Lincolnshire 11+ (Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools)
The Lincolnshire 11+ is a two-paper GL Assessment test used by the 15 grammars in the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS). It tests Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning only — there are no English or Mathematics papers — and selects roughly the top 25% by ability with a combined age-standardised qualifying score of 220. Caistor Grammar is NOT in the consortium and runs its own test.
Exam board
GL Assessment (administered by LCGS)
Max score
282
Highest standardised result
Qualifying score
220
2026 threshold
Test duration
57 min
Papers
2
Year 7 places
2,038
Across consortium
Applicants per place
2.0×
Typical competition
Test format
Two papers administered by CEM (Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring, Durham University). Papers contain a mix of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. CEM does not publish the maximum score.
Selection methods used
Subjects tested
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
Competition (latest)
3,763 applicants chasing 2,038 places · 2.0× per place
Paper-by-paper breakdown
Verbal Reasoning
≈ 50–60 minutesMultiple-choice on an OMR answer sheet; can be answered in any order.
Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning
≈ 50–60 minutesMultiple-choice OMR sheet; sat one week after VR; strictly section-by-section (no skipping back/forward).
Annual timeline
Confirm exact dates each year on the council pageRegistration opens
Spring/early summer of Year 5 (varies by school)
Registration deadline
30 June
Test window
Saturday 12 September (VR) + Saturday 19 September (NVR & Spatial)
Results release
9 October, 12 noon (emailed)
How to prepare
- Multiple-choice with OMR (optical-mark-reader) answer sheets — practise shading bubbles cleanly with pencil.
- Free GL Assessment familiarisation samples on gl-assessment.co.uk/free-familiarisation. IGNORE their English / Maths papers — neither is used in the Lincolnshire test.
- Official familiarisation papers are sent to feeder primaries in the summer term of Year 5 once your child is registered.
- LCGS explicitly does NOT recommend additional tutoring; GL Assessment packs are suggested as the appropriate level.
- Section-by-section invigilation on the NVR paper means children cannot return to earlier sections — practise pacing.
Important to know
- 15 schools in the consortium: Boston Grammar, Boston High (Girls), Bourne Grammar, Carre's Grammar, Kesteven and Grantham Girls', Kesteven and Sleaford High, King Edward VI Grammar (Louth), King Edward VI Academy (Spilsby), Queen Elizabeth's Grammar (Alford), Queen Elizabeth's Grammar (Horncastle), Queen Elizabeth's High (Gainsborough), Skegness Grammar, Spalding Grammar, Spalding High, The King's School Grantham.
- Caistor Grammar is NOT part of LCGS — sit a separate test if you want to apply there.
- Registration is NOT central — parents register with EACH grammar they want their child assessed for. Most schools share the same sitting and pass the score across the consortium.
- Each school sets its own oversubscription criteria (SEND/EHCP, LAC, sibling, Pupil Premium quotas, distance) — qualifying does NOT guarantee any specific school.
- Two appeal routes: (A) child did not qualify — panel can override 220; (B) child qualified but missed out on distance.
- There are NO English or Mathematics papers in this test — only VR and NVR/Spatial Reasoning. Old material claiming Eng+VR and Maths+NVR combined papers is wrong.
About the qualifying score: Combined age-standardised score across both papers. The raw-to-standardised conversion is set each year after marking by GL. Always check the latest threshold on the council's admissions arrangements before applying.
Official links
Sources used on this page
- grammarschools.lincs.sch.uk/the-11-plus/testing-arrangements
- Bourne Grammar 2026 11+ Testing Information booklet
- lincolnshire.gov.uk — admission arrangements (e.g. Spalding High)
Schools using this test(15)
Boston High School
Lincolnshire · girls
Bourne Grammar School
Lincolnshire · mixed
Caistor Grammar School
Lincolnshire · mixed
Carre's Grammar School
Lincolnshire · mixed
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
Lincolnshire · girls
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
Lincolnshire · girls
King Edward VI Grammar School
Lincolnshire · mixed
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy
Lincolnshire · mixed
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Lincolnshire · mixed
Skegness Grammar School
Lincolnshire · mixed
Spalding Grammar School
Lincolnshire · boys
Spalding High School
Lincolnshire · girls
The Boston Grammar School
Lincolnshire · boys
The King's School, Grantham
Lincolnshire · boys
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
Lincolnshire · mixed
Next key date
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
registration deadline — Final day to register for the 11+ exam
Where to go next
- Each school sets its own qualifying score and oversubscription rules — open a school page above for the per-school detail.
- Use the Chances Calculator with your postcode to see your likelihood at every school in this consortium.
- Council and school admissions pages are the authoritative source for registration deadlines and test dates.