GCSE rank #60 In-site school
The Crossley Heath School
Halifax, Calderdale
Ofsted: Good Mixed
Consortium guide
Yorkshire 11 Plus
Understand how the Yorkshire selective routes works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
6 schools GL Assessment / FSCE 6 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
6 Yorkshire grammar schools that use a Yorkshire 11 Plus exam for selecting students to progress through their admissions process.
Places Available
Around 930 places are available across the Yorkshire grammar schools each year.
Applications
Thousands of primary-school age children sit one of the Yorkshire 11 Plus exams each year.
Assessment Providers
Ermysted’s Grammar School and Ripon Grammar School use GL Assessment.
Test format
A Yorkshire 11 Plus entrance exam is a selective test used by a grammar school in the region.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
A Yorkshire 11 Plus entrance exam is a selective test used by a grammar school in the region.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Yorkshire 11 Plus is a shared route used by 6 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire route.
GCSE rank #122 In-site school
Ermysted's Grammar School
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #25 In-site school
Heckmondwike Grammar School
Heckmondwike, Kirklees
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #117 In-site school
The North Halifax Grammar School
Halifax, Calderdale
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #101 In-site school
Ripon Grammar School
Ripon, North Yorkshire
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #106 In-site school
Skipton Girls' High School
Skipton, North Yorkshire
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 Yorkshire 11 Plus exam generally consists of two multiple-choice test papers which assess a child’s academic aptitude in certain subjects. The test format may differ slightly between schools and providers. Below is what can generally expected from each of the providers of Yorkshire 11 Plus exams.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Two Papers (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Three Papers (FSCE)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Ermysted’s Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School
Paper 1
Multiple-choice questions on non-verbal ability (and maths for Ermysted’s)
Paper 2
Multiple-choice questions on verbal reasoning (and English for Ermysted’s)
Halifax Grammar Schools (Crossley Heath Grammar School & North Halifax Grammar School)
Heckmondwike Grammar School
Skipton Girls’ High School
Paper 1
Multiple-choice questions on English and maths
Paper 2
Questions on English and maths which require short, written answers
Paper 3
Creative writing question which needs a long form response
The exam consists of two timed papers which are taken on the same day with a short break in between.
GL Assessment and other providers have familiarisation resources that you can use to help your child prepare for their Yorkshire 11 Plus exam.
FSCE exams assess your child’s knowledge solely in areas of the KS2 National Curriculum, with content which is learned up to the end of year five. The exam consists of three papers:
All answers should be given on the provided answer sheets.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
Both the FSCE 11 Plus and the GL Assessment 11 Plus are standardised assessments, which means raw scores of questions answered correctly or marks awarded are converted to a standardised score. On this scale, 100 is the average.
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
There is no set pass mark. Schools will set a minimum score on this scale that children must achieve to be eligible for a place. Achieving eligibility does not guarantee a place at the school of your choice. If more children are eligible through the 11 Plus than there are places, they will have to qualify under the over-subscription criteria set out in each school’s admissions policy.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for a Yorkshire 11 Plus exam, you need to apply directly to the individual school you are interested in. For Crossley Heath Grammar School and North Halifax Grammar School, however, you can register just once for the entrance exam for both schools as they operate a joint admissions registration process.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration Typically Opens
Late March/April 2025
Registration Typically Closes
June 2025
Yorkshire 11 Plus Test Date
September 2025
Results Day
October 2025
Secondary School Application Deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National Offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online
Visit the school’s website complete the online application form before the registration window closes. It is important to check the dates for the specific school because registration windows for each school vary. Typically, the registration window takes place in the summer term of Year 5, in advance of the test itself in the autumn term of Year 6.
Choose your test centre
The test is generally held at the school itself, but always check the specific location if you are applying to a school outside of your local area.
Keep a copy of your confirmation
and login details – Once you have registered, keep a copy of any confirmation emails and any login information for the respective portals for reference.
It is important to note that registering your child for a Yorkshire 11 Plus Exam is not the same as applying to the school. You must also complete the school application process separately.
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
Effective revision will help your child succeed in their Yorkshire 11 Plus exam. Here are some tips to support your child throughout:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start preparation early
Begin in Year 4 or the beginning of Year 5, allowing plenty of time to build knowledge and confidence.
Use practice papers
Work through Yorkshire 11 Plus mock exams and other past papers to familiarise your child with the exam format for the provider and working under timed conditions. Not that Future Stories does not provide practice or past papers for their exams in an effort to keep grammar school admissions as fair as possible for all students. You can access familiarisation materials through the schools’ websites to get your child accustomed to the format.
Focus on areas of weakness
Identify any topic areas where your child does less well and dedicate more time to practising these.
Encourage regular reading
Reading daily can extend vocabulary, spelling, and critical thinking skills, all of which are essential skills for the Yorkshire 11 Plus, and the FSCE 11 Plus in particular.
Utilise online resources
Use online learning platforms that offer tailored practice sessions for the Yorkshire 11 Plus exam and immediate feedback to your child.
Staying consistent with revision and support is vital to ensure your child will be well-prepared and confident for the Yorkshire 11 Plus exam.
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 Yorkshire selective routes 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 part of Yorkshire you actually mean, whether the schools share GL, FSCE, or another pattern, and which local route is worth turning into a real shortlist. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Yorkshire? +
The live process usually sits with a mix of schools and admissions authorities depending on the route. 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.