Free resources
The 11+ timeline for Dorset
When to register, when the exam is sat, and how the application year unfolds — so nothing catches you out.
Always confirm the official dates. Exact dates change every year and are set by the grammar schools and your local authority. This page is a general guide to how the year runs — check each school's admissions page for the current details.
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
Summer before Year 6 · Register for the test
You register your child directly with the grammar school or local authority, often around June–July. This is separate from your main secondary-school application.
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3
Start of Year 6 · Sit the GL test
The GL Assessment 11+ is usually sat early in the autumn term (often September) — English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning, all multiple choice.
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4
Autumn · Results, then apply
GL scores typically arrive in October — in time to name your preferred schools on the national secondary application, which closes on 31 October.
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5
1 March · 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 and don't change; the rest are set locally each year and must be confirmed.
- 31 October Fixed
- National deadline to apply for a secondary-school place.
- 1 March Fixed
- National Offer Day — when secondary-school offers are made.
- Registration Confirm
- Usually the summer before Year 6 — check with the school.
- Exam day Confirm
- Usually September of Year 6 — set by the schools each year.
11+ timeline FAQs
Questions, answered
When is the 11+ exam in Dorset?
The GL Assessment 11+ is usually sat near the start of Year 6, early in the autumn term (often September). The exact date is set by the schools each year, so always confirm it on their official admissions pages.
When do I register my child for the 11+?
Registration usually opens the summer before Year 6 (often around June–July) and is done directly with the grammar school or local authority — separate from your main secondary-school application.
When will we get the 11+ results?
GL results typically arrive in the autumn, often in October, in time to inform your secondary-school application, which closes on 31 October.
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.