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Guides for parents
Plain-English guides for parents: how each 11+ area and exam board works, the key dates, and how to prepare. Every guide links to the official source.
11+ areas and dates
- The Kent Test: dates, format and pass mark – Kent Test 2026 dates, the two tests and writing task, the 345 pass mark (no score under 111), results day and a simple plan to prepare
- The Sutton SET: how the two stages work – How the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) works: dates, the multiple-choice Stage 1, the written Stage 2 and the six schools that use it
- GL vs CSSE: how the two 11+ tests differ – GL Assessment and CSSE 11+ tests compared: multiple choice vs written answers, reasoning papers, creative writing, timings and how to prepare for each
- The Buckinghamshire 11+ (Secondary Transfer Test) – The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test explained: 8 and 10 September 2026 test dates, the two GL papers, the 121 qualifying score and results
- The Essex 11+ (CSSE) guide for parents – The Essex 11+ explained: the CSSE test dates, the ten consortium grammar schools, the English and maths papers, how scores work and how to prepare
- 11+ exam dates: 2026 tests and the pattern for 2027 – 11+ test dates for Kent, Buckinghamshire, Sutton and Essex (CSSE) in September 2026, and the usual pattern for 2027
11+ exam boards
- GL Assessment 11+ guide – what the test looks like and how to prepare
- FSCE 11+ guide – what the test looks like and how to prepare
- CEM 11+ guide – what the test looks like and how to prepare
- CSSE 11+ guide – what the test looks like and how to prepare
- SEAG 11+ guide – what the test looks like and how to prepare
ISEB Pre-Test
- ISEB Pre-Test guide – what the adaptive test covers and how it is scored
GCSE
- GCSE mock papers by exam board – AQA, Edexcel and OCR
- AQA GCSE Maths Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE Maths Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE English Language – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE English Literature – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE Combined Science Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE Combined Science Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE Triple Science Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- AQA GCSE Triple Science Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE Maths Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE Maths Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE English Language – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE English Literature – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE Triple Science Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- Edexcel GCSE Triple Science Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE Maths Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE Maths Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE English Language – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE English Literature – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE Combined Science Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE Combined Science Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE Triple Science Foundation – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
- OCR GCSE Triple Science Higher – how the exam is set out, and mock papers
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