Slough 11+ Test Provider Is Changing: What Year 5 Families Need to Know for 2028 Entry

For Year 5 pupils sitting the Slough Consortium 11+ in September 2027 for Year 7 entry in September 2028, the test provider will be Quest Assessments rather than GL Assessment.

The assessed areas remain familiar: English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning. The eligibility score will remain 111. However, families should prepare for the published Quest format, including two paper-based papers and practice using an OMR answer sheet.

The strongest preparation is still built on secure core skills. The difference is that children should become comfortable applying those skills to the new question style and test process.

The Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools has confirmed that Quest Assessments will provide the 11+ examination for the test held in September 2027.

This applies to pupils seeking Year 7 entry in September 2028 at:

The Consortium has said that the overall structure and format will be similar to the previous provider’s assessment. That is reassuring, but it does not mean families should use older practice material as their only preparation.

A change of provider can affect the way questions are presented, the rhythm of the papers and the answer-recording process. For this reason, parents should use the official Quest familiarisation materials as soon as they are available and make them part of a balanced preparation plan.

The currently published timetable is:

If your child is in Year 5 during the 2026-27 academic year, this is the admission cycle that applies to them.

Families should keep checking their chosen grammar school’s admissions page as arrangements, registration instructions and specific dates are confirmed.

Quest has published the following structure for the Slough Consortium assessment:

The papers will be sat in the same session, with a short supervised break in between. Each paper is expected to last approximately 50 minutes, plus instructions.

The assessment will remain paper-based. Pupils will be given question booklets and separate answer sheets. Quest states that most of its 11+ papers use an OMR, or Optical Mark Recognition, answer sheet. Rather than writing an answer, pupils mark their chosen response on the separate sheet.

That may sound like a small administrative detail, but it matters under timed conditions. A child can understand a question perfectly and still lose marks if they skip a line, mark the wrong box or do not leave enough time to transfer and check their answers.

The provider is changing, but the foundation of successful 11+ preparation remains the same.

Children will still need to develop:

Quest’s own preparation guidance emphasises a strong grounding in school learning, wide reading and the ability to apply knowledge in new contexts.

That is an important message for families. The goal should not be to rush through endless papers or teach a child to memorise patterns. It should be to help them become a confident, adaptable learner who can think carefully when a question looks unfamiliar.

The Slough Consortium has confirmed that the eligibility score will remain 111 on a standardised scale.

A score of 111 or above means a pupil meets the eligibility threshold to be considered for a grammar school place if their parent applies. The Consortium states that this represents the top 35% of the cohort sitting the examination.

It is important to understand what this does and does not mean.

A score of 111 is an eligibility score, not a guaranteed offer. Each grammar school has its own admissions arrangements and may be oversubscribed. Families should read the current admissions policy for every school they plan to name on their secondary-school application.

The Consortium also states that its Quest scores will not be shared with other schools. Parents considering grammar-school options outside the Slough Consortium should check each school or area’s testing requirements separately.

The core knowledge remains familiar, but practice should now match the assessment your child will actually sit.

Once the official familiarisation materials are available, use them to help your child understand:

The aim is familiarity, not pressure.

A child who has practised the process calmly is less likely to be distracted by the mechanics of the test on the day. This allows more of their attention to stay on reading carefully, reasoning well and managing their time.

A provider change can feel significant, particularly when parents are already trying to make the right choices for their child. The most useful response is a steady one.

Focus on the skills beneath the test:

These habits support both school learning and 11+ preparation.

Older GL-style materials can still support broad skills practice, especially for maths, comprehension and reasoning. However, they should not be treated as a complete guide to the September 2027 assessment.

As soon as official Quest resources are available, use those to guide format-specific preparation.

Do not make the answer sheet a source of anxiety. Begin with a few untimed questions. Help your child practise finding the correct question number, marking one answer clearly and rubbing out neatly if necessary.

Later, add short timed sections so they learn to balance solving, recording and checking.

The two papers will be sat in the same session. A child needs more than subject knowledge. They need the concentration to continue working carefully after the first paper.

Short, regular practice is usually more effective than occasional long sessions. Build up gradually and protect rest, hobbies and family time.

The 11+ is one part of a wider school decision. It should not become a measure of a child’s worth, intelligence or future potential.

A calm home environment, realistic expectations and supportive language can make a real difference to how a child experiences preparation.

Halo Tuition Academy is reviewing the official Quest familiarisation materials as they are released, so that preparation reflects the format children will meet in September 2027.

For families preparing for the Slough Consortium 11+, our approach remains focused on strong skills first:

We introduce format changes gradually, helping pupils build confidence without losing sight of the academic foundations that matter most.

No. The test provider is changing from GL Assessment to Quest Assessments, but the Slough Consortium has said the overall structure will be similar. The assessment will still cover English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

It affects pupils taking the Slough Consortium 11+ in September 2027 for Year 7 entry in September 2028.

Yes. Quest has confirmed that the Slough Consortium assessment will be paper-based.

An OMR answer sheet is a separate sheet where pupils mark their selected response. Quest advises pupils to draw a clear horizontal line through the box beside their chosen answer.

No. A score of 111 means a child meets the eligibility threshold for consideration. Admission is still subject to each school’s published criteria and the number of available places.

No. They can still be useful for practising core skills. However, they should not be the only source of preparation for children sitting the September 2027 Quest assessment.

The right timing depends on your child’s current confidence and needs. For many Year 5 families, the priority is building secure core skills early, then adding familiarisation and timed practice gradually as the test approaches.

The move to Quest Assessments is a change worth understanding, but it does not mean families need to start from scratch.

The content areas, eligibility score and central aim of the Slough 11+ remain consistent. The most effective preparation will combine strong academic foundations with early familiarity with the Quest format, especially the paper-based OMR answer process.

For Year 5 families, now is the time to build skills steadily, stay close to official updates and keep preparation focused, realistic and child-centred.

Halo Tuition Academy provides personalised 11+ preparation that helps pupils build the knowledge, reasoning skills and confidence needed for the next stage of their education.

Speak to our team about 11+ tuition

Editorial note: Admission arrangements, dates and familiarisation materials can change. Parents should confirm current information directly with the Slough Consortium grammar schools before making decisions or submitting an application.