GCSE rank #162 In-site school
The Boston Grammar School
Boston, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Boys only
Consortium guide
Lincolnshire 11 Plus
Understand how the Lincolnshire grammar-school route works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
15 schools GL Assessment / Individual 7 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
The Lincolnshire 11 Plus is used by all 15 grammar schools in the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS).
Test Format
GL Assessment administers the Lincolnshire 11 Plus, which covers verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
Eligibility
Any child in Year 6 can take the Lincolnshire 11 Plus.
Places Available
Each year, approximately 2,100 to 2,200 grammar school places are available across the 15 schools in the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar…
Applications
Each year, approximately 4,000 to 4,200 children take the Lincolnshire 11 Plus.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Lincolnshire 11 Plus is an exam created by GL Assessment and used by all 15 grammar schools within the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS).
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Lincolnshire 11 Plus is a shared route used by 15 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Lincolnshire 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 Lincolnshire route.
GCSE rank #158 In-site school
Boston High School
Boston, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #113 In-site school
Bourne Grammar School
Bourne, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #107 In-site school
Caistor Grammar School
Market Rasen, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #160 In-site school
Carre's Grammar School
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #115 In-site school
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #146 In-site school
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #148 In-site school
King Edward VI Grammar School
Louth, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #86 In-site school
The King's School, Grantham
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #153 In-site school
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy
Alford, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #129 In-site school
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Horncastle, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #150 In-site school
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #163 In-site school
Skegness Grammar School
Skegness, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #157 In-site school
Spalding Grammar School
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #147 In-site school
Spalding High School
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls 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 Lincolnshire 11 Plus consists of multiple-choice papers in verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The test is designed to evaluate your child’s reasoning skills and academic ability, comparing their results with other candidates across the consortium. There is no English, maths, or creative writing component.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Approximately 50 minutes, including instructions and practice time
Covers logic, language-based reasoning, and vocabulary questions
All questions are multiple choice
Includes visual sequences, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning
Designed to assess problem-solving using shapes and diagrams
Multiple choice format
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
The Lincolnshire 11 Plus Test is age-standardised to ensure fair comparison among children of different ages. Each child receives:
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
Score breakdown
Verbal Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning
An overall combined score
Qualifying score
220
Maximum score
282 (141 per paper)
No minimum score required for individual papers
The qualifying score can vary slightly each year, but typically:
To be eligible for a grammar school place, your child must meet or exceed the qualifying score based on their combined results from both papers.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
Lincolnshire Grammar Schools Admissions Criteria
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
Friday 10 January 2025
Registration closes
Monday 31 March 2025
Verbal reasoning test
Saturday 13th September 2025
Non-verbal reasoning test
Saturday 20th September 2025
Results day
Mid-October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Distance from the school
Sibling priority
Pupil premium eligibility
Children of staff
Once a child meets the qualifying score on the Lincolnshire 11 Plus, each grammar school applies its own admissions criteria, which may include:
Refer to the links for each school to learn more about their specific admissions policies and application process.
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 for the Lincolnshire 11 Plus can significantly boost their chances. Here are practical tips to help:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start Early
Begin in Year 4 or early Year 5 to build reasoning skills gradually and confidently.
Use Practice Papers
Practice with Lincolnshire-style 11 Plus papers under timed conditions to familiarize your child with question types and improve speed.
Focus on Weak Areas
Identify and spend extra time on challenging verbal or non-verbal reasoning question types.
Try Online Tools
Utilize digital platforms offering structured practice, progress tracking, and instant feedback for effective revision.
Encourage Daily Puzzles and Logic Games Engage in activities like code-breaking, pattern recognition, and shape puzzles to strengthen reasoning skills.
Consistent, well-structured, and supportive preparation helps your child approach the Lincolnshire 11 Plus with confidence.
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 Lincolnshire grammar-school route result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Lincolnshire grammar-school 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 which Lincolnshire towns are realistic, how far your child could travel every day, and whether the schools you are comparing still make sense once geography is the first filter. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Lincolnshire? +
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and Lincolnshire 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.