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Selective school exams: a parent guide to 11+, grammar-school tests and entrance exams

Understand the main routes, what to check officially, and how to prepare without assuming there is one national process.

Compare the main exam routes

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  • Lead authorRobin GibbonsFounder & CEO·Latimer Tuition
  • Reviewed byHeather LatimerTutor matching & customer service·Latimer Tuition
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Pages inside Selective school exams: a parent guide to 11+, grammar-school tests and entrance exams. Pick whichever matches the question in front of you.

  1. Read the guide

    11 Plus Exam Guide for Parents

    Understand what the 11 plus exam is, what may be tested, how registration works, and what to check locally before you plan preparation.

  2. Read the guide

    How to choose an 11 Plus tutor

    A practical guide to deciding whether tutoring is right for your child, comparing tutor routes, and knowing what to check before you book.

  3. Read the guide

    Common Entrance tutor: how to choose the right support

    A practical guide to when tutoring can help, what school-route checks to make first, and what to ask before booking.

  4. Read the guide

    Grammar school tutor: how to choose the right support

    Decide whether tutoring is the right next step, what to check before you book, and how to compare 11+ support routes calmly.

Which selective exam route are you dealing with?

Use this table to spot the likeliest route — not a ranking. Always confirm details on the current official page for your area or school.

Common selective exam routes and what parents should check first.

Route or exampleWho it may apply toWhat parents usually need to checkWhy it matters

Grammar-school or 11+ authority route, such as Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test

Families targeting grammar schools in an area with a published selection process

Test registration, secondary school application, address rules, oversubscription criteria and current dates

Registering for or qualifying in a test does not remove the need to follow the admissions process

Borough selection route, such as Bexley Selection Test

Families considering grammar schools in a borough with its own selection arrangements

Registration window, access arrangements, test process and local rules

Access arrangements and registration steps can have their own deadlines

Consortium or county grammar route, such as Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test

Families in a county or consortium area where several schools use a shared test

Participating schools, results process, preferences and current admissions rules

A qualifying result is not automatically the same as an offer of a place

School-specific selective test, such as Sutton Grammar School Selective Eligibility Test

Families looking at a specific grammar or selective school route

The school’s current admissions page and participating-school arrangements

School-specific conditions can differ from generic 11+ advice online

Independent-school pre-test route, such as ISEB Pre-Tests

Families applying to selective independent senior schools

Whether the chosen school uses ISEB, any extra stages, interviews, school deadlines

Independent-school entrance routes are related to, but not the same as, grammar-school 11+ admissions

Current answer

What should parents check officially?

Check the admission authority or school page for the test, and your home local authority for the main secondary school application — do not rely on a general article for current dates or deadlines.

In England, admission authorities are expected to take reasonable steps so that, where a test is a requirement for a selective place, parents receive outcomes early enough to use them responsibly when ranking secondary schools — preferably before 31 October in the year before admission. That supports fair preferences, but it is still not a guarantee of a place.

GOV.UK also explains that listing only one school on your application does not increase your chances of a place at that school — you should normally use the full number of preferences your local authority allows.

Useful official starting points:

Source
GOV.UK school admissions guidance, the School Admissions Code, and the relevant school or local authority admissions page
Last checked
2026-04-30
Next review due
2027-05-31

How to prepare without overloading your child

Keep preparation practical and proportionate: understand the right route first, then build skills and use practice sensibly.

  • Check the **exact exam route** before buying papers or booking support.

  • Build **core English and maths** confidence before narrowing into exam technique.

  • Use **practice** or **familiarisation** to reduce surprise, not to create pressure.

  • Keep a **realistic plan** around school, sleep, hobbies and family life.

  • Consider tutoring only where there is a **clear goal**, subject gap or confidence need.

Support ladder

If your child may need access arrangements

If your child may need reasonable adjustments or special arrangements for a selective test, treat this as a process with deadlines — not something to improvise at the last minute.

  • At home

    Gather what you know about your child’s needs, normal school support and any relevant evidence you already hold.

  • At school

    Speak to the current school or class teacher early, especially if support is already in place.

  • SENCO or specialist

    Ask the SENCO or relevant contact what evidence may be needed and who submits the request for the test.

  • Latimer tutor role

    A tutor may help a child practise skills calmly, but should not promise access arrangements or give legal or diagnostic advice.

  • When to escalate

    Contact the admission authority, test provider or school if published guidance is unclear, deadlines are close, or needs are significant.

Parent script

A simple way to talk about preparation

Situation

A parent wants to support a child without making the exam feel like the only route that matters.

Try saying

“We’re going to understand the process first, then practise calmly. This exam is one option, not the only way to find a good school.”

Why it helps

It keeps the focus on clarity, preparation and wellbeing rather than panic or playground comparison.

Selective schools, 11+ and entrance exams: the terms parents hear

Language varies online and between schools. These ideas overlap, but they are not interchangeable.

  • Grammar-school selection routes are often linked to **11+ style** testing, but the exact process depends on the admission authority.
  • Some local authorities, schools or consortia publish **their own** selection arrangements.
  • Independent schools may use **ISEB Pre-Tests**, school-written papers or different pathways.
  • The decisive reference is usually the **current** admissions page for your route — school, consortium or local authority.

Test registration and school application are not always the same step

Many families need to register for a test or assessment and still complete the normal secondary school application through their home local authority. In many areas these are linked steps with separate deadlines — missing one can matter even if the other is completed.

GOV.UK school admissions: how to apply

Practice papers, mock tests and familiarisation

Practice papers and familiarisation materials can reduce surprise and build confidence, but they are not a substitute for checking which test or route applies to your child. Avoid assuming one publisher’s papers fit every selective test — content and format vary.

What to do next

Start by identifying the route, then go straight to the official admissions source for dates, registration and access arrangements. Keep preparation proportionate, and consider structured support only where there is a clear goal or gap.

Find targeted exam support

Related sections

You might also find these useful

Pages from elsewhere in the Ed Centre that share the most ground with this one — picked by keyword overlap rather than position in the navigation tree.

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Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Is a selective school exam the same as the 11+?

Often related, but not always the same phrase. Many grammar-school routes use 11+ style selection tests, but selective exams can also mean other borough, consortium, school-specific or independent-school entrance routes. Always confirm the exact arrangements published for your child’s route.

Do I still need to apply through my local authority?

Many parents still complete the normal secondary school application process even where a separate test registration applies. Check your home local authority and the relevant school or admission authority pages so you do not miss an essential step.

Does passing a selective test guarantee a place?

No. Meeting a qualifying score or standard does not automatically mean your child will be offered a place — preferences, oversubscription rules and how places are allocated still matter.

Are practice papers enough for selective school exams?

They can help with familiarisation, but first confirm your exact route and published expectations. Avoid assuming one pack of papers fits every selective test.

Do we need a tutor for selective school exams?

Not always. Tutoring may help where there is a clear gap, goal or confidence need. Many families still prioritise official routes, proportionate practice and wellbeing.

What if my child needs extra time or other adjustments?

Check the published access arrangements or special arrangements process early. Speak to your child’s current school about evidence and who submits requests — deadlines can be separate from the main test date.

Sources and references

Sources and references

Official guidance

Peer-reviewed research

  • 1.
    One to one tuition

    Education Endowment Foundation · toolkit review updated 2021 · Accessed

    Evidence summary for one-to-one tuition.

  • 2.
    Small group tuition

    Education Endowment Foundation · live toolkit · Accessed

    Evidence summary for small-group tuition.

Other sources

  • 1.
    Exam time

    YoungMinds · live guidance · Accessed

    Parent guidance on supporting young people during exam periods.