When to Apply for the 11 Plus Exam
Missing the registration deadline is the single most common — and most avoidable — mistake parents make with the 11+. There is no late entry and no appeal: miss it, and your child waits a full year. This guide sets out the key dates and deadlines so you can plan with confidence.
One crucial distinction first: registering for the exam and applying for a school place are two separate steps with two different deadlines. Both matter. For the bigger picture, see our complete guide to the 11 plus exam.
Key Takeaways
- Registration usually opens April–May and closes June–July, months before the exam.
- Exams are sat in early–mid September of Year 6, with results in mid-October.
- The Common Application Form (CAF) deadline is 31 October — a separate step from exam registration.
- National Offer Day is 1 March, when school places are confirmed.
- Dates vary by region and school — always confirm directly with your target school or local authority.
The 11+ Timeline at a Glance (2026 Entry Cycle)
Here is the typical timeline for children sitting the exam in September 2026 for entry to Year 7 in September 2027. Exact dates vary by region, so treat this as a planning framework and verify with your school.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| April–May 2026 | Registration opens for most grammar schools — you register your child to sit the exam |
| June–July 2026 | Registration closes — most deadlines fall here, sometimes as early as June |
| Summer 2026 | Final preparation; familiarise your child with the exam format and timing |
| Early–mid September 2026 | Exam day — most grammar schools test in the first two to three weeks of September |
| Mid-October 2026 | Results are sent to parents |
| 31 October 2026 | Common Application Form (CAF) deadline — apply for secondary school places |
| 1 March 2027 | National Offer Day — school allocations confirmed |
| September 2027 | New Year 7 intake begins |
Registering for the Exam vs Applying for a Place
These are two distinct steps, and confusing them costs families places every year:
1. Register to sit the exam (spring–summer)
You must register your child directly with the grammar school, consortium or local authority that runs the test, usually between April and July. If you're applying to more than one school or consortium, you often have to register separately for each. Some areas (such as Buckinghamshire) automatically enter children and operate an opt-out instead — but never assume; check.
2. Apply for a school place via the CAF (by 31 October)
Separately, you apply for secondary school places through your home local authority's Common Application Form (CAF), due 31 October. This is where you list your preferred schools (grammar and other state secondaries). Registering for the exam does not automatically apply for a place — you must do both.
Don't rely on a single regional deadline. If you're targeting multiple schools, list every registration deadline separately and diarise each one. In competitive areas like Birmingham, windows can be short and close earlier than expected.
When Should Preparation Start?
Registration is a Year 6 event, but effective preparation starts much earlier. Most families begin focused 11+ preparation in Year 5, building on strong foundations laid in Years 3 and 4. Leaving everything to the summer before the exam puts enormous pressure on a child and rarely produces the best result.
For a full plan, read our step-by-step 11+ preparation plan and our detailed 11 plus preparation guide.
11 Plus Application Deadlines by Exam Board (GL, CEM, ISEB & SEAG)
Different exam boards run on different timelines. If your child might sit more than one type of 11+ — for example, both a state grammar (GL) and an independent school (ISEB) — you'll be juggling two separate 11 plus registration deadline windows. Here's how each board's 11 plus application deadline works for the 2026 cycle.
GL Assessment registration timeline
Most UK state grammar schools use GL Assessment, including Kent, Lincolnshire, Wirral, Birmingham, Trafford, Sutton, Bexley and many more. The typical 11 plus registration deadline for GL areas falls between late June and mid-July 2026 for a September test. Registration usually opens in April or May, and you register directly with the school, consortium or local authority — not with GL Assessment itself.
You can prepare your child with our GL Assessment practice papers, each with a tutor video walkthrough for every question.
CEM exam application timeline
The CEM 11+ is used in Buckinghamshire and a small number of other areas. Buckinghamshire operates an automatic-entry model for children at state primary schools — parents must opt out by the published deadline (typically in mid-to-late June 2026), not opt in. Children at private or out-of-county schools must register manually, with deadlines falling in the same window. The exam itself is sat in mid-September 2026.
