Herts 11 Plus
The South West Herts Consortium route covers partially selective schools with academic, music and sports pathways. That means the route is not just one exam and one kind of place: different pathways can involve different tests, registration dates, catchment rules and allocation methods. The useful context is which schools are covered, which test a child would sit, and how the consortium label connects to separate school admissions policies.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
South West Herts is not a conventional grammar-school consortium. It is a partially selective schools route, which means the same consortium label can cover different kinds of entry: academic selection, music aptitude and, for some provision, sports aptitude. That is the first thing to understand, because a family is not simply choosing one 11 Plus paper and then ranking identical grammar options.
The academic route uses GL Assessment papers in maths and verbal reasoning. Alongside that, the music pathway has its own aptitude process and Queens’ School also has a sports route. The result is a more layered admissions picture than a standard grammar exam. Two children may both be looking at the South West Herts Consortium while actually preparing for different tests and different types of places.
The school list also explains why this page is marked as information-led on Grammar School Hub. Parmiter’s, Queens’, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls are part of the local selective conversation, but the schools are not all straightforward grammar-school profiles in our dataset. They are best understood through their own admissions policies as well as the consortium route.
That makes South West Herts a route where the key question is not only “what is the test?” It is also “which pathway is being used, which schools allocate places through that pathway, what catchment or priority rules apply, and how do historical scores relate to the current year’s demand?” The page gives the route structure first so those school-level questions make more sense.
Schools using this route
These schools sit on the South West Herts route, but they are shown here as external context rather than Grammar School Hub school profiles.
- External context Outside grammar coverage
Parmiter's School
Partially selective consortium school
- External context Outside grammar coverage
Queens' School
Partially selective consortium school
- External context Outside grammar coverage
Rickmansworth School
Partially selective consortium school
- External context Outside grammar coverage
St Clement Danes School
Partially selective consortium school
- External context Outside grammar coverage
Watford Grammar School for Boys
Partially selective consortium school
- External context Outside grammar coverage
Watford Grammar School for Girls
Partially selective consortium school
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Herts 11 Plus includes a multiple choice paper in maths and one in verbal reasoning. The papers are sat on the same day and have a short break between them. They are designed to assess your child’s academic ability and reasoning skills, and compare their results against their cohort of applicants. All of the schools also offer a Musical Aptitude Test with an amount of places offered on this basis. A Sports Test is also used by Queens’ School with places allocated to those with exceptional sporting performance.
Paper structure
Paper 1: Maths (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Music Test
See the papers and topics below.
Sports Test
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Test lasts 45 minutes
1 hour.
Based on Year 5 and early Year 6 curriculum topics, with a focus on applying knowledge to unfamiliar problem-solving questions.
45 minutes
1 hour test.
Includes codes, sequences and logic using words, letters and symbols.
Written Test
60 questions divided into four sections across around 45 minutes. The test is typically taken in the main hall using the school’s Audio/Visual equipment. The four sections are: (Pitch, Melody, Rhythm and Texture)
Second Stage
Your child will be required to perform in their chosen instrument to demonstrate their ability. Performances must not exceed 3 minutes and are not age-standardised.
Sit-ups
30-seconds to complete as many correct sit-ups as possible.
Endurance Run
Run around a rectangular set of cones with total distance getting measured after 8 minutes
Shuttle Run
Time measured for the time taken to run 5 times between two lines 5m apart.
Sit and Reach
Pupils sit, with legs laid flat, and need to bend forward and push a ruler as far as possible without lifting their legs. The position must be held for 2 seconds to count. The test is done twice with the better score recorded.
Standing Broad Jump
The pupil must stand in a stationary position and then jump as far forward as possible. The test is done twice with the better score being recorded.
Plate Tapping
A pupil’s non-preferred hand is places on the middle of three plates with their preferred hand on the opposite side plate. The student must then keep their weaker hand planted while they use their preferred hand to tap the plates on either side. Every time they return to the plate they started at, one cycle is counted. They are timed until 25 cycles have been completed.
Flamingo Test
The student is required to hold their non-preferred foot up behind their back with the hand on the same side. They then have to stay balanced on a beam in this position for one minute. The number of attempts it takes to complete a full minute is recorded.
