Wandsworth 11 Plus
The Wandsworth selective route is broader than a standard grammar-school consortium. It maps selective testing used by individual schools rather than one single shared grammar system, so assessment details and admissions pathways can vary by school. The important context is which schools are actually in scope, what each assessment involves, when the process happens and how travel and school-level criteria shape the final options.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
Wandsworth is deliberately treated as an information-first route because it is not a standard grammar-school consortium. The Wandsworth Year 6 Test is used in a borough where selective assessment can sit alongside banding, aptitude places and school-specific admissions arrangements. The route is relevant to families looking at selective or partially selective options, but it should not be read as one clean grammar-school system.
The test itself is a GL Assessment route based on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. These papers are different from an English-and-maths curriculum test. They look at language logic, pattern recognition, spatial reasoning and problem solving under timed conditions. For children in Wandsworth primary schools the process may feel local and familiar; for applicants outside the borough, the test venue and logistics can be different.
The school-level use of the result is the crucial part. Some Wandsworth schools have historically used scores for selective places, while others use assessment data in broader banding or admissions arrangements. That means a score can have different meaning depending on the school being considered. This is exactly why the page does not present a ranking workspace in the same way as a full grammar consortium page.
The route overview exists to make the landscape legible: what the Wandsworth test is, why it is not a normal grammar 11 Plus, how verbal and non-verbal reasoning fit into the assessment, and why individual school admissions pages remain the final authority after the route-level picture is clear.
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Wandsworth Year 6 Test includes two papers designed to assess academic ability and problem-solving skills in the areas of verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper structure
Paper 1: Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
55 minutes total test time which includes invigilator guidance and practice questions
The test consists of four sections (three of 10 minutes each with 19 questions in each and one of 9 minutes to answer 18 questions)
50 minutes
80 questions and no guidance
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
The Wandsworth 11 Plus Test is age-standardised to increase fairness between children of different birthdays throughout the school year. Each participant receives a standardised score for each paper and an overall aggregate score.
Graveney School
256
Burntwood School
224
Pass marks vary slightly each year and vary across schools. Chestnut Grove and Ashcroft both use the test scores solely to band students entering their schools with additional aptitude tests used for specific places. Graveney and Burntwood use the scores to allocate a set number of places. More information can be found on the school pages below.
Using 2021 as an example, the minimum marks needed for the selective Graveney and Burntwood places were:
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
Whether or not you are applying from inside the borough, to register your child for the Wandsworth Year 6 Test, you’ll need to complete an online application through the form on the Wandsworth Council website.
Key dates
Registration closes
Thursday 4 September 2025
Year 6 Test
Thursday 25th - Monday 29th September
Results Issued
Friday 24th October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
Offer Day
Sunday 1st March 2026
Application steps
Register online with Wandsworth Council
Visit the Wandsworth website during the registration window and fill out the Wandsworth 11 Plus Test application form. You’ll be asked to provide some details and contact information.
Keep a copy of your confirmation
Once registered, you’ll get a confirmation email with details of when and where your child will take the test. Keep this information for later reference. Invitations will be sent out by or before 18th September.
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.
Wandsworth is an orientation route, not a finished school list. Individual schools still need to be read against travel, admissions rules and the wider school offer.
Check these before you rank schools
- Which Wandsworth-area selective schools are worth keeping in scope
- Whether the route you are reading is a true shared test or a looser group of comparable schools
- How school-level admissions rules change the value of the selective score
- Whether the journey and broader school offer still make the route worthwhile for your family
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child through the Wandsworth 11 Plus Test process can make all the difference. Here are some practical strategies that can help:
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to give your child time to build skills steadily and reduce anxiety.
Use Practice Papers
Go through 11 plus exam papers together to get used to the test format and boost their confidence.
Target Weak Areas
Track their progress and focus on subjects and question types they find more difficult.
Encourage Daily Reading
Regular reading improves vocabulary, enhances comprehension and fosters critical thinking, all very helpful for 11 Plus success.
Explore Online Tools
Use educational platforms that provide practice and tailored feedback, making study sessions engaging and focused.
By keeping the preparation consistent and structured you’ll help your child feel ready and confident on exam day, especially with your support and positivity.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does this Wandsworth route page cover?
This is an information-first page for selective arrangements in Wandsworth rather than a clean grammar-school consortium. It explains the route context without pretending every linked school uses one identical grammar process.
What does a selective result change in Wandsworth?
It depends on the named school and pathway. A selective result can matter, but final admission still turns on the published policy, preference form, available places and any school-specific conditions.
Why is Wandsworth listed as information-first?
Wandsworth is not a clean grammar consortium in our dataset. The route includes selective testing and school-specific arrangements, so the page explains the test and context without presenting it as a standard shared grammar-school route.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Wandsworth?
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and the local authority application process. The official pages remain the source of truth for registration windows, test venues, access arrangements and final admissions instructions for the relevant year.