GCSE rank #50 In-site school
Ilford County High School
Ilford, Redbridge
Ofsted: Good Boys only
Consortium guide
Redbridge 11 Plus
Understand how the Redbridge 11 Plus route works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
2 schools GL Assessment 6 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
Both grammar schools in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Test Format
Provided by GL Assessment and assesses verbal skills, English, maths, and non-verbal reasoning.
Eligibility
Any child of the appropriate year group can be registered by a parent or carer during the application window managed by Redbridge Council.
Places Available
The Redbridge Grammar Schools Consortium has around 360 places each year for grammar school admissions to the two schools.
Applications
While applications per year vary, around 2,500 children sit the test each year.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Redbridge 11 Plus exam is designed to assess the academic ability of children in year 6.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Redbridge is a smaller shared route, which means families often get to the important school-by-school questions more quickly once the test format and dates are clear.
The practical choice usually turns on the commute into Ilford or Woodford, the boys’ or girls’ route that fits your child, and how competitive each school feels once the live admissions rules are added back in.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Redbridge route.
GCSE rank #18 In-site school
Woodford County High School
Woodford Green, Redbridge
Ofsted: Good Girls only
What to compare next
- Whether the commute into Ilford or Woodford still feels manageable every day
- Boys' and girls' routes and which school environment suits your child best
- How the local authority process lines up with each school's admissions rules
- Whether the route still looks realistic once scores, travel, and school fit are all considered together
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
Designed to assess reasoning ability and problem-solving skills, the Redbridge 11 Plus includes two multiple-choice papers covering English, verbal skills, maths, and non-verbal reasoning.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: Verbal Reasoning and English (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Non-Verbal and Maths (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Combination of verbal reasoning and English questions
Tests vocabulary, comprehension, grammar
Multiple-choice question format
Approximate duration
50–60 minutes including practice time
Assesses patterns, sequences, shapes, and spatial awareness
Focuses on logic, visual problem-solving, arithmetic, and abstract reasoning
Maths, non-verbal, and spatial reasoning section
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
The Redbridge 11 Plus is standardised to fairly compare children of different ages. Each child receives:
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
Score breakdown
verbal skills
maths
non-verbal reasoning
Overall aggregate score
The qualifying score is liable to change each year, but a typical pass mark is around 210 as an overall aggregate score. There is no fixed minimum score required in individual papers, but consistent performance across all sections is essential to progress to the next stage of admissions. Passing the test does not, on its own, guarantee your child a place at one of the grammar schools.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child, you will need to complete an online application through Redbridge Council. This is required regardless of whether you live in Redbridge or are applying from outside the borough.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
Tuesday 1st May 2025
Registration closes
Sunday 15th June 2025
Test date
Friday 19th September 2025
Results day
Mid-October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online with Redbridge Council
Visit the Redbridge Council website during the registration window and complete the 11 Plus application form. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend.
Test centre arrangements
Most children sit the test at a local Redbridge primary school. If your child is not attending one of these schools, the council will assign them a test centre.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Make sure to keep this for later reference.
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
Because Redbridge has only two schools on the route, it often helps to compare the school environment and travel pattern early rather than collecting more resources than you really need.
Check these before you rank schools
- Whether the commute into Ilford or Woodford still feels manageable every day
- Boys' and girls' routes and which school environment suits your child best
- How the local authority process lines up with each school's admissions rules
- Whether the route still looks realistic once scores, travel, and school fit are all considered together
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation for the Redbridge 11 Plus can make a real difference. Here are some practical strategies to help them succeed:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 and allow your child to build skills gradually and confidently with ample time.
Use practice papers
Work through Redbridge-style 11 Plus test papers under timed conditions to get used to the format and improve speed and accuracy.
Focus on weak areas
Monitor progress to identify weak areas, and spend extra time on the question types they find most difficult, especially in verbal, non-verbal, and maths reasoning.
Encourage daily reading
Reading regularly helps develop vocabulary, comprehension, and logical thinking which is useful for both verbal and maths questions, and their academic journey in general.
Try online tools
Online platforms offer tailored practice and feedback to help keep revision focused and engaging.
Consistent, structured preparation can help your child feel confident and ready on exam day, especially with your encouragement.
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 Redbridge 11 Plus route result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Redbridge 11 Plus 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 boys’ and girls’ options, commuting into Ilford or Woodford, and whether the route still feels practical after school-day travel is factored in. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Redbridge? +
The live process usually sits with the local authority and the participating schools. 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.