11+ Scores Explained: What They Mean for Trafford Grammar Admissions

21/11/2025 / 11+ Tuition

Understanding the 11+ and Trafford’s Grammar School System

Each autumn, thousands of children across Trafford — from Sale to Altrincham, Urmston to Stretford — sit the 11+ examination, a test that determines entry to some of the most academically selective schools in Greater Manchester. For parents, it’s often the culmination of months (if not years) of quiet preparation, mock papers, and tutoring sessions. Yet even the most informed families can find the admissions process confusing.

The 11+ in Trafford is used by several grammar schools, each operating under the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium. These include Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar, Stretford Grammar, and Urmston Grammar. While each school has its own admissions policy, they all rely on the same entrance examination format to identify children who would thrive in a selective academic environment.

The exam itself typically consists of several timed papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, mathematics, and English comprehension. These sections are designed to measure innate ability and problem-solving skills rather than rote learning. The test doesn’t just assess what children know, but how they think.

For parents, understanding the 11+ isn’t simply about getting familiar with the subjects; it’s about understanding how results are interpreted. Trafford’s scoring system is standardised, which means your child’s performance is adjusted for age and compared against others who took the same test. This ensures a fair comparison between all candidates, regardless of whether they were born in September or August.

In short, the 11+ isn’t just a single hurdle — it’s a finely balanced system designed to ensure fairness and consistency in one of the most competitive educational landscapes in the country.

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How 11+ Scores Are Calculated

The process behind calculating 11+ scores can appear complex at first glance, but its purpose is straightforward: to create a fair and balanced comparison of every child’s performance.

Each child begins with a raw score — the total number of correct answers achieved across all papers. However, raw scores alone don’t paint the full picture. For example, a younger child born in August may have up to 11 months less maturity and schooling than one born the previous September. To counteract this, raw marks are standardised according to age and the difficulty of the test paper.

In practice, this means that a standardised score reflects not only how well your child performed but also how that performance compares to others of a similar age. A score of 100 represents the average, while higher scores indicate stronger performance. Most grammar schools express these scores on a broader scale — often with a total out of 400 when several papers are combined.

This method ensures that children of different ages are treated equitably. It’s possible for two children with identical raw marks to receive different standardised scores, depending on their ages. The standardisation process also smooths out any minor variations between papers, ensuring that no one test unfairly advantages or disadvantages a particular cohort.

Understanding this helps parents interpret results more accurately. A standardised score doesn’t show how many questions your child got right — it shows how they performed in relation to others. That’s why a score that seems modest in isolation may, in fact, represent a strong performance in a particularly challenging year.

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What Constitutes a “Good” 11+ Score in Trafford

When parents ask, “What’s a good 11+ score?”, they’re usually hoping for a clear benchmark. However, the reality is more nuanced. The qualifying or “pass” score for Trafford grammar schools varies from year to year and between schools, depending on overall performance levels and the number of available places.

Typically, a qualifying score in Trafford falls around the 334–340 mark out of 400. A score within or above this range indicates that a child has reached the academic standard required for entry consideration. That said, achieving this score doesn’t automatically guarantee a place. Grammar schools are frequently oversubscribed, meaning there are more qualified applicants than spaces available.

In such cases, schools use their admissions criteria to allocate places. This may include factors such as distance from the school, whether the child has a sibling currently enrolled, or if they live within a designated catchment area. For instance, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys prioritise children within specific postcodes, while Sale Grammar also considers proximity as part of its selection process.

As a rule of thumb, scores in the 350–360 range often place a child comfortably within the top performance bracket, but much depends on the school and year in question. A particularly competitive cohort can push cut-off points higher, while a less intense year might lower them slightly.

Parents should also remember that 11+ results are only one part of the story. A child who narrowly misses the qualifying mark may still gain entry through appeals or waiting list movement. It’s not uncommon for families to receive offers months after National Offer Day, as places are declined or reallocated.

The best approach is to treat scores as an indicator, not an absolute verdict. A “good” score is one that accurately reflects your child’s potential — and that potential can flourish in a variety of school settings.

