If you've started asking other parents how long the 11+ takes, you've probably had four different answers. That's because there isn't one 11+. The exam your child sits in Kent looks nothing like the one in Birmingham, and the timing reflects that.
The short version is that most children sit between 90 minutes and three hours of testing in total, spread across one or two papers in one morning. The longer version depends entirely on where you live and which consortium your target school belongs to. Here's the honest breakdown for the main grammar school areas.
Why the timing varies so much
Until 2022, the two big test providers were GL Assessment and CEM. CEM is now out of the picture. GL papers cover most of the country. But each council, consortium and independent school still chooses how to combine those papers and how much time to give children.
Some areas use one long paper that bundles English, maths and reasoning together. Others split them into separate timed sections with short breaks between. A handful of super-selectives add a second-stage test for the highest scorers, which extends the total time on test day by another hour or so.
So when a parent at the school gate says "the 11+ is about two hours", they're telling you what their child sat. It might bear no resemblance to what yours will face.
Kent: two papers, one morning, around two and a half hours
The Kent Test is the most familiar version because it covers a huge swathe of grammars across the county. Children sit two papers on the same morning. The first covers English and maths. The second covers reasoning. Each paper runs to around an hour, with a short break in between. Add the time for instructions, settling in and the gap, and you're looking at roughly two and a half hours start to finish.
For most Kent children, that's the entire test. There's no separate second stage. The scores get standardised together and compared against the qualifying threshold for each school.
Buckinghamshire: 45 minutes per section, two papers
Buckinghamshire uses GL papers organised by the Bucks councils. Children sit two papers: verbal reasoning, then maths and non-verbal reasoning combined. Each one runs around 45 to 50 minutes of actual test time. With breaks and instructions, the morning takes roughly two hours.
Bucks is one of the more straightforward formats. No second stage. No surprise additions.
Berkshire: depends on the school
Berkshire is where things get messy. Reading School, Kendrick, and the Slough consortium grammars (Langley, Herschel, Upton Court, St Bernard's) all run their own admissions process with their own timing.
The Slough consortium uses a two-paper format similar to Bucks, around two hours in total. Reading School and Kendrick require sitting the Slough consortium test and then a separate second-stage paper if your child scores in the qualifying band. The second stage adds another hour or so on a different day, usually a couple of weeks later.
So a Berkshire child aiming for Reading School could end up doing closer to three and a half hours of testing across two test days.
Birmingham: a single longer test
The King Edward's consortium covers most of the Birmingham grammars, and its test format is different again. Children sit one paper that bundles English, maths and reasoning into a single sitting, with no break in the middle of the timed section. The whole thing takes around 90 minutes of test time.
That sounds shorter on paper. A 90-minute uninterrupted exam is genuinely demanding for a ten-year-old. Stamina matters more here than in regions with breaks.
Essex: CSSE has its own format
The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) runs its own paper. Children sit two timed sections, English and maths, each about an hour long, on the same morning. There's a short interval between them. Total test time is around two hours, with the morning lasting closer to two and a half.
CSSE deliberately doesn't include verbal or non-verbal reasoning, which is unusual. If you're prepping for Essex, you're prepping for two subjects, not four.
What this means for your child's stamina
Whichever region you're in, your child needs to be able to focus for at least 45 uninterrupted minutes by the time test day arrives. Forty-five minutes of real concentration is harder than most parents think.
If you've never timed a practice paper at home, that's worth doing before you worry about score. A child who knows the material but folds at minute thirty is a child who needs stamina practice, not more content. Build up gradually. Start with 15-minute focused blocks, then 25, then 40, then 50. You don't need to recreate the full exam every weekend. But you do need your child to have done several full-length papers under proper timing before the real one.
What about the second-stage tests?
A handful of super-selective schools, including Reading School, Kendrick, Tiffin and Sutton's SET, use a two-stage format. Your child sits an initial paper with everyone else. Only those scoring above a cut-off are invited back for a second sitting, which decides the actual ranking.
The second stage usually adds 60 to 90 minutes on a different day. If your child's target school is on this list, factor in the extra time, the extra travel, and the extra emotional preparation. Two test days is a different mental load than one.
So, how long should you actually plan for?
For most families, the answer is simple. Block out a full morning. Expect around two hours of real test time. Don't book anything else for the rest of the day. Even a 90-minute test will leave your child wiped out. The drive home isn't the time to debrief, ask how it went or float the next round of practice. That conversation can wait until the next day.
If you're prepping at home, train your child to expect roughly an hour of solid concentration per paper. That's the realistic target. If they can do that calmly and consistently, the actual exam duration becomes a non-issue.
FAQ
How long is the 11 plus exam for Kent grammar schools? The Kent Test takes around two and a half hours including breaks. Children sit two papers on the same morning, one covering English and maths, the other covering reasoning. Each paper runs about an hour.
Do all 11 plus exams take the same time? No. Timing varies by region and consortium. Birmingham's test is around 90 minutes in one sitting. Kent runs closer to two and a half hours. Berkshire super-selectives with a second stage can total three and a half hours across two days.
What time does the 11 plus exam start? Most regions hold the test on a Saturday morning, with a typical start time between 9:00 and 9:30am. The whole morning is usually done by lunchtime. Check the letter from the school or council for your exact slot.
Can my child have a break during the 11 plus? In most regions there's a short break between papers, but no break during a paper. Make sure your child has been to the toilet beforehand and has had a proper breakfast. Once a section starts, they're in it until the timer ends.
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