The Dorset 11+ Consortium
Information and familiarisation for families
This website had been produced by Quest Assessments and The Dorset Consortium (Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School, Poole Grammar School) to provide families with clear information and practical support for the Dorset 11+ Assessment.
Registration opens: April 2027
Exam date: September 2027
Secondary school application deadline: Sunday 31 October 2027
National offers day: Monday 1 March 2028
Three papers, sat in the same session with a short supervised break. Each paper lasts approximately 40 minutes.
Paper One
Maths
Paper Two
English
Paper Three
Verbal reasoning
The Dorset 11+ Assessment covers mathematics, English and verbal reasoning. The best preparation is a strong grounding in school learning, combined with wide reading and the ability to apply knowledge to new contexts.
We've created a set of free resources to help your child understand what the test looks and feels like, and build confidence across all subjects ahead of exam day. These booklets provide sample questions so your child can become familiar with the question format and filling in an OMR answer sheet.
Written for children, this guide includes what the test is, how to handle nerves, what to do if they get stuck, and what to expect on the day.
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A list of words your child may finduseful to know, designed to support their broader vocabulary development.
DOWNLOAD
The Dorset Consortium and Quest have worked together to ensure every child has access to high-quality preparation materials, regardless of their family's circumstances.
In partnership with Atom Learning, they are offering free access to Atom Home for all pupil premium eligible candidates through the Atom Learning Pupil Premium Support Programme. Atom Home provides structured practice and KS2 learning across all subjects, with questions, progress tracking, and subject-specific learning paths your child can work through at home.
If your child is eligible for pupil premium, you can request access using the link below. Eligibility will be verified by your child's primary school.
REQUEST ACCESS TO ATOM HOME
Your child will sit the Dorset 11+ Assessment at one of the four Dorset grammar schools.
The assessment consists of three papers, sat in the same session with a short supervised break between them. Each paper lasts approximately 40 minutes, plus time for instructions. Your child will remain in the test environment during the break.
An invigilator will read instructions before, during, and after each paper. Your child will receive a question booklet and a separate answer sheet for each subject, and may also receive a reading booklet. If they cannot hear the instructions or have a question, they should put their hand up.
The total time in the test centre, including settling in, instructions, papers, and the break, is typically around two to three hours.
The Dorset 11+ Assessment is a paper-based test. All questions are multiple choice, with your child selecting from a set of options (usually five: A, B, C, D or E).
The papers use an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) answer sheet. Rather than writing out answers, your child draws a clear horizontal line through a box next to their chosen answer.
The familiarisation materials include a practice OMR answer sheet, so your child can get comfortable with the format before test day.
Draw a clear, solid horizontal line through the chosen box.
Mark one answer per question unless the question specifically tells you there is more than one answer.
The familiarisation booklets include a sample OMR answer sheet.
Working through a few questions, practising marking answers, rubbing out, and checking question numbers match helps your child get familiar with how to complete an OMR sheet.
They should rub it out fully with a clean eraser, then mark their new answer.
A good eraser matters as much as a good pencil!
Results will be released in mid October 2027.
For questions about admissions, results, or to request a review, contact the grammar school your child is applying to directly.
The deadline for secondary school applications is 31 October 2027.
Still have questions?
Quest Assessments is not able to respond to individual enquiries from parents or carers.
All queries about the Dorset 11+ Assessment, including questions about registration, results, venues, and special arrangements, should be directed to the individual grammar schools.
Bournemouth School (Boys): office@bournemouth-school.org
Poole Grammar School (Boys): pgsoffice@poolegrammar.com
Parkstone Grammar School (Girls): office@parkstone.poole.sch.uk
Bournemouth School (Girls): office@bsg.bournemouth.sch.uk