If you’re navigating this process as a parent, it’s sensible to treat 334-340 as a practical benchmark, as this figure appears consistently across official and consortium sources. However, it’s wise to aim higher where possible, since in particularly competitive years the effective cut-off score can rise above the published qualifying mark.

Always consult the most recent admissions policy for each Trafford grammar school in the year your child sits the test, as schools typically publish their previous year’s qualifying or cut-off scores. Above all, remember that the qualifying score is simply a threshold for consideration — not a guaranteed place. Factors such as catchment area, oversubscription, and waiting lists all play a decisive role in final offers.

Discover why Trafford’s 11+ is one of the most competitive in the country — and what smart preparation strategies can give your child the edge. Read our full guide here >

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How Scores Are Used in the Admissions Process

After results are released, parents must complete the local authority’s secondary school application form, listing up to six preferred schools in order. Trafford operates a coordinated admissions system, meaning that all applications are processed together, regardless of whether the schools are selective or not.

Your child’s 11+ score is considered by each grammar school separately and confidentially — the schools do not see how you’ve ranked them. Instead, they assess whether your child has achieved the qualifying score and meets any additional criteria. This means you should always list your preferred schools in genuine order of preference, without trying to second-guess where your child is most likely to secure a place.

Once applications are submitted, schools apply their oversubscription rules. For grammar schools, this usually begins with all applicants who have achieved or exceeded the qualifying score. Among these, priority is given based on the school’s published policy. In most cases, local catchment children come first, followed by those outside the area, ordered by score.

It’s worth noting that being “qualified” for a grammar school is not the same as being “offered” a place. Many families find that their child’s score is sufficient for qualification but not high enough for immediate admission. Waiting lists are then used to fill any spaces that become available later.

For parents, this stage can be nerve-wracking, but transparency has improved in recent years. Trafford’s local authority provides clear information about the process, and most grammar schools publish historical data showing the lowest scores offered in previous years. Reviewing these can give families a realistic sense of their chances before the offer day arrives.

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Supporting Your Child Beyond the Scores

The 11+ is often portrayed as a defining academic moment, but in truth, it’s just one milestone in a much longer educational journey. Regardless of outcome, the skills children develop through the process — problem-solving, critical thinking, self-discipline — are valuable well beyond the exam hall.

Parents play an essential role in helping children maintain perspective. While pride in success is natural, it’s equally important to emphasise effort, growth, and resilience. The process of preparing for the 11+ can sometimes foster anxiety, particularly in high-achieving areas like Trafford. Encouraging balance — through creative pursuits, sport, or simple downtime — helps children stay motivated and mentally healthy.

For those who don’t achieve the desired score, it’s important to remember that Trafford is home to many excellent non-selective schools that deliver strong academic and personal outcomes. In fact, many students who don’t attend grammar schools go on to achieve top GCSE and A-level results, attend leading universities, and build successful careers.

The goal of the 11+ should never be perfection, but opportunity. Whether a grammar place is offered or not, the experience can help children develop confidence, curiosity, and determination — traits that serve them far better than a single exam score ever could.

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How Personalised 11+ Support Can Make the Difference

Preparing for the 11+ and understanding how scores translate into Trafford grammar school admissions can feel daunting — for both parents and children. Every pupil’s journey is different, and the right guidance can make all the difference. Expert tuition can not only help your child grasp the content and format of the exam but also give them the confidence and mindset to perform at their best on the day.

At Principal Tutors, our approach is simple: fully qualified UK teachers deliver one-to-one online tuition tailored to each child’s specific learning needs. Whether it’s strengthening verbal reasoning, improving maths fluency, or mastering exam timing, our tutors focus on building long-term academic confidence as well as test-day technique.

We also understand that preparation for the 11+ in Trafford is about balance — encouraging motivation without pressure and ensuring learning remains enjoyable and rewarding. By focusing on individual strengths, we help each child reach their full potential while giving parents clarity about progress and readiness.

If you’d like to find out how Principal Tutors can support your child’s 11+ preparation and boost their confidence ahead of Trafford grammar school admissions, visit our website or call 0800 772 0974. You can also complete our short online form to be matched with an experienced tutor who understands your child’s goals — and how to help them achieve them.

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