How is the Wiltshire 11+ scored?
After the test, answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology, which picks up the marks your child has made to indicate their chosen answers.
Scores are then age-standardised, which means younger children are not disadvantaged. A score of 100 indicates a child is working at the average level for their age group. Your child's results will be sent to you in October 2026. If they meet the qualifying standard for your target school, you can then apply by naming that school on your common application form (CAF).
What's the pass mark for the Wiltshire 11+?
There is no single fixed pass mark set in advance. After all papers have been marked and scores standardised, total scores are placed in rank order and each school sets its own qualifying score, which can vary from year to year depending on the cohort.
Achieving the qualifying score means your child is eligible to apply — but it does not guarantee a place. Grammar schools are competitive and frequently oversubscribed, and each school uses its own admissions criteria to prioritise places when more children qualify than there are spaces available. Some priority groups, such as Looked After Children and children eligible for Pupil Premium, may qualify under a lower threshold. We recommend checking each school's admissions policy carefully for full details.
How to apply to Wiltshire grammar schools
1. Register for the Wiltshire 11+
Registration opens at different times for each school:
- Bishop Wordsworth's School: registration opens Wednesday 25th March 2026
- South Wilts Grammar School: registration opens Monday 1st June 2026
Registration for both schools closes on Tuesday 1st September 2026. A link to register will be available on each school's website during the registration window.
2. Apply for school places
Test results are sent in October 2026.
If your child meets the qualifying standard for a school, you can list it on your secondary school common application form, which must be submitted to your home local authority by Saturday 31st October 2026. Before listing a school, check its admissions policy to make sure your child meets all the relevant criteria.
3. National Offer Day
On Monday 1st March 2027, you'll be informed which secondary school your child has been allocated. If your preferred school isn't offered, your child will receive a place at another local school, and you'll be given information about how to appeal.
How can I help my child prepare for the Wiltshire 11+?
The Wiltshire 11+ can feel like a big milestone, but preparation doesn't have to be stressful.
Here are some practical ways to support your child in a calm, structured way.
Stay on track with a clear Wiltshire 11+ revision plan
One of the hardest parts of 11+ preparation isn't motivation – it's knowing what to work on, when, and how to stay consistent without it taking over family life.
A clear plan helps your child build skills in the right order and avoid last-minute cramming.
With Atom's Exam Plan, you enter your child's exam date and target schools, and Atom builds a personalised weekly plan based on the key skills they'll be tested on. It adapts as they improve and shows them exactly what to focus on each week.
That means less guesswork for you, less stress for them, and a clearer path to exam day.
Build 11+ exam technique with realistic practice papers
Once your child feels secure with the main topics, paper practice tests help them feel more confident with the exam format.
Atom's 11+ practice papers are designed to reflect real test conditions. Parents simply photograph their child's answer sheets and upload them to Atom for instant marking.
You'll get:
- a Standardised Age Score (SAS)
- clear insight into strengths and areas for improvement
- a comparison with other children applying to the same schools
The papers are unlimited, meaning your child can practise again and again with new questions each time.
Encourage regular reading for 11+ English success
Strong reading skills underpin almost every part of the 11+.
Encourage your child to read for 10–15 minutes a day, focusing on variety – fiction, non-fiction, different genres and authors.
This helps build:
- vocabulary
- comprehension and inference
- confidence with unfamiliar texts
If you're looking for ideas, Atom's recommended reading lists for Years 3–6 include a wide range of age-appropriate books.
Celebrate progress, not just 11+ scores
When you're supporting your child through 11+ preparation, what really matters is knowing they're moving in the right direction.
Atom's progress tracking gives you a clear, simple view of how your child is doing across topics and how their performance is developing over time.
That makes it easier to give meaningful encouragement, keep motivation steady and focus on consistent improvement – not just one-off test results.
