Author name: Firoz Jetha

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the school and its application process. A key focus will be the catchment area, exam format, and how to help your daughter prepare.

A brief introduction to Henrietta Barnett School

The Henrietta Barnett School’s mission is to provide an outstanding education for its students, based on the principles of academic excellence, social responsibility, and personal development. Indeed, the school prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming girls from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

Its ethos focuses on fostering intellectual curiosity, creativity, and leadership skills, while also promoting social responsibility and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world. Despite its highly selective nature, the school maintains a warm and supportive atmosphere, with a strong focus on student well-being and pastoral care.

Henrietta Barnett School ranking

The Henrietta Barnett School is consistently classed as one of the top-performing schools in the country. Indeed, the Parent Power 2025 rankings named Henrietta Barnett as the top overall state school.

The school also has an excellent reputation for academic achievement, with over 81% of A-Level grades being A* to A and 95% being A* or B.  A remarkable 90% of GCSE grades were 8 and 9 for Summer 2024.

These are some of the best results in the UK, which also translates through to the school’s amazing successes with university offers. In fact, girls from Henrietta Barnett received 34 Oxbridge offers in January 2025.

What’s the Henrietta Barnett catchment area?

The Henrietta Barnett School doesn’t have a catchment area. This means any child can take the entrance exam, no matter where they live. 

However, priority in Round Two is given in this order: looked after children and previously looked after children, then Pupil Premium candidates ranked in the top 300 by score, then girls living within 3 miles of the school, and finally remaining candidates ranked by score. Check the school’s admissions policy document on the HBS website for the full current criteria. Further admissions policies and documents are available on the school’s website.

What are Henrietta Barnett School fees?

As Henrietta Barnett School is state-funded, attending Henrietta Barnett School is completely free. The school does not charge any fees.

What’s the application process for Henrietta Barnett School?

For September 2027 entry, applications for the Henrietta Barnett entrance examination opened on 1 April 2026 and closed on 1 July 2026. HBS does not accept late applications, so parents should always check the school’s admissions page carefully for the latest dates.

Parents should refer to the school’s admissions page for the latest published timetable, test arrangements and documents.

An Open Day was planned for 30 June 2026, which is a great way for parents and prospective students to get to know the school, its staff and facilities. Exam invitations are sent by Monday 17 August 2026 with first round exam dates being 2, 3, 4 September 2026.  Results of 1st round/invitations sent by 28th September 2026.  Second round exams will commence week commencing 5th October 2026.  

As well as applying with Henrietta Barnett School itself, you’ll have to fill-in a “Common Application Form” with your Local Authority.

If you have any questions about the application process, email the school directly at: admissions@hbschool.org.uk

Are you also applying to schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium? If so, check out our Parent’s Guide for 2026 South West Herts Consortium 11+ Admissions.

Who sets the 11+ test for Henrietta Barnett School?

The first round of the Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam is set by GL Assessment.

GL Assessment is a leading provider of educational assessments in the UK. Their 11+ exams are particularly well-known and respected; used by many selective schools as part of their admissions process.

Henrietta Barnett’s first round of test papers (created by GL Assessment) typically cover a range of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and English multiple-choice assessments. The exams are designed to be challenging and are intended to identify the most academically capable students for admission to the school.

If your daughter performs well in the First Round, she may be invited back to sit the Second Round assessment. This second round (attended by around 300 candidates) is set by the school and includes an English and Maths exam. 

Where can I find Henrietta Barnett School test papers?

Henrietta Barnett doesn’t release any past papers.

Even so, you can find GL Assessment familiarisation booklets for the First Round entrance exam – with worked examples and practice materials.

Now, we know, preparing for an 11+ exam is a daunting prospect at the best of times. This is even more so when there’s no guarantee on the exact exam format your child will face.

Nonetheless, there are several ways you can use past papers to help your daughter prepare for the Henrietta Barnett test. Here are a few ideas:

• Use practice papers diagnostically: Practice papers should not simply be used to generate scores. They are most useful when parents review mistakes carefully and identify whether errors are caused by weak vocabulary, timing pressure, reasoning gaps, careless reading or uncertainty with specific question types.
• Analyse strengths and weaknesses: Analyse strengths and weaknesses: After each paper, look for patterns rather than just recording the score. Is your daughter losing marks because of vocabulary, timing, careless reading, reasoning gaps or a specific topic weakness?
• Focus on core skills: When it comes to the Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam, the core skills your child will need are reading, writing, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Make sure your child is comfortable with these skills by practising regularly.
• Manage time: All 11+ exams are timed, so it’s important for your child to be comfortable working under pressure. Encourage them to practise working against the clock to develop their time management skills.
• Develop test-taking strategies: Practice papers are a great way to develop test-taking strategies such as eliminating obviously wrong answers, using context clues to understand unfamiliar words, and reading instructions carefully.

