Register for 11 Plus: A Complete Guide

To register for the 11 plus, you apply directly to the grammar school, regional consortium, or local authority running the test, not to the exam board itself. Registration usually opens in April or May of Year 5, with deadlines typically falling between June and August, well before the exam is actually sat in September of Year 6. This is a completely separate process from the Common Application Form, which comes later, so both need to be done on time and neither one replaces the other. 

If you are trying to work out how to register for 11 plus exams, you are not alone, and it is completely normal to find the process a little confusing at first. Here is a clear, simple guide covering exactly when to register, how the process actually works, and what happens if a deadline gets missed. 

What does register for 11 plus actually mean?

Registering for the 11 plus simply means signing your child up to actually sit the exam. It is a completely separate step from applying for a secondary school place, and a lot of parents mix the two up in their first year of the process.

You do not register with the exam board itself, whether that is GL Assessment, CEM style providers, or an independent school's own test. Instead, registration goes directly through the grammar school, the regional consortium of schools, or in some areas, your local authority. Some regions handle this centrally through an online portal, while others expect you to register separately with each individual school.

When to register for 11 plus

For most families, registration opens in April or May of Year 5, well over a year before your child actually starts secondary school. Deadlines vary quite a lot by region, but typically fall somewhere between June and August of that same year, giving families a few months to complete the paperwork before the exam itself is sat the following September.

Grammar schools (GL Assessment areas)

• Registration usually opens April or May

• Deadline typically late June to mid July

• Exam sat in September, Year 6

Independent schools

• Registration often opens later, from September onwards

• Deadlines can fall in the summer term of Year 5

• Tests often sat in October or November, Year 6

How to register for 11 plus exams, step by step

1. Confirm which schools or consortium you are targeting

Registration is done separately for each school or regional group, so decide your shortlist early in Year 5.

2. Check the exact registration form needed

This might be called an 11+ Application Form or a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) depending on the school, so read the admissions page carefully.

3. Complete and submit the form before the deadline

Late registrations are very rarely accepted, so it is worth submitting well ahead of the actual closing date wherever possible.

4. Double check your contact details

The school will contact you later in the summer or early autumn with test day information, so an outdated email or postal address can cause real problems.

5. Keep a copy of everything you submit

Save a confirmation email or copy of the form, so you have proof of registration if anything is queried later.

If your contact details change at any point after registering, whether it is a new phone number, email address or house move, let the school know as soon as possible so you do not miss important updates about the exam.

Registering for the 11 plus versus the Common Application Form

This is genuinely one of the most common points of confusion in the whole process, and getting it wrong can cost a family a grammar school place entirely.

• 11 plus registration signs your child up to sit the exam itself. It happens early, directly with each school or consortium, usually between April and July of Year 5.

• The Common Application Form (CAF) is a completely different document, submitted to your home local authority, listing your preferred secondary schools in order. This is due by 31st October of Year 6, after your child has already sat the exam.

How to prepare once your child is registered

Once registration is safely sorted, attention can properly turn to preparation itself, and this is exactly where structured support makes the biggest difference.

1. Build a proper, structured plan

Our 11 plus tuition programmes are designed around exactly this stage, giving your child a clear, steady route from registration right through to the exam itself.

2. Get support from tutors who know the local exam format

Our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham understand exactly what local grammar schools are looking for, and tailor preparation to match.

3. See where your child stands right now

Our free 11+ practice papers are a great, no pressure way to get a feel for real exam style questions early on, well before committing to a fuller programme.

4. Practise with genuine past material

Our 11+ past papers give your child real exposure to the exact style and difficulty of questions they can expect on the day.

5. Build up to realistic exam conditions

As the exam gets closer, our 11 plus mocks recreate genuine timing and pressure, so nothing feels unfamiliar on the actual day.

Our 11 plus intensive summer course packs focused, structured practice into the school holidays, ideal for families who registered a little later or simply want a concentrated push before September. 

Whatever stage your family is at in the process, our 11 plus tuition team is here to help turn registration into real, lasting exam confidence. 

Final thoughts 

Learning how to register for the 11 plus does not need to feel overwhelming once the process is broken down clearly. Confirm your target schools early, check the exact registration form and deadline for each one, submit everything well ahead of time, and remember that this step is completely separate from the Common Application Form that comes later in the year.

Once registration is safely out of the way, the real focus can shift to genuine preparation. We would love to help your child feel calm, confident and ready, from that very first registration form right through to results day.