Practise with our CEM practice papers.
ISEB Common Pre-Test registration (Independent Schools)
If you're applying to an independent or selective private school, most use the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Crucially, this runs on a very different timeline. The test is online and can be sat from October through December of Year 6, with each school setting its own window. The Common Pre-Test registration is done directly with each independent school, often months in advance — sometimes as early as the spring or summer of Year 5. Always check each school's admissions page well ahead of Year 6 to avoid missing the 11+ application deadline.
Prepare with our independent 11+ practice papers.
SEAG Transfer Test registration (Northern Ireland)
In Northern Ireland, the 11+ has been replaced by the SEAG Transfer Test. The 2026 SEAG registration window opens 18 May 2026 and closes 18 September 2026, with the test sat on Saturdays 14 and 21 November 2026. Results are released in January 2027 for September 2027 entry. For everything NI-specific, read our SEAG Transfer Test guide or get our SEAG practice papers.
11 Plus Application Deadlines by Region (2026 Cycle)
Within England, registration deadlines vary substantially by local authority and grammar school consortium. The table below summarises the typical 11 plus registration deadline windows across the main selective regions for the 2026 cycle — always confirm exact dates on each school's admissions page.
| Region / Authority | Typical 11 Plus Registration Deadline | Exam Date (2026 Cycle) |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | Late June / early July 2026 | Early September 2026 |
| Buckinghamshire | Mid–late June 2026 (opt-out) | Mid-September 2026 |
| Birmingham | Late June 2026 | Late September / October 2026 |
| Wirral | Early June 2026 | Early September 2026 |
| Lincolnshire | Late June 2026 | September 2026 |
| Trafford | June 2026 | Early September 2026 |
| Sutton (London) | Mid-June 2026 | Mid-September 2026 |
| Bexley (London) | Mid-June 2026 | Mid-September 2026 |
| Northern Ireland (SEAG) | 18 September 2026 | 14 & 21 November 2026 |
If you're applying across regions — for example, Kent and Buckinghamshire — your child can sit both tests, but the 11 plus application deadlines and dates often clash. Plan early and check our grammar school database to confirm specific schools.
What Happens If You Miss the 11 Plus Deadline?
This is the single most painful mistake parents make. Unlike the school-place application (the CAF), where late forms are accepted but slip down the queue, missed 11 plus registration deadlines are almost always final. There is no late entry process. There is no appeal. Your child waits a full academic year for the next 11+ cycle.
Three rules to live by:
- Find every relevant 11 plus application deadline as soon as your child enters Year 5, not Year 6. Some independent school registrations close 12–18 months ahead of the test.
- Diarise every deadline separately, especially if you're applying across consortia. Sutton's 11 plus registration deadline is not Kent's.
- Submit a few days early, not on the day. Online portals do crash on deadline day, and emails do go astray.
If you do miss a registration deadline, contact the school directly without delay. Discretionary late entry is rare but not unheard of in exceptional circumstances (e.g. family bereavement, recent house move into the area), and is decided case by case.
How to Apply for the 11 Plus Exam — Step-by-Step
Here's the complete grammar school application process from start to finish:
- Identify your target schools (Year 5). Browse our grammar school database to compare admissions criteria, results and catchment areas.
- Find each school's 11 plus registration deadline on its admissions page. Note dates separately for every school or consortium.
- Begin focused preparation in Year 5 — see our 11 plus preparation guide.
- Register your child for the test with the school, consortium or local authority — typically April–July of Year 6.
- Continue practice through summer. Use free 11+ papers and timed mock exams to build readiness.
- Sit the exam (usually the first three weeks of September).
- Receive results in mid-October.
- Submit the Common Application Form (CAF) via your home local authority by 31 October.
- Wait for National Offer Day — 1 March, when secondary school places are formally confirmed.