Overall, the key to using test papers effectively is to practise regularly and to identify areas where your child needs most help. By doing this, you can help your child feel confident and prepared for the Henrietta Barnett exam, no matter the exact format.

How can I help my child prepare for the Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam?

Given Henrietta Barnett’s high rankings and astounding academic performance, competition for places is unsurprisingly fierce. With this in mind, extensive preparation is required – giving your daughter plenty of encouragement and support throughout. 

The entrance exams are designed to be challenging, encompassing both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning as well as Key Stage 2 Maths and English content. Advanced problem solving (for maths) and creative writing (for English) are particularly important skills for the second round of testing.

Work alongside your child to improve their speed and accuracy, and make sure they feel comfortable asking questions and talking to you if they need any help. 

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind: 

• Build skills gradually: Give your child plenty of time to practise and build their skills gradually. Many families begin building core skills in Year 4 and move into more structured preparation during Year 5. However, preparation should be matched to your daughter’s current level, maturity and motivation.
• Make the most of practice papers: We’ve already spoken about the importance of practice papers (using as many different types as you can find!), but they really are essential for helping you identify areas of improvement.
• Focus on time management: The Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam is designed to test your child’s ability to work under pressure. Work together on speed and accuracy, so your daughter can complete the exam within the given time limit.
• Develop problem-solving skills: The exam includes advanced problem-solving questions, so it’s important to help your child approach problems from different angles.
• Read widely: As well as key Maths content, the exam tests your daughter’s comprehension and creative writing skills. So, encourage them to read and write widely, including books, newspapers, and online articles… anything they enjoy!

Preparing your daughter for Henrietta Barnett School?

The HBS entrance process is genuinely demanding — a First Round covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and English, followed by a Second Round with school-set English and Maths papers for around 300 shortlisted candidates. Strong comprehension, SPaG and creative writing skills are essential throughout.

Our English practice paper packs are designed to develop the demanding comprehension, vocabulary and SPaG skills needed for highly selective schools such as HBS and QE Boys. Each pack includes full-length comprehension papers, a SPaG section, detailed answers and vocabulary support.

→ English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 1 — £19.99

→ English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 2 — £19.99

→ English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 1 — £19.99

→ English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 2 — £19.99

Created by 11+ content specialists with over 22 years of experience preparing children for competitive grammar school entry across North London.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Henrietta Barnett School have a catchment area?
No. HBS has no formal catchment area and any girl can sit the entrance exam regardless of where she lives. However priority is given in Round Two to girls living within 3 miles of the school after looked after children and Pupil Premium candidates. Most successful candidates actually come from outside Barnet, so distance alone does not determine your daughter’s chances.

How many girls apply to Henrietta Barnett School each year?
Over 2,000 girls typically apply for 120 Year 7 places — an acceptance rate of around 6%, making HBS one of the most selective girls’ schools in England.

Is the Henrietta Barnett entrance exam harder than QE Boys?
The two exams are difficult to compare directly as they test different things. QE Boys uses a single-round exam in English and Maths. HBS uses a two-round process — Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and English in Round One, followed by school-set English and Maths papers in Round Two for the top 300 candidates. The two-round format means HBS candidates face additional pressure of a second assessment day after already succeeding once.

Can families prepare for both Henrietta Barnett and QE Boys?

Yes. Many North London families prepare children for both Henrietta Barnett and QE Boys, especially where they have both daughters and sons sitting selective entrance exams. The schools differ in format, but both require strong English, careful preparation and performance under pressure.

Does Henrietta Barnett require an interview?
No. Admission is based entirely on performance across the two exam rounds. There is no interview component.

When should my daughter start preparing for Henrietta Barnett School?
Most families begin structured preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, given the breadth of skills tested — Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English comprehension, SPaG and creative writing, plus Maths problem-solving in the second round. The range of subjects tested means broad preparation is particularly important for HBS, but the timing should still depend on your daughter’s current level, maturity and motivation.

