If your child is in Year 6 this autumn, many of the 11 plus tests for 2027 entry have already been sat. If your child is in Year 5, the dates that matter are still to come. This guide explains where 2027 entry stands, what official sources have confirmed, and how to find the dates that apply to your area. As our guide to CSSE and GL differences shows, no two regions run things in exactly the same way.
2027 entry: what has already happened
“2027” can mean two things: the tests sat in autumn 2026 for September 2027 entry, or tests sat during 2027 for September 2028 entry. Parents of children now in Year 6 need the first; parents of Year 5 children need the second.
For September 2027 entry, two areas have published official dates:
- Kent: the Kent Test took place on Thursday 10 September 2026 for children at Kent primary schools, with children from schools outside Kent invited to test centres on 12 and 13 September. Results are issued on Thursday 15 October 2026, according to Kent County Council.
- Buckinghamshire: the Secondary Transfer Test dates are 8 and 10 September 2026, with most parents informed of results by email after 4pm on 9 October 2026, according to Buckinghamshire Council.
For Essex, the CSSE tests are run by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, and its website is the place to confirm test, registration and results dates. We have not stated specific Essex dates here because we could not confirm them from an official source at the time of writing. The same applies to individual London boroughs and independent schools, which publish their own timetables.
The dates that apply to every family
Whatever the test, children applying for a state secondary school place in England go through the same application cycle. As set out on GOV.UK, the deadline is normally 31 October, and councils send offers on 1 March. Sitting a selective test does not replace the application: you must still submit your secondary school application to your home local authority and list your preferences.
Your local authority’s website is the authority on exact dates for your area, including any variations.
Planning for 2028 entry (children now in Year 5)
Official dates for tests sat in 2027 are normally published by the relevant council or consortium ahead of registration. We recommend the following approach:
- Identify which grammar schools or selective consortia matter to your family. Your child’s home address often decides which test applies.
- Check the relevant official website in the spring for registration opening dates. Registration is separate from your secondary school application, and missing it means missing the test.
- Note whether any school is changing the format or the timing. Some grammar schools are moving their tests earlier in the year, which we cover in our post on grammar schools moving the 11 plus to July.
- Work backwards from the test to build a calm, steady preparation plan.
It is also worth keeping a simple family calendar from the start of Year 5: registration windows, test days, results days and the 31 October application deadline. Writing them down early removes a good deal of last-minute stress, and it means you can talk to your child about the process calmly rather than reactively.
Preparing without pressure
A fixed date can make the year feel tight, but steady preparation over many months is far kinder to a child than a last-minute push. At Singapore Maths Academy, our 11+ lessons are built on the Singapore approach: bar models, careful problem solving and understanding why a method works. Our 11+ maths tuition runs in small groups of around 4–5 pupils at £25 per lesson (£100 per 4-week cycle), with 1-to-1 at £70.
To see how bar modelling is used on typical 11+ questions, watch our worked examples on YouTube. For parents who want the wider methodology, Bar Model Company explains it in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the official 11 plus date for my area?
Look at your local council’s admissions page, or the website of the consortium that runs the test, such as the Kent Test pages or CSSE for Essex. Individual grammar schools and independent schools publish their own dates.
Do I need to register separately for the 11 plus?
In many areas, yes. Registration for the test is usually separate from the secondary school application, and each has its own deadline. Check the deadlines for both with your council or consortium.
Is it too late to start preparing if the test is only a few weeks away?
Calm, regular practice is better than cramming. A conversation with a tutor can help you decide what is realistic, though no one can promise a particular result.
If you would like help planning preparation around your area’s dates, book a free consultation call with Singapore Maths Academy. It is a conversation, not a lesson, and we will always give you an honest view.
