Grammar schools and the 11-plus explained

Last reviewed October 2026

Grammar schools select pupils by ability, usually through a test taken in Year 6 known as the 11-plus. They are one of the most searched-for and most misunderstood parts of the school system, partly because they only exist in some parts of the country and work differently from one area to the next. This guide explains what they are, how the test works, and how to think about whether it is right for your child.

What a grammar school is

A grammar school is a state secondary that selects its intake by academic ability rather than by where you live. They are free to attend, like any other state school, but entry depends on performance in a selection test rather than on distance or catchment.

Grammar schools are not spread evenly across England. Most areas have none at all, having moved to comprehensive (non-selective) schools decades ago. A number of areas kept them — among them Kent, Buckinghamshire, parts of Greater London, Birmingham, Trafford and Lincolnshire — so whether grammar schools are even an option depends heavily on where you live. Some areas are “wholly selective” with grammars and non-selective schools side by side; others have just one or two grammars among mostly comprehensive schools.

How the 11-plus works

The 11-plus is the selection test, sat in the autumn of Year 6, before secondary applications are due. It typically assesses some combination of English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, though the exact mix varies by area.

Who sets the test: GL and CEM

Two providers write most 11-plus tests, and which one your area uses affects what to expect:

• GL Assessment is now the most widely used. Its papers cover English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning (areas pick which subjects to include), and familiarisation materials are openly available. See GL Assessment’s 11+ information.
• CEM (originally developed at Durham University, now part of Cambridge University) historically aimed to be harder to tutor for by varying the format. Note a significant change: CEM withdrew its paper-based 11-plus tests in 2023 and the market has shifted heavily towards GL, so some areas that once used CEM papers have moved over. If your area still references CEM, check the current arrangements directly. See CEM / Cambridge’s 11+ information.

Because this is changing, don’t assume last year’s format still applies — confirm the current provider and subjects with your local authority or the grammar school’s own admissions pages before you prepare.

A few things catch families out:

• You usually have to register separately for the test, often over the summer before Year 6, and the deadline is earlier than the main secondary application deadline. Missing it can mean missing the chance to sit it at all.
• The test is sat before you list your school preferences, so in some areas you apply knowing the result, but not always.
• A “pass” is not a place — see how selection decides, next.

Because registration, test dates and formats are set locally, the authoritative source is your local authority’s admissions pages and the individual grammar school’s or test consortium’s website. Check them early, as the registration window is the easiest thing to miss.

How selection actually decides who gets in

This is the part most worth understanding, because “passing the 11-plus” means different things in different areas. There are broadly two models:

• Qualifying-score (pass mark). The child must reach a set standard to be eligible, and then places among all qualifying children are allocated by the school’s ordinary oversubscription criteria — typically distance, catchment, siblings and looked-after children. Here the test is a gate, and how close you live still decides who gets in once you’ve qualified.
• Rank-order by score. Some “super-selective” grammars admit strictly in order of test score, highest first, with little or no weight on distance. Here a higher mark genuinely buys a place, and children can travel a long way in.

Most selective areas use the first model; a smaller number of highly oversubscribed grammars use the second. It matters a lot for your chances: under a pass mark, a qualifying child who lives far away may still miss out on distance; under rank-order, distance barely helps. Always read the individual school’s published oversubscription criteria to see which applies — it is the single most useful thing you can check.

Should your child sit it?

This is a genuine judgement call, not a given, and it is worth being honest with yourself about a few things.

A grammar place can suit a child who is academically confident and would thrive in a stretching environment. But the test rewards a particular kind of exam technique, and heavy tutoring is common in competitive areas, which raises a fair question about what the test is really measuring. A child who narrowly misses can take it hard, so how your child copes with high-stakes tests matters as much as their ability.

It is also worth looking honestly at the alternative. In many areas the non-selective schools are strong, and a confident child often does very well in a good comprehensive. The right question is not “grammar or nothing” but “which of the realistic schools near us is the best fit for this child” — which is the same question the rest of our guides try to help with.

Finally, consider the practicalities: grammar schools often draw from a wide area, so the journey can be long. Our guide on getting to school covers how much that matters day to day.

Finding grammar schools near you

On our map, tick “Selective (grammar) schools only” in the search panel to show just the selective schools in view, so you can see which grammars are realistically in reach of your home. Selected schools are also flagged as Selective (grammar) in their details. One honesty note: the filter relies on each school’s recorded admissions policy, so where a school’s policy isn’t recorded it may not appear — if in doubt, check the school directly.

Where this connects

Grammar admission sits alongside the wider process in school admissions explained, and because qualifying does not guarantee a place, it is worth reading catchment areas explained for how distance can still decide between qualified applicants. If you are weighing a grammar against local comprehensives, choosing a secondary school walks through how to compare them.

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