Essex 11 Plus Registration 2026: Key Dates and How to Apply

If you want your child to sit the Essex 11 plus, you need to register them first. The form is simple but the deadlines are strict, and one form covers ten grammar schools at once. This guide explains Essex 11 plus exam registration in plain words, walks you through how to do it, and shows how to help your child get ready.

What is the Essex 11 plus (CSSE)?

The Essex 11 plus is the entrance test that grammar schools in Essex use to decide who gets a Year 7 place. The lovely thing about Essex is that most of its grammar schools share one single test, run by a group called the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, or CSSE for short.

Your child sits one test, and that result is then used by every CSSE school you want to apply to. That keeps things simple for families. Here are the headline numbers for the Essex 11 plus.

• 10 - Grammar schools in Essex

• ~1,300 - Selective places each year

• 303 - Qualifying standardised score
  

The CSSE test is a little different from other 11 plus exams around the country. It is a bespoke paper written by the CSSE itself, not by GL Assessment or CEM. There are only two papers: English and Maths. There is no Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning, which surprises a lot of families who are used to other 11 plus formats.

One important exception: Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS) is not part of the CSSE. It runs its own test through Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) and has earlier registration deadlines. If CCHS is on your list, you need to register for that one separately. More on this below.

Essex 11 plus exam registration 2026: all the key dates

This round is for children currently in Year 5, who hope to start secondary school in September 2027. Put these dates somewhere you can see them. The registration window is just over five weeks.

What happens	When
CSSE registration opens	Tuesday 12 May 2026, 9am
CSSE registration closes	Friday 19 June 2026, 5pm
CSSE 11 plus test day	Saturday 19 September 2026
Reserve test date (illness or religious observance only)	Tuesday 29 September 2026
Results emailed to parents	Mid-October 2026
Common Application Form (CAF) deadline	Saturday 31 October 2026
National Offer Day	1 March 2027

The most important date is 19 June 2026. Once CSSE registration closes, there is no second chance. We always tell parents to register in the first week of May, so it is done and off your mind well before the deadline.

Dates can occasionally change, so always check the official CSSE website (csse.org.uk) closer to the time to confirm everything is still correct.

Who can register for the 2026 Essex 11 plus?

Your child can register for the 2026 CSSE 11 plus if they are in Year 5 now and were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. They will sit the test in September 2026 and, if they qualify, can start Year 7 at an Essex grammar school in September 2027.

Essex uses an "opt-in" system, which means parents must actively register their child themselves. The primary school does not do it for you, and registration is not automatic. This is the same whether you live in Essex or outside Essex.

Here is a simple checklist to see if registering is the right step for your family:

• Your child is currently in Year 5 and in the right age group.

• You want to apply to at least one Essex grammar school.

• Your child is working at or above the expected level for their age.

• Your child is comfortable with timed tests, or willing to practise them.

You are happy with the school's location, since Essex grammar schools are spread across Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend.

Not sure if your child is ready? A good way to find out is to book one of our 11 plus mock exams. They will sit a paper under real test conditions and you get a clear breakdown of where they are strong and where they need more work.

How to register for the CSSE exam, step by step

Registering is quick, free and done online. You complete one form, called a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), on the CSSE website. That single form covers every CSSE school you want to apply to. Here is exactly how it works.

• Visit the CSSE website on 12 May 2026
  Go to csse.org.uk from 9am on Tuesday 12 May. Find the link to the online registration form (SIF). Always use the official CSSE website so your details are secure.

• Create an account
  Set up a simple account using an email address you check often. This is where your child's results will be sent in mid-October, so make sure it is one you will keep using.

• Fill in your child's details
  Enter your child's full name, date of birth, home address and current primary school. Add your contact details too. Take your time and check everything is spelled correctly before moving on.

• Choose your test centre
  You will be asked to pick a test centre. Most children sit the test at a CSSE grammar school close to their home. Test centre allocation is usually confirmed in mid-July.

• Submit before 5pm on 19 June 2026
  Send the form before 5pm on Friday 19 June 2026. You should get a confirmation email. If it does not arrive, check your junk folder and contact the CSSE office to be safe.

Save your confirmation and mark the test date
Save or print the confirmation email and put Saturday 19 September 2026 in your diary. That is the CSSE test day. Your child is now officially registered.

Understanding the CSSE test format

One of the most important things to know about the Essex 11 plus is that it looks quite different from other 11 plus tests. There are no multiple-choice answer sheets, and no reasoning papers. Here is what your child will face on test day.

• English paper: 60 minutes plus 10 minutes reading time. This includes a comprehension exercise and a writing task.

