I nearly missed registration for our local consortium entirely. I'd been so focused on preparing my son that I hadn't noticed the portal opened in June and closed before the summer holidays were over. A friend mentioned it at the school gate in July, almost in passing. Four days left.
Don't be me. The 11+ doesn't have a single national date - exams are set by different providers and run by individual schools or local consortia, so dates, registration processes and deadlines all vary depending on where you live and which schools you're targeting.
Always verify dates directly with your target school or local authority. Dates shift slightly year to year, and this guide provides typical windows rather than confirmed dates for 2025–2026. Schools publish their own admissions timelines each spring.
GL Assessment exam dates (2025–2026)
GL papers are the most widely used across England. The vast majority take place in September and early October of Year 6 - your child sits the exam at age 10 or just turned 11.
Typical windows by region:
| Region / Authority | Typical exam window | Registration opens |
|---|---|---|
| Buckinghamshire | Mid-September 2025 | Spring 2025 |
| Kent | Mid-September 2025 | Spring 2025 |
| Essex (CSSE) | Late September 2025 | Early summer 2025 |
| Hertfordshire | September to October 2025 | Summer 2025 |
| Lincolnshire | September 2025 | Summer 2025 |
| Trafford | September 2025 | Summer 2025 |
CEM exam dates (2025–2026)
CEM dates also fall mainly in September and October, though some consortia sit in November or January for appeals. Key CEM-using areas:
- Birmingham and Warwickshire: typically early to mid-September
- Gloucestershire: typically mid-September
- Wiltshire: typically late September
- Shropshire and Telford: typically September
- Northern Ireland (AQE/GL): typically November, with a different format again
Independent school and ISEB dates
Independent schools typically use ISEB Common Pre-Test in October and November of Year 6, with main entry exams in January of Year 7. If you're applying to both independent and grammar schools, your child may face two separate rounds of exams months apart - worth planning for.
How registration works
Registration for the 11+ test is separate from your local authority secondary school application, and the deadline is typically earlier than parents expect.
- Consortium areas (Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, etc.): register once with the consortium for a single exam covering all schools in the group.
- Individual grammar schools: register directly with each school; you may sit separate papers on different dates.
- Most portals open in May or June for September exams. Missing the deadline almost always means missing the exam.
Check every target school's admissions page in the spring of Year 5. Put the registration opening date in your calendar immediately.
Preparation timeline: when to start
For a child who reads widely and has solid number sense, structured 11+ prep from September of Year 5 is plenty. For a child who needs more time on core skills, lighter-touch practice in Year 4 is sensible.
Year 4 (age 8–9)
Build foundations: reading for pleasure, times tables to 12x12, mental arithmetic. No formal 11+ drilling yet. Introduce the idea of the exam gently if your child asks.
Year 5, September (18 months before exam)
Research which schools you're targeting and confirm the exam format. Begin structured practice: 3 to 4 short sessions per week. Cover all four subjects. Identify weak areas early.
Year 5, May–June (register for exams)
Registration portals open. Do this immediately. Don't wait until the summer. Note each school's deadline in your calendar as soon as you find it.
Year 6, March–July (final push)
Increase intensity. Introduce timed full papers. Simulate exam conditions at home. Keep sessions manageable; exhausted children don't learn well.
Year 6, September–October (exam month)
Taper off heavy drilling in the final week. Ensure your child is well rested. Focus on confidence, not cramming.
What happens after the exam
Results are usually released in mid-October, giving you a couple of weeks before the local authority application deadline (typically 31 October). Kent, Bucks and Essex usually release in the first half of October; a few consortia push closer to the wire. Some schools give ranked lists; others just tell you whether your child met the threshold. If you're borderline, some areas run an appeal process - worth understanding how that works before results day, not after.
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