11+ exam dates by area
7 min read ยท updated 2026-10-13
Most 11+ tests are sat in September of Year 6, but registration closes in the summer of Year 5, often months earlier. Families who miss the registration window usually cannot sit the main test. These are the dates each area used for September 2027 entry; the tests for September 2028 entry follow the same pattern a year later, in 2027.
The 11+ calendar in one line
Registration in the summer of Year 5 (from as early as March in Bexley to as late as early September for Tiffin), tests in September or early October of Year 6, results in October, the council application by 31 October, and offers on 1 March of Year 6.
Dates by area for September 2027 entry
From each council, consortium or school; the 2028-entry dates are published in spring 2027.
- โ Kent: registration 1 June to 1 July 2026; Kent Test on Thursday 10 September 2026 for children at Kent primary schools (12 or 13 September for others); results 15 October 2026
- โ Buckinghamshire: registration 1 May to 2 June 2026 for children not entered automatically; practice test 8 September and Secondary Transfer Test 10 September 2026; results 9 October 2026; qualifying score 121
- โ West Midlands (Birmingham and the partnership schools): test days 12 to 14 September 2026, with results in mid-October
- โ Slough Consortium (Herschel, Langley, St Bernard's, Upton Court): registration 1 May to 5 June 2026; one test on Saturday 19 September 2026; results by email in mid-October
- โ Trafford Consortium: registration 23 April to 19 June 2026; GL Assessment test on Monday 14 September 2026 (two papers of about an hour); results by 31 October
- โ Sutton: registration 1 May to 31 July 2026; Selective Eligibility Test on Tuesday 15 September 2026; second-stage tests on 26 September (Nonsuch, Wallington High School for Girls) and 3 October 2026 (Wilson's, Wallington County Grammar, Sutton Grammar)
- โ Tiffin School and Tiffin Girls' (Kingston): own registration closing 2 September and 1 September 2026; Stage One tests on 1 to 2 October 2026, Stage Two in November
- โ Bexley: registration 1 to 31 March 2026 for September 2027 entry
- โ Essex (CSSE): 2028-entry dates published by Easter 2027
What to do in Year 5
- โ January to March: check which tests your target schools use, and whether you are in their catchment or priority area
- โ March to July: register for every test you may want; some windows are only five weeks long
- โ Ask for access arrangements early if your child needs them (Sutton's deadline for 2027 entry was 12 June)
- โ Summer holiday: timed practice in the test's format, not just topic work
After the test
Results arrive in October, in time for the secondary application deadline of 31 October. A qualifying score makes a child eligible for a grammar school place, but places are then allocated by each school's admission criteria, often distance, so list schools in your true order of preference.
FAQs
When is the 11+ exam in 2027?๏ผ
Most areas test in September 2027 for September 2028 entry, with registration in the spring and summer of 2027. Each area publishes its exact dates in the spring.
When do I register for the 11+?๏ผ
In the summer term of Year 5. Windows vary: for 2027 entry, Bexley's was in March, Kent's in June and Sutton's ran to the end of July.
When was the Kent Test in 2026?๏ผ
Thursday 10 September 2026 for children at Kent primary schools, with results on 15 October 2026.
Can I register late?๏ผ
Usually not for the main test date. Some areas offer a late test for families who have just moved; check with the council or consortium.
Can my child sit the 11+ in more than one area?๏ผ
Yes, if you register in each area and can travel to the test centres. Plan around clashing test dates.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-13.
- Kent County Council: the Kent Test
- Buckinghamshire Council: grammar schools and the Secondary Transfer Test
- Atom Learning: West Midlands grammar schools 11+ (2027 entry)
- St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School: Year 7 admissions 2027 (Slough Consortium)
- Stretford Grammar School: admission in 2027, frequently asked questions
- Sutton Grammar School: Selective Eligibility Test
- CSSE: Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex
- Bexley Council: the Bexley Selection Test
- Tiffin School: Year 7 admissions
Keep reading
More on 11+ & school entrance
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