How many 11+ routes is too many?

Name the school that makes each test worthwhile

For every proposed route, write down at least one school you would accept. Add the journey at school times and the admission category that would apply to your address.

A family near a county boundary might find two routes useful because both contain reachable schools. Another family might find one shared route covers every realistic grammar option. Neither needs to copy another parent’s test count.

Use four questions to decide

1. Would we accept a place? Include subjects, support, daily travel and costs in the answer.
2. Can the policy admit us realistically? Check academic requirements, residence conditions and priority categories.
3. Can we manage the timetable? Include registration, access evidence, main tests and possible second stages.
4. What extra preparation is needed? A new written paper can add more work than another test using familiar question types.

If you cannot answer the first two, investigate the school before reserving another exam date.

Watch for competing demands

Two tests can be more demanding than three if their formats differ substantially or they fall very close together. Bexley and CSSE also restrict alternative sittings for clashes, so a second booking may create a choice between tests rather than an extra opportunity.

Discuss the calendar with your child. Notice whether preparation is crowding out ordinary homework, enjoyable activities or rest. If a route adds significant pressure, reconsider what school option it actually provides.

This is a family planning decision, not a rule that a certain number of exams is right for every child.

Remove duplication before removing options

Check whether your schools use a shared test or an official score-sharing arrangement. You may be able to consider several schools without several sittings. See when one test covers multiple schools.

Keep the distinction between route count and CAF preference count. Sitting two tests does not mean naming only two schools, and sitting several tests does not increase the number of preferences your council permits.

If you decide a route is no longer useful, notify the organiser. Kent specifically asks families to register only when they intend to seek a Kent grammar place. Keep your remaining registration confirmations and concentrate on the schools you would genuinely choose.