GCSE rank #30 In-site school
Colyton Grammar School
Colyton, Devon
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
Consortium guide
Plymouth 11 Plus
Understand how the Plymouth and Devon 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 / CEM 12 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls.
Test Format
One multiple-choice English paper, and one multiple-choice maths paper, sat on different days. Both papers are provided by GL Assessment.
Eligibility
There is no formal entrance criteria that children must meet to sit the exam, but the Plymouth 11 Plus takes place in-person at one of the…
Places Available
There are 278 selective places across the two schools which use this Plymouth entrance exam.
Applications
Over the past few years, there have been less places than there have been applicants.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Plymouth 11 Plus is an entrance exam set by the 2 girls’ grammar schools in Plymouth, namely Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Plymouth 11 Plus is a shared route used by 2 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Plymouth and Devon 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 Plymouth and Devon route.
GCSE rank #111 In-site school
Devonport High School for Boys
Plymouth
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #72 In-site school
Devonport High School for Girls
Plymouth
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #135 In-site school
Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth
Ofsted: Good 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 Plymouth 11 Plus that Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls use for their admissions processes includes 2 papers on maths and English, split by subject and taken separately.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: English (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Maths (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
The first paper that your daughter will take will be a multiple-choice paper provided by GL Assessment. The test will cover the standard KS2 curriculum and will assess comprehension skills.
The second and final paper on the Plymouth 11 Plus is the maths paper. As in the English paper, all of the questions will be multiple-choice. GL Assessment provides the paper which uses the KS2 curriculum to test numeracy and mathematical skill levels.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
Registering your child for the Plymouth 11 Plus, you’ll need to complete an online application. You only need to register your child to sit the tests at one of the schools, and this does not need to be the school she wishes to join.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Mock Exam Registration Opens
Tuesday 22nd April 2025
Plymouth 11+ Registration Opens
Monday 28th April 2025
Mock Exam Registration Closes
Friday 23rd May 2025
Mock Exam
Saturday 5th July 2025
Mock Exam Results Issued Via Email
Friday 18th July 2025
Plymouth 11+ Registration Closes
Sunday 31st August 2025
Information Letter Emailed
Friday 5th September 2025
Paper 1 - English
Saturday 13th September 2025
Paper 2 - Maths
Saturday 20th September 2025
Results Emailed
Friday 17th October 2025
Common Application Form Deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National Cffer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Consider the 11 Plus Mock Exam Plymouth offers
For your daughter to enter the mock exam session on Saturday 5th July 2025, you need to register online with one of the schools before Friday 23rd May 2025. There are only 170 places available to sit the mock exam at each school and registration may close early if all places are filled.
Register for the Plymouth 11 Plus online
Register your child to sit the real Plymouth 11 plus exam online at either Devonport High School for Girls or Plymouth High School for Girls. The registration opened on Monday 28th April 2025 and the deadline for completion is midday on Sunday 31st August 2025.
Keep an eye out for details
11 Plus information letters will be emailed to all parents who have successfully registered their child on Friday 5th September 2025. If for any reason you have not received this, contact the school that you chose for your child to sit the exam at.
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
Assisting your child in their preparation for the Plymouth 11 Plus exams can help them hugely. Some practical strategies to support their preparation are:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to ensure enough time to gradually build skills without the need for last-minute cramming.
Use Practice Papers
Work through 11 Plus exam papers and timed mock exams with your child. This will help them get familiar with the format, build confidence, and improve time management skills.
Focus on Weak Areas
Tracking your child’s progress and identifying areas they find more challenging can lead to significant improvement in their overall performance.
Encourage Daily Reading
Regular reading enhances vocabulary, comprehension, and analytical thinking, all of which are essential for a successful score in the Plymouth 11 Plus.
Try Online Tools
Educational platforms can provide personalised feedback and opportunities for practice which can make study sessions more interactive and thus effective.
If you maintain a consistent and structured approach to revision you can help your child feel confident and encouraged for the Plymouth 11 Plus.
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 Plymouth and Devon selective route result cover every school on this page? +
Not always. This page groups together the local routes parents commonly compare, but some schools may sit inside slightly different arrangements. Use the school and route details on this page as an orientation step, then confirm the live admissions pages for the schools you are seriously considering.
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 schools are genuinely in reach, how the route behaves across Plymouth and Devon, and whether your family is comparing a close local option or a much longer daily journey. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Plymouth and Devon? +
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and their admissions authorities. 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.