The Lincolnshire 11+ test explained

Lincolnshire is divided between areas of selective education and areas of comprehensive schooling. There are currently 16 grammar schools in the county, and all but one of these use standard testing arrangements, co-ordinated by the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.

Children who want to apply for one or more of the Consortium schools are required to take both verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning tests. The verbal reasoning test is preceded by a short 10-minute preliminary practice test. The non-verbal reasoning test is divided into sections, each of which includes a few practice questions.

Caistor Grammar requires children to take verbal reasoning tests only.

The Consortium uses GL Assessment tests. Caistor Grammar administers its own tests.

Information about the registration process and 11+ testing arrangements is given to parents of Year 5 children in early June through the primary schools. For those children who attend schools outside Lincolnshire, or in non-selective areas of the county, parents can download the necessary form from the Consortium website or can directly apply to the appropriate grammar school. Completed registration forms should be returned through primary schools or by post direct to the grammar school.

Children will either take the tests in their own primary schools or in the grammar school with which they have registered, according to the area. Most parents will register for 11+ testing with their closest grammar school, where free home-school transport may be available. A map showing the grammar school areas where free transport is provided is shown in the Schools section of the Consortium website. In some Lincolnshire grammar schools, a significant proportion of pupils come from ‘out of area’.

All the marks from the Consortium tests are standardised, which means adjustments are made for age difference. The qualifying standard, which means a child is suitable for grammar school education, is 220 for all of the Lincolnshire selective schools, including Caistor Grammar. This represents the ability of the most able 25 per cent of pupils. Some of the grammar schools are oversubscribed, so achieving the qualifying standard is not a guarantee of a grammar school place. It’s important to consult each school’s admission policy to find out the criteria that are used if there are more applicants than places. 

The Consortium strongly advises parents that special preparation is not needed, and believes that too much puts children under pressure and may be counterproductive. Prior to testing day, children sit two mock tests at their primary schools, which give them the experience of answering questions in a similar environment in a timed situation. GL practice papers and preparation materials are also available to buy online and in bookshops.

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

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