Understand the 11+ before you compare schools

The 11+ is not one single national exam. It is a family of selective admissions processes used by grammar schools and selective streams across England and Northern Ireland.

Parents usually need to compare:

• the exam board or consortium
• the number of papers and stages
• the level of competition for Year 7 places
• catchment and admissions rules
• what happens after shortlisting

On Grammar Schools Hub, the most useful school pages bring those pieces together with published outcomes, destination data, and source links.

Questions to ask before registering

• Is the school using a consortium test or its own paper?
• Does the school shortlist after round one?
• How many places are available in Year 7?
• How many applicants usually compete per place?
• Is the school single-sex or co-educational?

If you want a route into a live shortlist, start with the 11+ rankings page, then compare schools side by side in the compare tool.