• Maths paper: 60 minutes. Covers the Key Stage 2 curriculum, including arithmetic, problem solving and reasoning within maths questions.

• Marks: Each paper is marked out of 60, and each one counts equally toward the final score.

• Standardised scoring: Raw scores are then age-standardised, so children born later in the school year are not at a disadvantage.

• Qualifying score: A standardised score of 303 is the usual qualifying mark, but the most popular schools (such as KEGS in Chelmsford and CRGS in Colchester) often need scores of 310 to 320 or higher.

Because the CSSE test is paper-based and written by hand for the English paper, exam technique matters. Children need to be able to plan a written piece quickly, manage their time across questions and write neatly under pressure. This is not always the same skill set that other 11 plus formats build, so targeted CSSE preparation makes a real difference.

The Chelmsford County High School exception

If your daughter wants a place at Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS), you need to know that CCHS is not part of the CSSE. It runs its own separate test, written by an organisation called Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE). This means a completely different registration window and test date.

CCHS for Girls 2026 dates	When
CCHS registration opens	Monday 13 April 2026, 9am
CCHS registration closes	Wednesday 3 June 2026, 4pm
CCHS test day	Thursday 3 September 2026

Important: The CCHS deadline (3 June 2026) is earlier than the CSSE deadline (19 June 2026). If your daughter is applying to both CCHS and CSSE schools, you must register for both tests separately. The CCHS test also falls earlier than the CSSE test, so plan preparation around both dates.

The two tests are designed differently, so your daughter will need to prepare for both formats. Our tutors can help you build a plan that covers both, without doubling the workload.

What happens after the test

Once your child has sat the CSSE test in September, results are emailed to parents in mid-October 2026. The result tells you your child's standardised score and whether they have met the qualifying standard for CSSE schools.

Here is the important next step: getting a qualifying score does not automatically give your child a place. To apply for a place, you must name the CSSE schools you want on your home local authority's Common Application Form (CAF) by Saturday 31 October 2026. You can list multiple CSSE schools in order of preference.

Once the CAF deadline passes, each school then uses its own admissions rules (such as priority area, faith criteria, or highest scores) to decide who gets a place. You find out which school your child has been offered on National Offer Day, 1 March 2027.

A qualifying score is not a guarantee. Around 5,000 children sit the CSSE test each year for about 1,300 places. Even with a strong score, you may not get your first choice if the school is heavily oversubscribed. The most competitive schools (KEGS, CRGS, Colchester County High) often need scores well above the 303 minimum.

Important things to know before you register

A few simple facts can save you a lot of stress later. Here is what every Essex parent should understand before registration day.

• One CSSE test covers 10 schools. You only need to register once with the CSSE, even if you want to apply to several Essex grammar schools.

• Essex is "opt-in". You must register your child yourself. Schools do not do it for you, and there is no automatic system.

• The CSSE test is unique. Two papers (English and Maths) only, paper-based, no multiple choice and no reasoning. Make sure you prepare for the right format.

• CCHS for Girls is separate. Different test, earlier deadline (3 June 2026), different test date (3 September 2026). Register for both if it is on your list.

• The CAF is a separate step. You still need to submit the Common Application Form to your local authority by 31 October 2026. Registering for the CSSE does not apply you for a school place.

• Living outside Essex is fine. Children from outside Essex can register and sit the test, but some schools give priority to children living in certain areas.

Want a clear plan? Our specialist 11 plus tutors know the CSSE inside out. They can run a quick assessment, tell you honestly how ready your child is, and build a plan that gets them to where they need to be by September.

How we help your child get ready for the Essex 11 plus

Registering is the easy part. The real work is making sure your child walks into the CSSE test feeling calm, sharp and well prepared. We have helped families earn grammar school places for over 30 years. Here is how we help Essex children.

1. One-to-one tuition built for the CSSE format

The CSSE is its own beast. Two papers, paper-based, written by hand, no multiple choice. The skills your child needs are different from the ones tested by GL Assessment or CEM exams. Tuition that trains for the wrong format simply does not deliver in Essex.

Our 11 plus tuition programmes are mapped to the exact CSSE structure, so your child practises real CSSE-style English comprehension, creative writing and maths problem solving from day one. No wasted time on reasoning papers they will never see.

2. Specialist tutors who know the CSSE

The CSSE is written by a small consortium, year after year, so its style and topics have patterns that a good specialist will know. Children lose the same marks in the same places, every year. A tutor who knows the CSSE can fix those gaps fast.

Our 11 plus tutors are specialists in the Essex CSSE. They know what each paper is really testing, the recurring tricky areas, and the writing techniques that turn an average score into a competitive one.

