What is the 11 plus test and how can I help your child?
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As a tutor who has walked many families through the Dorset 11+ journey over the years, I know how overwhelming all the information, dates, and test formats can feel at first glance.
To help you digest everything without wading through a generic, copy-and-pasted guide, I’ve completely rewritten and restructured the essentials for you. Think of this as our insider roadmap to navigating the Dorset grammar school process with confidence.
What I offer at Topsie:
Weekly group sessions
Half-term workshops
One-to-one sessions on request
Regular homework
Regular mock testing and result analysis
Welcome to the BCP 11+ Journey
In Dorset, four brilliant grammar schools share a single entrance exam process. This means your child only has to sit the test once, even if you plan on applying to more than one of them.
Bournemouth School (Boys)
Bournemouth School for Girls (Girls)
Parkstone Grammar School (Girls, Poole)
Poole Grammar School (Boys)
Key Dates for 2027 Entry
13th April 2026: Registration for the Dorset 11+ officially opens.
4th September 2026: Registration deadline (strict closing date).
26th September 2026: Exam Day (the big test for children born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016).
16th October 2026: Results land with parents.
31st October 2026: The national deadline to submit your official school preferences to the local authority.
1st March 2027: National Offers Day for secondary schools.
(Always double-check dates directly with your target schools, as timelines can occasionally shift!)
(50 minutes)
(50 minutes)
What it covers: This is usually the paper that parents and children worry about most because it isn't taught as part of the standard school curriculum. Grammar schools love it because it measures a child's raw academic potential rather than rote-learned classroom facts.
Key topics: Logic puzzles involving words, letters, codes, numbers, and symbols; letter patterns; vocabulary relationships; sequential logic.
(45 minutes)
(45 minutes)
What it covers: Evaluates core literacy skills built up through the start of Year 6.
Key topics: A blend of reading comprehension (reading through a passage and answering analytical questions) alongside spelling, punctuation, and robust vocabulary testing.
(50 minutes)
(50 minutes)
What it covers: Strongly rooted in the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum, focusing heavily on Year 5 knowledge with some stretch questions touching on early Year 6.
Key topics: Expect numbers, measurement, geometry, and statistics. Some of the trickier questions will test how well your child can apply these mathematical rules to unfamiliar, brand-new problem types.
This is a must!
If you register for the test but do not list the school on your CAF, your child will not be considered for a place. Likewise, if you list the school on your CAF but your child has not registered for and taken the test, their application will be invalid. You must complete both steps!
Late Applications: There is a process for late applications, but these are only considered after every on-time application has been processed, significantly reducing your child's chance of securing a place.
Passing the Test vs. Getting a Place: Achieving the pass mark makes your child eligible for a place, but it does not guarantee one. Places are allocated based on specific oversubscription criteria, which often give priority to factors such as Pupil Premium eligibility, living within the school's priority area, and finally, the child's score in the test.
Visit the school websites for more information about open evenings and specific details about each school.
Admissions | Parkstone Grammar School, Poole, Dorset, UK
Admissions | Year 7 | Poole Grammar School
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