 

Last updated: July 2026 — application dates and exam format confirmed for 2027 entry.

Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet is one of the most competitive grammar schools in England — 3,400 applicants for 180 places, a minimum qualifying score of 220, with a particularly demanding English paper specifically designed to stretch even very high-ability children sitting the test at the start of Year 6.

This guide draws on Achieve Learning’s experience of selective-school preparation since 2004, together with founder Firoz Jetha’s more than 30 years’ experience in 11+ education and selective-school preparation, including first-hand knowledge of QE Boys. It covers the 2027 application process, exam format, qualifying score and practical guidance on preparing your son effectively.

Preparing for QE Boys?
Our QE-specific English practice papers are designed to closely reflect the format, pace and difficulty of the entrance exam.

View QE Boys Practice Papers →

Useful QE Boys guides

If you are preparing for Queen Elizabeth’s School, these specialist guides may help with the most common parent questions:

• How hard is the QE Boys 11+ English exam?
• Best 11 Plus English Practice Papers for QE Boys
• SPaG vs Comprehension in the QE Boys 11+
• QE Boys vs Latymer
• QE Boys vs Habs Boys

A brief introduction to Queen Elizabeth’s School

Queen Elizabeth I granted the school a charter in 1573. Ever since, this leading boy’s grammar school has prided itself on its well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and pastoral care.

Queen Elizabeth’s School has always focused on producing confident, responsible and able young men. They foster resilience and independent thought that stays with students throughout their adult lives. 

As one of the highest performing schools in the UK, Queen Elizabeth’s has consistently outstanding Ofsted ratings. In fact, it’s listed as “outstanding” in all five of Ofsted’s judgement areas, and The Good Schools Guide even praised the school as “one of the most inspirational learning environments” they’d come across, offering an education “even private schools struggle to compete with”.

What’s more, in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 (Sunday Times subscription required for full access), Queen Elizabeth’s School won five national and regional awards simultaneously — including State Secondary School of the Year, State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence, State Secondary School of the Year for A-Levels, State Secondary School of the Year in London, and State Secondary School of the Year in London for Academic Excellence. It is the fourth time QE has won State Secondary School of the Year. QE also tops the Sunday Times State School Parent Power rankings combining weighted GCSE and A-Level results

This academic strength is also reflected in the school’s outstanding exam results. In 2025, over 98% of A-Levels were awarded an A*-B grade. In the academic year 2025/26, 44 pupils received offers from Oxford and Cambridge universities – over the last four years the school has secured a remarkable 202 Oxbridge offers. 

Does Queen Elizabeth’s School charge fees?

 No, Queen Elizabeth’s School is state-funded. This means there aren’t any fees for a child to attend.

What’s the application process for Queen Elizabeth’s School?

To apply to Queen Elizabeth’s School, you must complete an online registration form.

 This “entrance test request form” will be available from Thursday 1st May 2026. It registers your son to sit the school’s September entrance exams.

 The deadline for these requests will be Friday 8th July 2026 at midday.

The school will also hold an Open Day on the Thursday 2nd July 2026, which provides an opportunity for prospective parents and students to visit the school, meet teachers and pupils, and see the facilities.

The entrance test itself (consisting of multiple-choice papers in Maths and English) is scheduled for Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th September 2026. More precise arrangements are sent by the school to anyone registered for the exam.

If your son is offered a place, you must also submit a “Common Application Form” (which means you’ve formally applied to the school) with your Local Authority.

If you have any questions about the admissions process, it’s best to email the school directly at: admissions@qebarnet.co.uk

Who sets the test for Queen Elizabeth’s School?

GL Assessment is responsible for developing the test materials and papers used by Queen Elizabeth’s School.

As a prominent provider of educational assessments, they focus on evaluating a diverse set of skills, such as numerical ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving.  The QE Boys entrance test places particular emphasis on advanced numerical problem-solving, inference-based comprehension, and exceptional spelling, punctuation and grammar skills.

These tests are created to ensure fairness and impartiality, with no preferential treatment given to students based on their background or school affiliation.

Where can I find Queen Elizabeth’s School sample test papers?

While previous years’ papers aren’t released by Queen Elizabeth’s School, GL Assessment offers familiarisation papers for both Maths and English. These papers are available on their website.

