Taking the 11+ test in Cumbria

There is only one grammar school in Cumbria: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith, a mixed school with 120 places for Year 7 pupils.

Children applying for the Queen Elizabeth School are required to sit two papers, one in English and one in mathematics, held on the same day. Both will be multiple choice. 

Queen Elizabeth School uses GL Assessment Tests.

In order for your child to be considered for a place at Queen Elizabeth, you need to fill in the school’s own entrance test application form and return it to the school. This is available on the school’s website. Once your child has taken the test and received their results, you'll need to apply for a place using the Local Authority application form. Further information about applying for a secondary school place in Cumbria is available on the LA website.

Children applying for Queen Elizabeth will take the entrance test at the school.

The range of successful scores varies from year to year depending on the ability and number of children sitting the tests and also on the relative difficulty of the test papers. But as a good indicator, parents can see the test scores of children who were allocated places in the last few years on the school website. Over the past seven years, the lowest qualifying score has ranged from 244 to 282. The results are age-adjusted so that the younger children in the year group are not at a disadvantage.

At the school’s open evening, past papers are always on display, and before parents register their children for the test, the Deputy Head visits local primary schools and works through some sample questions with the pupils. As part of the school’s application pack, parents are given details of where they can buy relevant practice material.

Please note that while every effort has been made to ensure the information we provide about individual schools is accurate, the admissions arrangements for Year 7 entry change regularly and it is essential to check for up-to-date advice on schools' official websites.

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