3. Free practice papers for daily habits

The children who do best in the CSSE almost always practise a little every day. Twenty to thirty minutes a day builds the writing stamina, reading speed and maths fluency that the CSSE rewards. Big weekend sessions alone never quite get there.

Our free 11 plus practice papers give your child the daily reps they need between lessons. Use them little and often, and watch their timing get sharper and their confidence grow week by week.

4. An intensive summer course before the test

The CSSE falls on Saturday 19 September 2026, just a couple of weeks after the summer holidays end. That makes the summer the single most important window for a final push. It is the last big stretch of focused time before the real thing.

Our 11 plus intensive summer course revises every CSSE topic, sharpens exam technique and runs timed practice in the exact CSSE format. Children finish the summer feeling ready, not rusty. If you only do one big thing before the test, make it this.

5. Mock exams that feel like the real day

For many children, the hardest part of the CSSE is not the questions. It is the silent room, the timer and the pressure of a real test centre. The best way to handle that pressure is to practise it first.

Our 11 plus mock exams copy the real CSSE conditions, right down to the timing and the paper format. Your child gets used to test day in a safe setting, and you get a detailed report showing exactly which areas to focus on next. By 19 September, the room feels familiar instead of frightening.

When should you start preparing?

With around 5,000 children sitting the CSSE each year for about 1,300 places, earlier is better. A calm, steady build-up across Year 5 makes far more difference than a panicked rush in the summer. Here is a simple timeline that works for most families.

• Year 4: Build strong foundations in English and maths. Read widely, write often. No pressure at all.

• Year 5 (autumn to spring): Begin regular 11 plus tuition focused on CSSE-style English and maths. Add short daily practice.

• Spring 2026: Start timed practice and book a first mock exam to see where your child stands.

• May 2026: Register for the CSSE as soon as it opens on 12 May. Get it done in week one.

• Summer 2026: Join our 11 plus intensive summer course for a focused final push before September.

• 19 September 2026: Test day. Your child walks in calm, prepared and confident.

Started a bit late? Do not panic. Plenty of families begin in the spring of Year 5 and still do brilliantly. When time is shorter, the trick is to focus only on the areas that move the needle most, which is exactly what our tutors are trained to do.

Final thoughts

Essex 11 plus registration is one of the simplest in the country, because one form covers ten schools. But the deadline is strict, and missing it costs your child the whole year. The moment registration opens at 9am on 12 May 2026, get it done. That single morning of admin opens the door to every CSSE grammar school in Essex.

After that, preparation is everything. Steady practice, the right expert support, and a calm, confident child on test day are what turn a registration into a real grammar school place.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we have been helping families across Essex earn grammar school places for over 30 years. From one-to-one tuition and specialist CSSE tutors to free practice papers, realistic mock exams and our focused summer intensive course, we give your child everything they need to walk into the CSSE ready to do their best. Whatever stage you are at, we are here to help.

Frequently asked questions

When does Essex 11 plus exam registration 2026 open and close?

CSSE registration opens on Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 9am and closes on Friday 19 June 2026 at 5pm. The test itself is on Saturday 19 September 2026. Late registrations are not accepted, so register early. Note that Chelmsford County High School for Girls runs its own separate test with a different (earlier) registration window.

Do I need to register separately for each Essex grammar school?

No, not for the CSSE schools. One CSSE registration covers all 10 consortium schools at once. The only school you need to register for separately is Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS), which uses its own FSCE test with earlier deadlines.

Is there a registration fee for the Essex 11 plus?

No. CSSE registration is free. You only need a little time, your child's details and a valid email address that you check often, since your child's results will be sent there in mid-October.

What is the qualifying score for the CSSE 11 plus?

The standardised qualifying score is 303 across both papers combined. However, meeting 303 only makes your child eligible to apply, it does not guarantee a place. The most popular schools (like KEGS in Chelmsford and CRGS in Colchester) typically need much higher scores, often 310 to 320 or more, depending on demand that year.

What if I miss the registration deadline?

The CSSE does not accept late registrations under any circumstances. If you miss 5pm on 19 June 2026, your child cannot sit the CSSE test for September 2027 entry. There is no appeal and no second chance. The safest plan is to register in the first week of May, as soon as the form opens.

When is the best time to start preparing for the Essex 11 plus?

Most families start regular preparation in Year 5, around a year before the test. Starting in Year 4 is great if your child needs to build confidence and foundations first. Starting in spring of Year 5 is still fine with focused, targeted help. Because the CSSE falls in mid-September, the summer holiday right before it is especially valuable, which is what our intensive summer course is built for.