The school also provides sample papers that might help your preparation, although they don’t follow the exact format of the exam.  For example, the actual format, number and difficulty of questions may differ from those contained in the sample papers.

Because Queen Elizabeth’s School does not release past entrance papers, parents should use familiarisation materials carefully and then move towards more challenging QE-style practice.

Here are a few tips for making the most of practice exam papers:

• Familiarise yourself with sample papers: While you don’t know what questions will come up, it’s a good idea to familiarise your child with as many different papers as possible, as early as possible. This will help them feel more comfortable and confident on the day.
• Identify areas for improvement: Use the past papers to identify areas where your child needs extra support and guidance. Look at the questions they struggled with (analysing any mistakes together) and work on those areas.
• Practice regularly: Make sure to practise consistently, using past papers and other materials. Regular practice will help build your child’s confidence and improve their performance.
• Time management: Make sure your child practices managing their time effectively. They should learn how to allocate their time appropriately for each question and section of the exam.
• Seek feedback: Consider getting feedback from an experienced 11+ tutor who understands the level required for QE Boys. This can help you identify further areas for improvement and give you a better understanding of how well your child is prepared for the exam.

What’s the format of the Queen Elizabeth’s School test?

The test for Queen Elizabeth’s School consists of two multiple-choice papers in English and Maths. These tests last roughly 50 minutes each, although the exact format and question types can vary from year to year. 

Both papers are taken in the same session, and scores are age-standardised and then ranked. The marks for Maths and English are combined to give an overall test result for each candidate. 

Overall, the test is designed to assess a student’s mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills and overall English skills.

What’s the pass mark for the Queen Elizabeth’s School entrance paper?

In the past, any child who scored a minimum of 210 across both English and Maths was considered for a place at the school. For 2024, however, this increased to 220. 

It’s important to know that even meeting the minimum test requirement doesn’t automatically guarantee a place.

In 2025, there were over 3,400 candidates for just 180 places. For 2025, a minimum score of 235 was actually required to gain admission, showing how competitive the process remains and how little comfort parents should take from simply reaching the qualifying threshold.

You can find more admissions information (including further guidance on September 2027 entry) on the school’s website.

If you’re considering applying to schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium (as well as Queen Elizabeth’s School), check out our previous guide to 2027 admissions.

How can I help my child prepare for the Queen Elizabeth’s School 11+ exam?

We’ve already looked at tips on the best ways to use past papers, but there are plenty of other ways you can prepare for the Queen Elizabeth’s School 11+ exam.

There’s no doubt it’s a highly competitive test. Given the sheer number of applicants and high scores required, it’s important to focus on careful, consistent and targeted long-term preparation.

From more than 30 years of teaching and assessing 11+ pupils, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that preparation should be diagnostic rather than simply repetitive. A child’s overall practice-paper score tells only part of the story. Look closely at where marks are being lost — for example, inference, vocabulary, SPaG, mathematical problem solving, accuracy or time pressure — and use this to determine what should be worked on next.

Work on English and Maths Key Stage 2 content in the first instance, we would advise particularly for Maths that all the content (Year 6) has been mastered well before the actual exams. Your child should have a strong foundation in Maths, with a focus on problem solving and working with speed and accuracy. For English, focus on comprehension, spelling, punctuation, and grammar, as these are all tested in the exam. In fact, historically there have been two separate comprehensions in the test, so developing strong reading skills is vital.

• For Maths, top candidates tend to practise regularly and focus on the areas where most support is actually required. Timed practice can help build speed and accuracy, but it should always be followed by careful review. Parents should look for patterns: careless arithmetic errors, weak problem-solving technique, gaps in Year 6 content, or difficulty applying knowledge under pressure.
• For English, reading comprehension is fundamental. Encourage your child to read widely and practice summarising what they’ve read. Additionally, working on spelling, punctuation, and grammar through regular practice writing exercises (whether that’s journals, creative writing or school essays) will help your child develop the skills they need to succeed. 
• Track progress honestly: Use practice papers to identify specific weaknesses rather than just measuring overall scores. A child scoring 80% but consistently dropping marks on inference questions needs different preparation to one dropping marks on SPaG

Preparing your son for the QE Boys 11+ English exam?

