Recent Changes to Grammar School 11+ Exams: What Parents Need to Know in 2026

The grammar school 11+ exam landscape is changing rapidly across the UK. For years, families preparing for the 11 plus examination could broadly focus on familiar formats such as GL Assessment and CEM exams. However, recent changes to grammar school entrance exams mean that many parents are now facing a very different admissions process.

At Brentley-Edwards Education, we have been closely monitoring these developments to ensure our students remain fully prepared for the evolving world of grammar school admissions, selective school testing, and independent school entrance exams.

Whether your child is preparing for the Kent Test, Bexley 11+, Slough Consortium exams, Reading School assessments, or other grammar school entrance tests, understanding these changes is now more important than ever.

Why Are Grammar School 11+ Exams Changing?

A growing number of grammar schools are reviewing their entrance exams because of concerns surrounding:

• excessive tutoring

• “exam factory” preparation

• fairness and accessibility

• pupil wellbeing

• over-reliance on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning

Several schools and grammar school consortia now want entrance exams to better reflect:

• the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum

• creativity and critical thinking

• broader academic potential

• genuine curiosity and problem-solving ability

The Rise of FSCE Exams

One of the biggest changes to the grammar school admissions system is the growth of the FSCE exam format.

FSCE stands for Future Stories Community Enterprise — a newer style of grammar school assessment originally linked to Reading School and increasingly adopted by grammar schools across England.

Unlike traditional GL Assessment or CEM exams, FSCE-style assessments focus less on:

• memorised verbal reasoning techniques

• repetitive non-verbal reasoning practice

• predictable question types

Instead, these newer tests increasingly assess:

• comprehension skills

• mathematical reasoning

• critical thinking

• creativity

• interpretation

• wider curriculum knowledge

• problem-solving in unfamiliar contexts

Grammar Schools Moving Away from GL Assessment

Another important trend is that several grammar schools are moving away from GL Assessment exams entirely.

This means parents can no longer assume that all grammar school exams follow the same structure or question styles.

Changes to 11+ Exam Dates

One of the most talked-about developments is the decision by some grammar schools to move 11 plus exams from September of Year 6 to July of Year 5.

Schools introducing earlier testing say this aims to:

• reduce stressful summer holiday cramming

• improve fairness

• reduce “summer learning loss”

• lower anxiety for children

What About GL Assessment and CEM?

Despite these changes, GL Assessment remains one of the most widely used grammar school testing systems in England.

Many grammar schools still use:

• GL Assessment

• CEM-style exams

• hybrid formats

• locally designed tests

GL Assessment Typically Focuses On:

• structured question types

• multiple-choice papers

• verbal reasoning

• non-verbal reasoning

• standardised preparation methods

CEM Exams Traditionally Focus On:

• speed and time pressure

• vocabulary breadth

• comprehension

• mixed question styles

• less predictable formats

FSCE-Style Exams Increasingly Focus On:

• curriculum-based learning

• critical thinking

• creativity

• interpretation

• deeper understanding

How Should Parents Prepare for the New 11+?

At Brentley-Edwards Education, we believe the recent changes actually reinforce what excellent preparation should always involve.

Strong 11 plus preparation should not simply be about memorising question types.

Instead, successful students increasingly need:

• advanced reading comprehension skills

• strong vocabulary development

• mathematical fluency

• resilience under pressure

• inference and analysis skills

• creative thinking

• problem-solving confidence

This is why our bespoke 11+ tutoring programmes focus on:

• deep English understanding

• challenging comprehension work

• creative writing

• mathematical reasoning

• verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning foundations

• interview preparation

• confidence building

Why Personalised 11+ Tuition Matters More Than Ever

As grammar school exams diversify, “one-size-fits-all” preparation is becoming less effective.

Different schools now use:

• different exam boards

• different assessment philosophies

• different weighting systems

• different question styles

This means personalised 11 plus tuition is increasingly essential.

At Brentley-Edwards Education, we provide:

• bespoke 11 plus tutoring

• grammar school exam preparation

• mock exams

• interview coaching

• tailored homework programmes

• expert preparation for London grammar schools and independent schools

Final Thoughts

The world of grammar school entrance exams is changing quickly.

While verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, GL Assessment papers, and CEM exams remain important in many areas, there is a clear national trend towards:

• curriculum-based assessment

• creativity

• critical thinking

• broader academic ability

• reduced over-tutoring

For parents, the key message is simple:

Early preparation, strong literacy, deep mathematical understanding, and personalised support are becoming more valuable than ever.