactly to your child’s needs) helps every child achieve their full academic potential.
However, it’s important to remember that Grammar Schools prioritise only the most academically gifted students. So while it’s possible for many students to achieve top marks in 11 Plus exams, an “average” score won’t secure entry.
Can you pass the 11 Plus without tuition?
Yes, but it takes dedication from both parents and children!
While personal tuition offers invaluable guidance and support (particularly for targeted exam preparation), it is possible to pass the 11 Plus through independent study and resources such as reading lists, mock tests and revision guides. Bond 11+ books, GL Assessment and CGP CEM practice papers are all particularly helpful.
However, proactive parental involvement and engagement are crucial in maximising your child’s potential.
Not sure whether the 11 Plus is right for your child? We provide specialist exam consultancy to assess your child’s 11 Plus readiness and areas of strength or weakness. This can help you decide whether 1-1 tuition is necessary, and understand how to build your child’s core skills, exam technique and 11 Plus confidence.
How do I get my child into Grammar School?
Achieving admission to grammar school requires thorough preparation and strategic planning.
At Achieve Learning, we offer personalised tuition, academic consultancy, mock exams, and more to equip your child with the skills and confidence needed to excel in the 11 Plus.
For expert assistance and a proven track record of success, contact Achieve Learning today and discover how we can support your child’s journey towards Grammar School admission.
