GCSE rank #67 In-site school
Bournemouth School
Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
Consortium guide
Dorset 11 Plus
Understand how the Dorset selective route works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
4 schools GL Assessment 6 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
The Dorset 11 Plus is used by all 4 grammar schools in the Dorset Grammar School Consortium
Test Format
The test is provided by GL Assessment and will cover mathematics, English and verbal reasoning.
Eligibility
Any child in Year 6 can sit the Dorset 11 Plus.
Places Available
Planned Admission Numbers (PANs) can vary by year for each school in the Dorset Grammar School Consortium.
Applications
Grammar schools in the Dorset area are mostly at capacity or over-subscribed.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Dorset 11 Plus is an entrance exam set by GL Assessment. Used exclusively by grammar schools within the Dorset area, the exam is designed to assess whether pupils meet the level required for grammar school entry.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Dorset 11 Plus is a shared route used by 4 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Dorset route itself is clear, the shortlist usually improves when you compare travel, admissions rules, and school fit instead of treating every school on the route as interchangeable.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Dorset route.
GCSE rank #90 In-site school
Bournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #116 In-site school
Parkstone Grammar School
Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #104 In-site school
Poole Grammar School
Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Good Boys only
What to compare next
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Dorset 11 Plus includes multiple-choice papers in English, maths and verbal reasoning. These papers are designed to assess your child’s academic abilities and reasoning skills and compare their results to the cohort of applicants.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: Mathematics (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: English (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 3: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
This multiple choice paper, lasting 50 minutes, is designed to assess a pupil’s competency across a multitude of mathematics skills. The content is usually reflective of year 5 content which the applicant is expected to have learned prior to the test date.
The English paper is 45 minutes long and assesses language skills in a multiple choice format. Questions vary in their content and test reading comprehension and English language understanding.
The verbal reasoning paper lasts 50 minutes and is also multiple choice. Covering areas such as vocabulary, verbal analogies and logical reasoning, the test aims to assess critical and logical thinking as well as just English skills.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
There is no fixed Dorset 11 Plus pass mark but scores are age-standardised and then compared to select a set proportion of students. Typically, a score of 120 or more is a very strong score which puts a student in around the top 10% of their cohort. This would put them into contention for a place at one of the schools. The standardisation process is done by a separate agency to the school and is used to offset any potential age-based advantage some students will have over others.
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the Dorset 11 Plus, complete the online application on the school’s website. This is required whether you live in Dorset or are applying from outside the area.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
Tuesday 22nd April 2025
Registration closes
Friday 5th September 2025
Test date
Saturday 20th September 2025
Results
October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National allocation day: March
March 2nd 2025
Application steps
Register online with the school
Visit the website of the school you wish to sit the test at during the registration window and complete the Dorset 11 Plus application form. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend. The school in which they sit the test has no bearing on which school they want to apply to.
Test centre for non-Dorset schools
You will be assigned a test centre where your child can sit the Dorset 11 Plus in September if they do not attend a Dorset primary school.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you should keep to refer to it later.
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
In this section
- Travel and realism
- Oversubscription rules
- School-by-school fit
The shared route keeps the testing process simpler, but the final shortlist usually depends on how each linked school applies its admissions rules and how practical each option still looks once travel is taken seriously.
Check these before you rank schools
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation can make a significant difference. Some tips to help your child succeed include:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5.
Use Practice Papers
Practice Dorset-test-style 11 Plus papers in simulated test conditions.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress and focus on areas that need improvement.
Encourage Daily Reading
Help your child improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking.
Use Online Tools
Online practice platforms can provide feedback and improve learning efficiency.
Consistent, structured, and positive preparation will help your child feel confident and ready for the test day.
09 / FAQs
Questions families often ask
Use these answers as a planning guide, then confirm the live admissions details for your application year.
In this section
- Common questions
- Decision checks
- Application-year details
Does one Dorset selective route result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Dorset selective route route lets one test result support several school applications. The important caveat is that final admissions rules can still differ between the schools using that route.
Does a qualifying score guarantee a place? +
No. A strong or qualifying result may keep a school in play, but final offers still depend on the admissions policy, oversubscription rules, and how competitive that year is.
What should parents compare once the route itself is clear? +
Parents usually make better decisions when they compare the Bournemouth and Poole options, practical travel, and whether the school mix still suits your child once distance and daily routine are included. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Dorset? +
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and local authority admissions processes. This page helps you understand the route, but the final registration and admissions instructions should always be checked on the live official pages for the relevant year.