The QE Boys English paper is one of the hardest 11+ papers in the country — two long comprehension passages, 65 questions, strict time pressure, and classical texts most ten-year-olds have never encountered. Standard GL practice papers are useful for familiarisation, but they do not fully prepare children for the specific level, pace and English demands of QE Boys.

Our QE Boys practice paper packs are written specifically for Queen Elizabeth’s School — not adapted from generic materials. Each pack includes two full-length comprehension papers and a bonus SPaG paper, calibrated to reflect the level of difficulty, pace and question style expected in a demanding QE-style English paper.

Compared with the cost of private tutoring or mock exam sessions, these packs offer a focused and affordable way to practise QE-style English at home.

In our experience, the boys who improve most are not simply those who complete the most papers, but those who review their mistakes carefully and learn how QE-style questions are constructed.

These packs give your child the equivalent of a full exam session with expert-written materials, detailed answers and vocabulary support — for £19.99.

Choose your pack:

→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 1 — £19.99

→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 2 — £19.99

→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 1 — £19.99

→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 2 — £19.99

Created by 11+ content specialists with over 22 years of experience preparing children for Queen Elizabeth’s School.

FAQ

Does QE Boys have a catchment area?
No. Queen Elizabeth’s School admits boys from all over London and beyond with no catchment area restriction. Boys travel from across North London, Hertfordshire and further afield to attend.

How many boys get into QE Boys each year?
QE Boys admits approximately 180 boys into Year 7 each year. With over 3,400 applicants competing for those places, the acceptance rate is around 5% — making it one of the most selective state schools in England.

Is the QE Boys English paper harder than the Maths paper?
For many candidates, yes. The English paper is considered the more challenging of the two — it requires deep comprehension of classical texts, strong SPaG knowledge and the ability to work at speed under pressure. Many strong mathematicians incorrectly assume a strong maths score will suffice when in fact the English paper ends up the deciding factor in their final score.

When should my son start preparing for QE Boys?

Many serious QE candidates begin structured preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, especially where they need time to build vocabulary, reading stamina, SPaG accuracy, problem-solving confidence and familiarity with more challenging classical texts.

However, starting very early is not essential for every strong candidate. Some able boys prepare successfully with a shorter, more focused period of high-quality preparation. The best starting point depends on your son’s current level, maturity and motivation — not simply his age.

Does QE Boys require an interview?
No. Admission to QE Boys is based entirely on the entrance exam score. There is no interview, no assessment day and no additional selection process beyond the September exam.

What awards has QE Boys won?
In the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026, Queen Elizabeth’s School won five awards simultaneously — State Secondary School of the Year, State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence, State Secondary School of the Year for A-Levels, State Secondary School of the Year in London, and State Secondary School of the Year in London for Academic Excellence. It is the fourth time QE has won State Secondary School of the Year nationally. QE also tops the Sunday Times State School Parent Power rankings for combined GCSE and A-Level results

Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current registration dates and 2026 admissions information for South West Herts Consortium schools.

Are you preparing your child to sit the South West Herts Consortium 11 Plus Exams in 2026?

If so, you’re not alone. Last year over 3500 children sat these exams and similar tests are used by selective schools up and down the country, to assess children’s academic ability and determine if they’re suitable for admission.

Preparing for any 11 Plus exam can be a daunting task. And as a parent there are so many questions. Should you hire a tutor? Invest in past papers and study materials? Or maybe you’re unsure how to support your child without adding too much pressure.

Don’t worry though. In this up to date Parents Guide for 2026 admissions, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus exams. From understanding the exam format to registration dates, minimum pass marks and study strategies, we’ll guide you through the process – and help you support your child’s academic journey.

What are the South West Herts Consortium 11 Plus Exams?

The South West Hertfordshire Consortium is a group of partially selective schools in Hertfordshire. These schools use “11 Plus Exams” for children in the area, to assess their academic abilities. A high score in these exams can lead to admission in one of the participating schools. 

11 Plus exams look at academic potential and help decide whether a grammar school environment is right for your child.

Your child can only take the 11 Plus exam once per academic year. The tests usually take place in September (although the exact dates can vary from year to year). They happen when your child has just started Year 6 – their last year of primary school. 

Seven schools in South West Hertfordshire share these 11 Plus exams. This means your child only has to take one round of tests, rather than a separate exam at each school. 

Which schools make up the South West Herts Consortium? 

The schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium are “partially selective”. This means they are state-funded secondary schools that select a proportion of their intake each year by academic ability. 

Each school assesses students on sports, music, or academic aptitude – with some making entrance decisions based on one, two, or all three criteria. 

The seven schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium are: 

Music criteria only

Croxley Danes School

Academic and Music criteria

Parmiter’s School

Rickmansworth School

St Clement Danes School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Academic, Music and Sports criteria

Queens’ School

All these schools have a well-deserved excellent reputation for academic excellence. As you’ll already know – admissions are highly sought after, which means a high mark in the 11 Plus Exam is a crucial step to securing a place. 

Who administers the South West Herts Consortium test?

The South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam is administered by the Consortium itself. 

You can find the registration website here, with up-to-date advice on deadlines, dates for testing and familiarisation papers.

Who sets the test?

GL Assessment sets the test and creates the papers. 

GL Assessment is a leading provider of educational assessments to schools across the UK and Ireland. They specialise in tests designed to assess a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and numerical ability. 

These tests are also designed to be fair and unbiased, with no advantage given to students from any particular school or background.

For free familiarisation papers, visit the GL Assessment website. You’ll also find information on question types and approaches to answers, parent guidance and tips for preparation. 

What is the format of the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus Exams?

The entrance exams for South West Hertfordshire Consortium schools consist of three different tests. 

These are:

Academic Ability: 5th September 2026

Music Aptitude: 7th September 2026

Sports Aptitude: 9th September 2026 (Queen’s School only)

You can choose which tests you want your child to take when you register. 

Here’s the format of each exam in more detail. 

Academic Ability 

The Academic exams consist of two multiple-choice papers: 

The Maths paper tests a range of mathematical skills, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data handling. It assesses your child’s knowledge of Key Stage 2 national curriculum objectives.

The Verbal Reasoning paper tests a range of verbal skills, including vocabulary, comprehension, and problem-solving. It assesses your child’s ability to spot patterns, manipulate verbal information and connect ideas. 

Both papers are timed (taking around just under an hour). Historically, the Maths test sets 50 questions in 50 minutes, while the Verbal Reasoning test sets 80 questions in 50 minutes. 

Despite this, the exact number of questions and timings can change from year to year – so it pays to be flexible and prepare your child with a wide range of past-papers.  For example, in 2022 the maths paper had 60 questions in 50 mins which caught a lot of parents off guard. 

Music Aptitude

If your child is applying for a music place, they’ll sit the Music Aptitude Test. 

This involves around 60 questions about topics such as rhythm, melody, pitch and texture. The test takes 45 minutes.

If your child performs well in this test, they’re invited back for an audition. During this performance, they can play their own choice of music – either vocally or on an instrument. Marks are awarded for musicality, accuracy and musical communication. 

Find more information on the SW Herts Schools website. 

Sports Aptitude

Queens’ School is the only school using the Sports Aptitude test. They state only children with “exceptional sports aptitude” who live within their catchment area should apply.

This test covers various aspects of physical fitness, with movement skills selected from the Council of European Physical Fitness. Elements include shuttle runs (testing speed and agility) as well as an endurance run (8 minutes) and things like standing broad jumps (for explosive strength) and the “flamingo test” (balance).

Find more information on the SW Herts Schools website.

Is there a minimum pass mark for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium?

There’s no minimum pass mark for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam.

Instead, the Consortium uses a scoring system to rank students based on their relative performance each year. This means students who achieve the highest scores are more likely to secure a place at one of the schools. 

However, it’s important to note that admission to these schools is highly competitive, and a high score doesn’t automatically guarantee a place. Schools define their own cut-off scores each year, based on their admissions criteria and student performance.

To get an idea of the previous years cut-off scores, take a look at each school’s website.

For instance, Watford Boys Grammar School lists the lowest scores required for a place on national allocation day 2025, broken down by area, exam and year. For the Watford area, the lowest admission score was 203 for the academic test and 35 for the music test. For the rest of the admission area, this rose to 213 for the academic test and 39 for the music test.

Remember, this doesn’t necessarily mean a similar mark would be good enough this year. So when you’re preparing for the exam – aim for the top!

What are the registration deadlines for 2026?

For 2026, online registration for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam commences on Wednesday 1st April and closes on Friday 5th June.

It’s important to register your child as early as possible to ensure they have a place in the exam. Late registration may be possible, but this is subject to confirmation by the Consortium.

