When Does Your Child Have To Take The 11 Plus Test?

When preparing for the 11 Plus, either on your own with your child or with the help of a specialist tutor, an important point to note is just how different the process is for the examination based on the grammar school you intend for your child to enter.

Depending on where you live, your child might be automatically entered for the 11 Plus, your child may have to enquire with your local authority or may have to apply directly with the grammar school in question in order to take the examination. Some local authorities do not have any involvement in the 11 Plus at all.

The former is the case in the county of Buckinghamshire, where the 13 grammar schools in the region work together to form a standardised test officially known as the Secondary Transfer Test but still often referred to as the 11 Plus.

Everyone who goes to a state school in Buckinghamshire is automatically entered for the test, and almost every student takes it as a result unless their parents choose to opt out of it. They will take it on the same day at the same time at their school, unless they need to attend a dedicated test centre.

By contrast, some counties, such as Kent, have their own opt-in test for the grammar schools in their county, whilst some areas close to Buckinghamshire, such as Maidenhead, can opt into the Secondary Transfer Test as well.

Finally, in local authorities which do not have a standardised approach, each grammar school in the region will have their own criteria, entrance requirements and 11 Plus examination.

These tests can be taken at a wide number of times throughout the year, so it is vital to start thinking about your child’s grammar school placement as soon as possible, research the entrance criteria and get in touch with a tutor to help get them prepared for the various tests.