All 7 schools offer places based on performance in the music test, with Croxley Danes School only utilising this test for entry.
Queens’ School organises a Sports Test for applicants with exceptional sporting aptitude within its catchment area. The tests which take place are:
More information can be found here.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
There is no fixed pass mark for the test; places are allocated according to each school’s admission criteria. After receiving your child’s final standardised test score, you can choose which school(s) to apply to. Each Consortium school’s website provides historical data showing the lowest scores that gained entry over the past three years. While these historical scores can offer some guidance, they should be interpreted carefully as standards may change from year to year.
Every year a minimum total weighted score is determined based on a set proportion of the total number of children attending South West Herts schools. This number becomes the cut off for the highest scoring children who take the test. In the 2024 tests, the minimum academic test scores for entry across the 7 schools ranged from 186 – 245 varying with other criteria such as postcode.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the Herts 11 Plus, complete the online application on the council website. This is required whether you live in the area or are applying from elsewhere.
Key dates
Registration opens
Tuesday 1st April 2025
Registration closes
Friday 6th June 2025
Date of Test Venue Notification
Friday 27th June 2025
Special Provision Notification Deadline
Friday 6th June 2025
Academic Test
Saturday 6th September 2025
Music Test
Monday 8th September 2025
Sports (Queens’ School Only)
Wednesday 10th September 2025
First Round Music Scores Notified to Parents
Thursday 18th September 2025 (around noon)
Start of Second Round Music Tests
Monday 22nd September to Friday 26th September 2025
Scores Notified to Parents
Thursday 16th October 2025 (around noon)
Secondary Application Deadline
Thursday 31st October 2025
Application steps
Register online with South West Herts Schools Consortium
– Visit the South West Herts Schools Consortium website during the registration window and complete the application form. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend.
Test centre for non-Herts schools
You will be assigned a test centre where your child can sit the test in September if they do not attend a local primary school.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you should keep to refer to it later.
05 / Resources
Practice papers and familiarisation materials
These local PDF copies are useful for format practice and timing; dates, paper formats, and registration details can change, so the current admissions page remains the source to trust.
Maths
Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 2
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 3
GL Assessment Verbal Skills Paper
GL Assessment Verbal Skills Paper
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.
South West Herts is not the kind of route where one broad score automatically creates a clean school list. The route works as a framework: each school has its own admissions model, catchment position, and selective pathway, so the same consortium label can lead to several different admissions stories.
Check these before you rank schools
- Whether you are comparing academic, music, or sports routes rather than one identical path
- How partial selectivity changes the meaning of a strong result at each school
- Which South West Herts schools remain in range once catchment is added back in
- What each school asks for beyond the shared registration window and test dates
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation for the Herts 11 Plus makes a huge difference. Here are some practical steps you can take to help them succeed:
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to give them ample time to confidently build the skills they need.
Use Practice Papers
Work through Herts-style 11 Plus test papers in simulated test conditions. This helps your child get accustomed to the format and practices exam technique.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress to identify the areas and topics they find the most difficult to succeed in.
Encourage Daily Reading
Reading regularly strengthens their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which help out with the verbal reasoning paper.
Try Online Tools
Use online platforms that offer Herts 11 plus test papers specific practice questions and personal feedback to help make revision more engaging and effective.
Keeping preparation consistent, structured, and positive can help your child feel confident and ready for the test on the day.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What kind of route is South West Herts?
South West Herts is a partially selective consortium with academic, music and sports pathways. It is not a standard grammar-school consortium, so the route only makes sense when the pathway and named school are read together.
What does an academic score change in South West Herts?
An academic score may support an application through the academic pathway, but each school decides how that pathway sits beside catchment, music or sports routes, preferences and available places.
Why is South West Herts not a standard grammar route?
South West Herts is a partially selective consortium with academic, music and sports pathways. The route is about understanding which pathway and school policy applies, not simply passing one shared grammar-school test.
Who usually manages registration or applications for South West Herts?
The live process usually sits with the consortium schools and their linked admissions arrangements. The official pages remain the source of truth for registration windows, test venues, access arrangements and final admissions instructions for the relevant year.