This is a busy fortnight for 2027-entry 11-plus tests
For many families, the middle of September is when months of preparation turn into an actual test date. Buckinghamshire's Secondary Transfer Test was on 10 September, as was the Kent Test for in-county pupils. Kent's out-of-county sittings are on 12 and 13 September, while Lincolnshire verbal reasoning takes place on 11 and 12 September.
The timetable continues next week. Queen Elizabeth's Barnet has test dates on 16 and 17 September, Redbridge on 18 September, and the Essex CSSE test on 19 September. Families are therefore at different stages at the same time: some children have finished, some are testing now, and others still have several days to go.
The day before: keep revision light, familiar and balanced
The day before the test is not the time to reinvent preparation. If your child has been using past-paper practice, keep any final work familiar and balanced rather than trying to squeeze in everything at once. A calm final evening is more useful than turning the last few hours into another full revision day.
Sleep and perspective belong in the plan too. Keep the evening predictable, avoid introducing new targets, and remind your child that the test matters without making it feel as though one paper defines them. The preparation already completed should be allowed to do its job.
If your child still has a test date ahead this month, a free pupil account keeps those final short practice sessions in one place, so the last evening stays calm rather than crowded. free pupil account
On test day, aim for steadiness rather than cramming
On test day, the priority is a calm start. There is little value in making the morning feel like an extra revision session. If your child wants to glance at familiar material, keep it brief; if they would rather leave practice papers closed, let the focus move to the test itself.
This fortnight shows why there is no single 11-plus experience. Buckinghamshire and in-county Kent pupils have already tested, Lincolnshire families are in their test window, and Barnet, Redbridge and Essex CSSE families still have dates ahead. Focus on the paper your child is sitting, not on how much other families appear to be doing.
What happens after the 11 plus test?
Once the paper is finished, resist the urge to analyse every question on the journey home. The child cannot change the completed paper, and a long post-mortem can keep test pressure going after the useful part of preparation has ended. Let normal school life, rest and ordinary routines take up more space again.
The next stage is the wait for 11 plus results. That gap can feel uncomfortable because there is no extra practice that can alter the test already taken. Shift attention towards the parts of the admissions process that are still within the family's control, especially the national Common Application Form deadline on 31 October 2026.
Keep the CAF deadline of 31 October 2026 clearly in view
Applications for September 2027 Year 7 places opened on 1 September 2026, and the national Common Application Form deadline is 31 October 2026. Those dates matter whether your child's 11-plus test has already happened or is still ahead this month.
For parents asking what happens after the 11 plus test, the CAF is the next major fixed deadline to track. Use the post-test weeks to move from revision mode into admissions mode. The child can return attention to school and normal activities while the adults keep the application date visible and avoid treating it as an afterthought.
After the CAF, the next national date is Offer Day
Once the Common Application Form has been submitted by the 31 October deadline, the next national date is National Offer Day on 1 March 2027. Seeing the process as a sequence can make it feel more manageable: September contains many test dates, the CAF deadline follows on 31 October, and National Offer Day comes on 1 March.
For this fortnight, the practical message is simple. If the test is still ahead, keep past-paper practice balanced with sleep and perspective. If the test is finished, let the revision phase finish too. While waiting for 11 plus results, keep the CAF deadline in sight and give family life permission to feel normal again.
Follow your child's progress while you wait →
Frequently asked questions
What is the CAF deadline for September 2027 Year 7 applications?
The national Common Application Form deadline is 31 October 2026. Applications for September 2027 Year 7 entry opened on 1 September 2026.
What should my child do the day before the 11 plus?
Keep revision balanced and familiar rather than introducing an intensive new plan. Past-paper practice can be light, while sleep and perspective should be protected so the final evening feels calm and predictable.
What happens after the 11 plus test?
After the test comes the wait for 11 plus results and the next admissions steps. Keep the national CAF deadline of 31 October 2026 in view. The next national date after that is National Offer Day on 1 March 2027.