Please see numerous downloads (these will be uploaded on Friday 5 January 2024) for important information with regard to Entry 2025 at the foot of this page. The admission policy for entry in 2025/26 can be found here.

Please note that the registration is made through the school for students to be able to sit the tests here, whilst the application is made through your home Local Authority between September and October 2024. The two are quite separate but necessary procedures in order that a student be considered for a place in September 2025.

11+ Testing Procedure for Entry in 2025

There are two tests administered by the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools for students who are at the beginning of Year 6. Candidates are required to take a Verbal Reasoning Test and a Non-Verbal Reasoning & Spatial Awareness Test specifically produced by GL Assessment for Lincolnshire Grammar Schools, at The King's School if they have registered here, OR by arrangement with another Lincolnshire Consortium Grammar School. Candidates will be required to record their answers on an Optical Mark Reading (OMR) sheet, being required to mark a line in a box for the correct choice on the OMR sheet.  

Please note that the same tests are used in all Lincolnshire Consortium Grammar Schools and therefore may be taken only once in the school year in preparation for application to any of the Schools in the Lincolnshire Consortium. Please click this link for the other schools in the Consortium.

We intend to send out a set of practice papers to Primary schools in June 2024 to all schools who agree to administer these in school, where students are registered to take the tests and parents have given the necessary consent on the online registration form. 

Where this is not possible, parents are advised to use the practice material from GL Assessment (https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/products/11plus-series-11-plus-practice-papers/11plus-familiarisation-materials/). The practice tests are to ensure that candidates are familiar with the style of questions. Each real test also has a short practice element; the Verbal Reasoning Test is preceded by a separate Preliminary Practice Test, and the Non-Verbal Reasoning & Spatial Awareness Test is divided into specific skill sections, each providing at least one practice question. Practice materials are similar in format to the actual 11+ tests, although they may contain more or fewer questions than the actual tests. If purchasing packs of tests, please ensure that you buy the Multiple Choice Format, NOT the Standard Format tests. The most recent materials released by the publisher (February 2019), are as follows:

The main tests are due to take place at The King's School on the following dates:

Verbal Reasoning paper - Saturday 14 September 2024

Non-Verbal and Spatial Awareness paper - Saturday 21 September 2024

Students need to attend both sessions.

Please note that our 11 + exams are conducted according to JCQ guidelines - see IFC document at foot of page. As part of these guidelines we would like to draw your attention to the rule that students are no longer permitted take a watch into these examinations. Countdown or 'count up' clocks are NOT allowed either. A reliable clock (digital or analogue) will be visible to each candidate in the examination room.   

When the formal tests have been completed in September at The King’s School, the OMR sheets are sent back to GL Assessment for marking. Scores are standardised, making adjustments for age difference and to produce a qualification standard identifying suitability for grammar school education in Lincolnshire for that particular cohort. These results are returned to the grammar schools for distribution to parents; to the primary schools that the candidates currently attend by consent, in order that the child’s education record can be maintained; and may be shared with Lincolnshire County Council if an application is made as they co-ordinate the admissions to this school.

The qualification is a total standardised score of at least 220, as a sum of the two tests, and represents the ability of the most able 25% of pupils in the age group in primary schools in the selective areas of Lincolnshire for this particular year. Please note that attainment of the minimum qualification standard does not of itself guarantee admission to any individual school.

Application to the grammar school of choice must be made through your home Local Authority, for Lincolnshire the deadline for this is 31 October 2024.  Please see the letter for parents from the Admission Team at Lincolnshire County Council at the foot of this page outlining this process.

If your home Local Authority is not Lincolnshire, you will need to follow instructions from them regarding the application procedure and their deadlines.

For further impartial advice on school admissions, please contact the School Admissions team at Lincolnshire County Council. Information can be obtained by calling 01522 782030 or by visiting their website: 

School admissions – Lincolnshire County Council

Please note that our Open Evening for students considering entry in September 2025 takes place on Monday 24 June 2024.