Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
GL
Year 7
1573
180
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Where Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet sits — and how to reach it
Queen's Road, Barnet, EN5 4DQ
How the test is structured
QE Barnet uses two GL Assessment papers — one Maths, one English — each approximately 50 minutes long. The Maths paper covers Key Stage 2 content but is pitched at enhanced difficulty to differentiate at the very top of the ability range. The English paper includes two demanding comprehension passages (one may be poetry or drama) alongside a rigorous SPaG section. Both papers are multiple-choice. Over 3,200 boys typically sit the exam for 180 Year 7 places.
Registration opens in May and closes in early July. The exam takes place across two date options in September. Results are issued on 1 October; only boys scoring 220 or above are eligible for a place, though in recent years the effective threshold has been considerably higher.
The school's story
Why the maths is genuinely hard
With 3,000-plus boys competing for 180 places and a published minimum of 220 but a real threshold well above that, QE demands near-perfect GL Maths and English scores. The enhanced-difficulty GL papers are specifically calibrated to stretch the highest-attaining candidates.
Our honest take on the difficulty
The SMA Verdict
4.5
/5
Master
QE Barnet sits at the pinnacle of London grammar school admissions. Its GL papers look standard on the surface but are deliberately pitched harder than the typical GL exam — the school specifically calibrates question difficulty to separate candidates who score in the top one or two per cent nationally. A combined score of 220 qualifies; the actual offer threshold is meaningfully higher. For a Singapore-trained pupil who has mastered bar modelling and deep problem structure, the Maths paper should be approachable — but the volume and precision demanded under time pressure still separates the very best. Preparation must be thorough, not just competent.
Where families come from
The 11+ admissions calendar
Parents' most common questions
How many boys sit the QE Barnet exam each year?
What is the minimum score needed to receive an offer?
Does QE Barnet have a catchment area?
How does Singapore Maths preparation help for the QE exam?
When does registration open for Year 7 entry?
Past and sample papers
We're gathering the sample and familiarisation papers Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet publishes, so you can see the real thing before you prepare. If you'd like them sooner, just ask.
Other selective schools in the area
Preparing for Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet?
We teach the reasoning these papers actually reward — not test tricks. Small online groups, qualified teachers, and a Singapore Maths method built on genuine understanding.