CSSE Essex 11 Plus Exam | Key Dates, Test Format & Grammar Schools Guide
14 March 2026
Complete guide to the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex 11+ test — registration dates, exam format, all 10 grammar schools, qualifying scores, and how to prepare your child.
Schools
1,300+
Places
Papers
5,000+
Applicants
The CSSE 11 Plus Explained
The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) administers a single entrance exam used by 10 selective and bilateral schools across Colchester, Chelmsford, and Southend. Children who pass the CSSE test are eligible for a grammar school place at any of the member schools.
The CSSE test is bespoke — it is written and set by the Consortium itself, not by GL Assessment or CEM. The exam consists of two written papers: English (60 minutes) and Mathematics (60 minutes), each marked out of 60. There is no Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning component.
For 2027 entry, the test takes place on Saturday 19th September 2026. Registration opens on 12th May 2026 and closes on 19th June 2026. Approximately 5,000 children sit the test each year for around 1,300 selective places.
CSSE 11 Plus Key Dates for 2027 Entry
All the important dates you need to know for the CSSE 11 Plus exam cycle, from registration through to National Offer Day.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 12th May 2026 | CSSE registration opens for 2027 entry (9am) |
| June/July 2026 | CSSE Schools Open Days & Open Evenings — visit the schools before the test |
| 19th June 2026 | Absolute CSSE deadline to register online or by post |
| 26th June 2026 | Absolute deadline for Special Adjustment requests and supporting documents |
| Mid-July 2026 | Test centre information despatched by email — all candidates should receive by 15th July |
| 31st August 2026 | Deadline to withdraw your child from the test (email |
| 19th September 2026 | 11 Plus test day — both papers sat on the same day |
| 29th September 2026 | Reserve test day — for religious observance, illness, or exceptional circumstances only |
| 12th October 2026 | Results sent by email to all candidates after close of business (allow 24 hours for receipt) |
| Sept–Oct 2026 | Parents apply for secondary school places through their Local Authority |
| 31st October 2026 | Closing date for Local Authority Common Application Form |
| 31st October 2026 | Deadline for Pupil Premium SIFs to be sent directly to named CSSE schools |
| 1st March 2027 | National Offer Day — Local Authorities send secondary school offers to parents |
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CSSE 11 Plus Test Format
The CSSE sets its own bespoke papers — it does not use GL Assessment or CEM. The test consists of two written papers sat on the same day, covering English and Mathematics only.
Paper 1 — English
Duration: 60 minutes + 10 minutes reading time
Marks: 60
Format: Written (not multiple choice)
The English paper includes a reading comprehension section with a passage and questions testing retrieval, inference, and vocabulary. The second part is a continuous writing task assessing vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and structural variety.
Note: Applied Reasoning questions were removed from the English paper from September 2024 onwards.
60 Minutes · Written
Paper 2 — Mathematics
Duration: 60 minutes
Marks: 60
Format: Written (not multiple choice)
The Maths paper covers number and place value, four operations, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratio and proportion, measurement, geometry (properties of shapes, position and direction), and simple statistics. Questions require working out to be shown.
Content is based on the KS2 National Curriculum through to the end of Year 5.
60 Minutes · Written
Important: Both papers are written on the same day. Scores are age-standardised so older pupils do not have an advantage. Each paper carries equal weighting (50% English, 50% Maths). Total maximum combined score: 120.
CSSE 11 Plus Pass Mark
303
Qualifying Score
The minimum age-standardised score to be considered for a selective place. No offers are made below this threshold.
310–320+
Competitive Score
The score typically needed to secure a place at the most oversubscribed schools like KEGS, CRGS, and Westcliff.
340+
Top Band
The highest-scoring candidates. Some schools like KEGS reserve Pupil Premium places specifically for 340+ scorers.
How scoring works: Raw marks from both papers are converted to age-standardised scores and then combined. The qualifying score of 303 does not guarantee a place — it only makes a child eligible. Schools then rank candidates by score and apply their own admissions criteria including catchment area priority and Pupil Premium provisions.
CSSE Grammar Schools in Essex
The CSSE covers 10 selective and bilateral schools across three areas of Essex: Colchester, Chelmsford, and Southend-on-Sea.
Colchester Area
Colchester County High School for Girls
One of the top-performing girls' grammar schools in the country. 154 places are prioritised for candidates living within a 25-mile radius, with 38 additional places for those outside the catchment area. Up to 20 Pupil Premium places are reserved for eligible applicants.
Year 7 Places
192
Address
Norman Way, Colchester CO3 3US
Priority Area
25-mile radius from school
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Founded in 1206, one of the oldest schools in England. Fully selective grammar with no formal catchment — distance from the school is used as a tiebreaker for candidates with equal scores. Up to 10 Pupil Premium places are prioritised after Looked After Children.
Year 7 Places
128
Address
Lexden Road, Colchester CO3 3ND
Priority Area
No catchment — distance tiebreaker
Chelmsford Area
King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS)
One of the most oversubscribed grammar schools in Essex. 120 of 150 places are prioritised for candidates within a 12.5-mile radius of the school. Up to 8 Pupil Premium places are reserved for the highest-scoring eligible boys with a score of 340+. Highly competitive — one of the top-performing state schools in England.
