Free resources
The Dorset 11+ timeline for 2027–28
Key dates for the first Dorset Quest test — when to register, when it's sat, and how the application year unfolds.
Dates from Quest's Dorset guidance, checked in September 2026. The schools set the final dates, and the exact test day hasn't been published yet — always confirm on each school's admissions page.
The 11+ year, step by step
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1
Year 4 – early Year 5 · Build the foundations
Strengthen reading, core maths and word skills calmly — long before any exam pressure. This is where the real advantage is quietly won.
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2
April 2027 onwards · Register for the test
Quest says registration opens in April 2027. You register directly with one of the four Dorset grammar schools — separately from your main secondary-school application.
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3
September 2027 · Sit the Quest test
Three multiple-choice papers — Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning — 40 minutes each, in one session. The exact date is still to be confirmed by the schools.
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4
Mid-October 2027 · Results, then apply
Results are due in mid-October — in time to name your preferred schools on the national secondary application, which closes on 31 October 2027.
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5
1 March 2028 · National Offer Day
Families are told which secondary place they've been offered. If things don't go to plan, you can join waiting lists and you have a legal right to appeal.
Dates at a glance
Fixed vs. variable dates
Two dates are set nationally; the rest are set locally and must be confirmed.
- 31 October 2027 Fixed
- National deadline to apply for a secondary-school place.
- 1 March 2028 Fixed
- National Offer Day — when secondary-school offers are made.
- Registration Confirm
- Opens April 2027, according to Quest — register with one of the four schools.
- Exam day Confirm
- September 2027 — the exact date is still to be confirmed by the schools.
11+ timeline FAQs
Questions, answered
When is the 11+ exam in Dorset?
The first test set by Quest is in September 2027, for Year 7 entry in September 2028. The exact date hasn't been published yet, so always check the schools' admissions pages. (The last GL test was on 26 September 2026.)
When do I register my child for the 11+?
Quest says registration opens in April 2027. You register directly with one of the four grammar schools — separately from your secondary-school application to the council.
When will we get the 11+ results?
Quest says results will be released in mid-October 2027, before secondary applications close on 31 October 2027.
What happens if my child doesn't get a place?
You can name other schools on your application, join waiting lists in rank order, and you have a legal right to appeal. We're always happy to talk it through honestly.
Plan the year with us
Book a free assessment and we'll map out an honest, calm preparation plan that fits your child and the dates that matter.
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