'When is the 11+?' is one of the most common questions parents ask — and the safest answer is: it depends on where you live. Every local authority or grammar school sets its own registration window and test date, and publishes them fresh each year. Rather than guess, we have set out here the shape of a typical 11+ year — the order of events and the windows between them — and where to look for the exact dates for your area.
The 11+ timetable differs from area to area, and is published officially only for the year in question. However, the general structure of the year — the order of events, the letters that arrive and the windows between stages — repeats every year. Understanding that structure helps parents know what to expect and when to check the council's page for updates.
The typical 11+ calendar (a template, not a promise)
The table below shows the typical timeline for an 11+ year in England, from registration in Year 5 to starting secondary school. Important: this is a template for understanding the shape of the year, not a precise forecast of the dates in your area. The two fixed national dates are in bold in the text that follows.
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Local authority or school publishes test information for the year | Spring term of Year 5 (January–April) |
| Registration opens | May–June of Year 5 (some areas earlier) |
| Registration closes | June–August of Year 5 — varies widely; some close before the summer holidays |
| Access arrangements deadline | Usually the same as registration, with evidence |
| The test | First half of September of Year 6 (a few areas test in October or November) |
| Late or 'reserve' test date | September–October, for illness on the day |
| Results sent to parents | Mid-October of Year 6 |
| Common application form deadline | 31 October of Year 6 — national, fixed |
| National offer day | 1 March of Year 6 — national, fixed |
| Appeals lodged and heard | March–June of Year 6 |
How an 11+ year is structured — the general pattern
Beyond the specific dates, there is a fixed pattern in the order of events every year:
- Information published — the council or the school updates its 11+ page with the year's test dates, the registration window and the familiarisation booklet.
- Registration — parents register their child for the test, usually online, in the spring or summer term of Year 5. This is separate from applying for a school place. Missing this window usually means missing the test.
- The test — sat in September of Year 6, normally at a grammar school or a test centre, on a Saturday morning or a weekday, in one sitting of two or three papers.
- Results — sent to parents by letter or email in mid-October, before the application deadline, so families can decide which schools to name.
- The common application form — every family in England names their secondary school preferences on the local authority's form by 31 October of Year 6, whether or not they sat the 11+.
- Offers — national offer day, 1 March. A child who reached the qualifying score and is high enough in the school's oversubscription criteria is offered a place; refused families can appeal.
The windows between stages are relatively short (two to four weeks in the autumn), so it is worth following the council's page and the school's letters closely between September and November — that is when most of the administrative events happen.
Where the exact dates are published
We will keep the template above accurate as the pattern changes. In the meantime, the practical advice is to search '[your council] 11 plus' in the spring term of Year 5, note the registration deadline in your diary, and check the page again in September for the test details.
Who to ask
For questions about specific dates, the status of a registration, or anything else — contact your local authority's school admissions team (details on the council website) or the school's admissions officer. Your child's primary school also usually knows the local timetable and will pass on letters.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly is the 11+ this year?
The exact date varies by area and is published by your local authority or the school, usually in the spring term of Year 5. In most of England the test is sat in the first half of September at the start of Year 6; a few areas test in October or November.
When does registration open and close?
Typically registration opens in May or June of Year 5 and closes in the summer — in some areas before the summer holidays, in others in early September. Check your area's page: missing the registration deadline usually means missing the test.
What do we do if we missed the registration deadline?
Contact the admissions team straight away. Some areas accept late registrations up to a second, later date; others do not, but may run a late-testing round for families who move into the area. There is no guarantee — this is why the deadline matters.
Is there an 11+ in the summer or between school years?
No — the main test is in the autumn term of Year 6. Some areas run a late or reserve sitting a few weeks after the main date for children who were ill, and some schools test for Year 8 or 9 entry later, but there is no summer 11+.
Are the dates the same across the country?
No. Only two dates are national: 31 October for the secondary application form and 1 March for offers. The test date, the registration window and the results date are all set by the local authority or the school.
Everything you need to know about the process, in one place
To the full parents' guide — timeline and arrangements ←