You can find more key registration information on the South West Herts Schools website. 

How should I help my child prepare for the tests?

Preparing your child for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam requires careful planning and dedication.

Because the Verbal Reasoning paper contains so many potential question types, familiarise your child with as many past papers and different questions as possible. This will improve their exam technique and help them stay calm on the day.

Focus on any weaknesses and help your child develop a strong vocabulary (for instance, going over synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and compound words).

For the maths paper, much of the content comes from the Key Stage 2 syllabus. So make sure your child’s familiar with this, and work on any areas of weakness or uncertainty. You should aim to complete the Year 6 syllabus well before the exam, with plenty of time for past paper practice.

Lots of children struggle with time-management (for both the Maths and Verbal Reasoning papers), so this needs to be tackled well in advance of the exam. 

Here are a few more tips: 

Start early: It’s never too early to start preparing for the 11 Plus Exam. Even if your child is in Year 5, start familiarising them with the exam format and questions they may encounter.

Practice papers: Practice papers are an excellent way to help your child prepare for the exam. You can find a range of practice papers online.

Set a study schedule: Create a study schedule for your child that includes regular practice sessions and plenty of breaks. Stick to the schedule (as much as possible!) to help your child develop good study habits.

Encourage reading: Reading is an excellent way to improve your child’s verbal skills, which are tested in the VR paper. Encourage them to read widely and discuss what they’ve read with you.

Track Progress: Track progress with realistic practice papers: Use timed practice papers that replicate the actual Verbal Reasoning and Maths format to identify specific weak areas before the exam. Understanding exactly where marks are being lost — whether in vocabulary-based VR questions or specific Maths topics — is more valuable than general revision.

Preparing your child for the SW Herts 11+ exam?

The Verbal Reasoning paper is often where children lose the most marks — with dozens of question types and a strict time limit, familiarity with the format matters as much as raw ability.

Our QE Boys English practice paper packs, while written for the QE Boys format specifically, share strong comprehension and SPaG foundations that transfer well to the English elements many SW Herts families also prepare alongside VR. If your child is also considering QE Boys or Henrietta Barnett alongside SW Herts schools, these packs give consistent, expert-level preparation across multiple applications.

→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 1 — £19.99

→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 2 — £19.99

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→ QE Boys English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 2 — £19.99

Created by 11+ content specialists with over 22 years of experience preparing children for competitive grammar school entry across North London and Hertfordshire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all SW Herts schools use the same 11+ exam?
Yes. All seven schools in the South West Herts Consortium share the same Academic Ability test, administered once per child. This means your child sits one set of exams rather than seven separate ones, though each school sets its own cut-off scores and may weight results differently based on catchment and other criteria.

Can a child living outside Hertfordshire apply to SW Herts schools?
Yes, any child in Year 6 can sit the SW Herts 11+ test. However, most schools allocate places partly by postcode priority, meaning children living within the priority catchment areas are given preference when schools are oversubscribed. Families outside Hertfordshire need a particularly high score to secure a place ahead of local applicants.

What is the difference between the academic, music and sports tests?
The Academic Ability test is a Maths and Verbal Reasoning exam used by all seven schools. The Music Aptitude test is a separate assessment for children applying for music places, available at six of the seven schools. The Sports Aptitude test is unique to Queens’ School and only open to children within their catchment area with exceptional sporting ability.

How many children apply to SW Herts Consortium schools each year?
Over 3,500 children sit the SW Herts 11+ exams annually, competing for a combined total of around 1,200-1,300 places across the seven schools. Competition varies significantly by individual school and catchment area.

Is the SW Herts exam harder than the QE Boys exam?
The two exams test different skills and are difficult to compare directly. QE Boys tests English and Maths with a strong emphasis on comprehension and SPaG. SW Herts tests Maths and Verbal Reasoning, with the VR paper covering a wide range of question types that require broad familiarity rather than deep subject knowledge. Many families preparing for both find VR requires more dedicated practice time simply due to the variety of question formats.

Which SW Herts school is hardest to get into?
Competition varies by year and by catchment area rather than remaining fixed. The Watford Grammar Schools’ and Parmiter’s are generally considered among the more competitive schools in the consortium due to strong results and reputation, but cut-off scores shift annually based on each year’s applicant pool. Check each school’s individual admissions data for the most current picture.