11+ Results: What the Score Means and What to Do Next
9 min read · Published 6 September 2026
When 11+ results land, what a standardised score actually tells you, why a pass is not a place, and the steps that matter in the days after — including the application deadline.
Results day is a strange one. Weeks of preparation come down to a letter or an email, and it’s easy to read far too much into a single number — in either direction. Here’s what the result actually tells you, and the things that genuinely matter in the days that follow.
When results arrive
The timing depends on which test your child sat:
| Area / test | Roughly when results land |
|---|---|
| Kent Test | Mid-October — 15 October for 2026 entry (results for entry the following September) |
| London grammar schools with their own test | Early to mid-October; each school notifies parents directly |
| Other counties | Varies — usually October, before the application deadline |
One date is the same almost everywhere: the Common Application Form (CAF) deadline is 31 October. You submit that to your home local authority regardless of which borough or county runs your preferred schools. Results come out first precisely so you can use them to decide how to fill it in.
What a standardised score is
Raw marks are converted into a standardised score before you see them. Two adjustments happen:
- Age adjustment.A child born in August is compared fairly against a child born the previous September — the younger child’s raw mark is scaled up a little.
- Rescaling. Scores are placed on a common scale, usually with the average around 100. Some areas report a single aggregate score; others give a score per paper plus a total.
What the score does nottell you on its own is whether your child has a place. That depends on the qualifying standard in your area and on competition for the specific schools you name — see below. For how the test itself is built, see the Kent Test guide or how London grammar school tests differ.
A pass is not a place
This is the part families most often misread. There are two separate things:
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Qualified / reached the standard | Your child is eligible to be considered for a grammar school place |
| Offered a place | Your child ranked high enough at a school you named, once its oversubscription criteria were applied |
A child can qualify and still not be offered a place at a heavily oversubscribed school, while another child with the same score gets in at a less competitive one. That’s why the preference order on your CAF matters: list the schools you would genuinely accept, in the order you’d accept them, and make sure at least one is a school your child is likely to get into. Naming only long-shot schools is the classic mistake.
Look at each school’s own recent admissions data — how many applied, how many places, the lowest score or furthest distance offered last year. Our individual school guides cover the oversubscription rules for Kent and Greater London grammar schools; the school’s own website is the authority for the current year.
The days after: a checklist
| Do this | Why |
|---|---|
| Check the score against each named school's recent data | Tells you which of your preferences are realistic |
| Finalise your CAF preference order before 31 October | Late forms are processed after everyone else's |
| Include a school your child is likely to be offered | A CAF with no realistic option can leave you with none of your preferences |
| Note the appeal / waiting-list dates for your area | Waiting lists move over the spring; appeals are heard after March offers |
| Say less to your child than you think you need to | A single test result is a snapshot, not a verdict |
If your child didn’t reach the standard
Most children who sit the 11+ do not go to a grammar school, and the great majority do very well at their non-selective school. If that’s where you are now, we’ve written a separate, calmer piece on exactly this: Your child didn’t pass the 11+: what happens now.
Common questions
When do 11+ results come out?
It depends on your area. In Kent, results are released in mid-October (15 October for 2026). Individual London grammar schools that run their own test usually notify parents in early to mid-October. Your local authority's admissions pages have the exact date for the schools you're applying to.
What is a good 11+ score?
There's no single number. Scores are standardised (age-adjusted, with the average set around 100), and the score you need depends on the area and how oversubscribed each named school is. A score that comfortably wins a place at one school might be below the cut-off at a more competitive one. Treat the school's own recent admissions data as the guide, not a generic figure.
Does passing the 11+ guarantee a grammar school place?
No. Reaching the qualifying standard makes your child eligible; a place then depends on where they rank against everyone else who named that school, and on the school's oversubscription criteria (catchment, siblings, distance and so on). Naming several schools you'd be happy with, in genuine preference order, matters more than most families expect.
Can you appeal an 11+ result?
There is usually a review or appeal route — for example a headteacher's assessment in borderline cases, or a formal admissions appeal after offers are made in March. The grounds and deadlines are set by each local authority or school, so confirm the process directly with them rather than assuming it works the same everywhere.