Entrance Exams

There are two highly competitive selective schools in Wiltshire, one for girls and one for boys, both of whom follow a standardised 11 Plus test:

There are three partially selective schools in Liverpool, and one grammar. These are joined by four more grammars in the Wirral area, and are all nominally under the same banner. It should be noted that the Liverpool Blue Coat School, St. Anselm's College and Upton Hall School have their own entranc...

While there are no fully selective schools left in Hertfordshire, the county has a consortium of partially selective schools. Given its proximity to London and higher population than many other counties, competition for these places is fierce.

Here is the run-down for 2015 entry:

Like many other areas with a density of Grammar Schools, selective establishments in Birmingham have formed a Consortium with its own standardised 11 Plus exam cycle. Each school retains the right to set its own pass mark, however: so check with your preferred establishment if you wish to know exact...

The 11 Plus was officially discontinued in Northern Ireland, but has re-emerged as a different selective process. The 11 Plus has had a roller-coaster history in Northern Ireland. After being officially ended by the authorities, parents and grammar schools alike decried the new "one-size fits all" a...

The majority of Selective Schools in Essex are united under the banner of the CSSE: the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, or simply, the Consortium. There are a few schools outside of this system, however: most notably the King John School, Benfleet and the Chelmsford County High School for ...

Buckinghamshire operates an "opt out" system for the 11+, whereby children at Bucks state primary schools are automatically entered for the test unless their parents actively withdraw them from taking it. Children at private schools and those attending schools outside Buckinghamshire must actively a...

Kent has more Grammar schools than any other county, and the competition for places in these establishments can be fierce.

The admissions criteria for these schools varies wildly. Some admit based on 11 Plus scores alone, others weigh scores against geographical criteria, such a distance or parish ...

Preparing for the 11+

If your child's school doesn't offer assistance with 11 plus preparation, then you might consider hiring an 11 plus tutor to help your child achieve their full potential. However, finding the right 11 plus tutor for your child can be a challenging prospect and that is where Fi...

What is the Common Entrance Exam?

The Common Entrance Exams are in essence, an alternative entrance examination for secondary schools to the 11+, used by certain selective schools. They can be taken at the age of 11 or at 13, and are taken at your child’s current school. They are marked by the inde...

What are 11+ exams?

Before we provide information regarding the eleven plus exam preparation, it is important that we grasp an understanding of what the exams entail. The purpose of the eleven plus exam is to gain entrance into Grammar schools and private schools. The decision regarding whether yo...