Year 7 Places
150
Address
Broomfield Road, Chelmsford CM1 3SX
Priority Area
12.5-mile radius (120 places)
Southend-on-Sea Area
Southend High School for Boys
Fully selective boys' grammar serving the Southend area. Around 150 places are prioritised for candidates living within the SS postcode district (SS0–SS9), with remaining places for out-of-area applicants ranked by score.
Year 7 Places
180
Address
Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea SS0 0RG
Priority Area
SS postcodes (SS0–SS9)
Southend High School for Girls
Fully selective girls' grammar with priority for candidates in the SS postcode district. One of the larger intakes in the consortium with 224 Year 7 places available each year.
Year 7 Places
224
Address
Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-on-Sea SS2 4UZ
Priority Area
SS postcodes (SS0–SS9)
Westcliff High School for Boys
Highly regarded boys' grammar school with a strong academic tradition. Priority given to candidates in the SS postcode district. Preferential consideration for children in receipt of Free School Meals or Pupil Premium at the time of registration.
Year 7 Places
185
Address
Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0BP
Priority Area
SS postcodes (SS0–SS9)
Westcliff High School for Girls
Fully selective girls' grammar with priority for SS postcode residents. Preferential consideration for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium eligible applicants within the priority area.
Year 7 Places
184
Address
Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0BS
Priority Area
SS postcodes (SS0–SS9)
Shoeburyness High School
A bilateral school offering both selective (grammar) and non-selective streams. Approximately 28–31 selective places are available each year. If selective places go unfilled, governors may award "borderline selective" places for scores of 295–303. The only co-educational school in the CSSE.
Selective Places
~28–31
Address
Caulfield Road, Shoeburyness SS3 9LL
Priority Area
Southend area
St Bernard's High School
A Roman Catholic bilateral school for girls with a selective grammar stream alongside non-selective intake. Catholic children receive priority in admissions. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) is required alongside the CSSE registration. Approximately 30 selective places per year.
Selective Places
~30
Address
Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 7JS
Faith
Roman Catholic — faith priority
St Thomas More High School for Boys
A Roman Catholic bilateral school for boys with a selective grammar stream. Catholic children receive admissions priority. A SIF and evidence of faith practice are required. Approximately 30 selective places available each year.
Selective Places
~30
Address
Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0BW
Faith
Roman Catholic — faith priority
Meet Teddy
Essex Grammar Schools Specialist
Teddy is Eleven Ace's dedicated Essex Grammar Schools Specialist, running offline 11 Plus classes in Chelmsford. With deep expertise in the CSSE bespoke test format, Teddy helps students master the written English and Mathematics papers that set the CSSE apart from other 11 Plus exams.
His in-person classes in Chelmsford give children the focused, face-to-face preparation they need — including timed mock tests, creative writing workshops, and maths problem-solving sessions tailored specifically to the CSSE format.
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Inference, retrieval & vocabulary in context
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CSSE 11 Plus FAQ
When is the CSSE 11 Plus exam for 2027 entry?
The CSSE 11 Plus test for 2027 entry takes place on Saturday 19th September 2026. Both the English and Maths papers are sat on the same day. A reserve test date of Tuesday 29th September 2026 is available for religious observance, illness, or exceptional circumstances only.
What is the CSSE 11 Plus pass mark?
The minimum qualifying age-standardised score is 303 (combined across both papers). However, achieving 303 does not guarantee a place — it only makes your child eligible. Competitive scores typically need to be 310–320+ for the most oversubscribed schools like KEGS and CRGS.
Is the CSSE test GL Assessment or CEM?
Neither. The CSSE test is bespoke — it is written and set by the Consortium itself. The exam consists of two written papers (not multiple choice): English (60 minutes) and Mathematics (60 minutes). There is no Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning component.
How do I register my child for the CSSE 11 Plus?
Registration opens on 12th May 2026 at 9am and closes on 19th June 2026 at 5pm. You can register online through the CSSE website at www.csse.org.uk or by post. Test centre information is sent out from mid-July by email.
Do I need to live in Essex to sit the CSSE test?
No. Any child can register and sit the CSSE test regardless of where they live. However, most schools give priority to local candidates — Southend schools favour SS postcodes, KEGS favours a 12.5-mile radius, and CCHSG favours a 25-mile radius. Out-of-area candidates need higher scores to secure places.
Are there Pupil Premium provisions for the CSSE 11 Plus?
Yes. The CSSE partners with Atom Learning to provide free online preparation for children eligible for free school meals. Several schools reserve dedicated Pupil Premium places — KEGS reserves up to 8 places (340+ score required), CCHSG reserves up to 20 places, and CRGS prioritises up to 10 Pupil Premium applicants.
Which CSSE schools are Catholic?
St Bernard's High School (girls) and St Thomas More High School (boys) are both Roman Catholic bilateral schools. They have selective grammar streams alongside non-selective intake. Catholic children receive admissions priority, and a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) with evidence of faith is required.
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