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Introduction
Located in the Lincolnshire market town of Horncastle, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school. Established in 1327, it specialises in Mathematics, Science and Modern Languages and has gained academy status in 2012.
Around 800 pupils aged 11-18 are taught a broad and balanced curriculum. Sporting achievements are considered vital to the quality of school life, thus pupils have regular access to a range of sports facilities for cricket, tennis, hockey, football and squash. [1]
Staff at QEGS Horncastle aim to set pupils up for a rewarding future. Dedicated to high standards, they deliver lessons that inspire intellectual curiosity, particularly in the areas of science, mathematics, humanities and social studies.
The extracurricular provision is focused on allowing pupils to identify their talents and interests beyond the classroom environment. This robust offering boasts drama, Book Club, knitting, Photography Club, French Club, choir, Art Club and many other activities, grounding pupils’ non-academic development in versatility and excellence. [2]
In a recent round of examinations, an encouraging 56% of students secured a grade of 7 or higher in at least five of their GCSE subjects. This impressive outcome speaks volumes about both the cohort’s commitment to personal growth and academic success, as well as the school’s effective support mechanisms, which focus on addressing each student’s unique academic, social and emotional challenges.
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026
Address: West Street, Horncastle LN9 5AD
County: Lincolnshire
Admissions info: enquiries@qegs.lincs.sch.uk, 01507 522465
School type: Co-educational grammar
Number of places in Year 7: 120
Open Day date: September
Exam date: September 2026
Pass mark: Aim for 80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Exam type / Board: GL Assessment
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, has 120 places available in Year 7, and in the event of oversubscription, it will apply the following criteria, prioritising:
- Looked After children or previously Looked After children who reach the required standard for entry
- Children who have reached the qualifying standard for entry and who are eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Premium
- Eligible children whose permanent address is within the school’s catchment area, with priority being given on the basis of total scores in the entrance tests
- Eligible children from all other areas, with priority being given on the basis of total scores in the entrance tests.
For more information about Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, and their admissions process, please visit the school’s website. You can view their exact location on the map below:
How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle
To apply for a Year 7 place at QEGS Horncastle, on behalf of your child, you should complete and submit the 11+ registration form available on the school’s website.
You will also need to complete a preference (CAF) form on the website of the Local Authority and list your child’s preferred schools in it (in ranked order).
11 Plus results will be communicated via post in October and in March the following year, the LA will send out offers of places based on the preferences submitted on the application form.
Is Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, part of a Consortium?
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, is part of the Lincolnshire 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process.
Does Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, have a catchment area?
Yes, there is a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school.
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The 11 Plus Exam at QEGS Horncastle consists of two tests:
⦿ Verbal Reasoning
These sections test your child’s reasoning skills using language-based tasks, such as identifying patterns, completing analogies, solving codes and making logical deductions. They also measure your child’s ability to think critically and analyse information.
⦿ Non-Verbal Reasoning/Spatial Reasoning
The Lincolnshire 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) sections test students’ ability to solve problems using visual and abstract reasoning. They do not rely on language skills but instead challenge students to identify patterns, relationships and sequences within shapes, figures and diagrams.
The Spatial Reasoning sections in the Lincolnshire 11 Plus Exam are designed to assess students’ ability to understand and manipulate visual representations of objects and space. Spatial Reasoning tests mental rotation, visualisation and problem-solving skills.
In order to select the top 25% of pupils, test scores are ranked in order and age-standardised.
How to Prepare for the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, 11 Plus (11+) Exam
One of the most effective strategies to prepare your child for a rigorous 11+ entrance exam is to familiarise them with the question types and layout of the real exam. This can be accomplished through the use of our 11+ exam papers.
Our 11+ resources comprise meticulously researched and up-to-date questions, which will assist you in pinpointing your child’s strengths and weaknesses, thereby reducing unnecessary stress throughout the exam preparation process.
By becoming accustomed to answering questions rapidly and under time constraints, your child will develop a considerable edge over other candidates. We strongly suggest using our 11+ mock tests to enhance your child’s confidence ahead of exam day. They are available for instant download and use after purchase.
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
The exam aims to identify the top 25% of children (based on ability) living in the area. In both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers, students should achieve a standardised score of 220 in order to be considered for a place.
Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the QEGS Horncastle 11 Plus.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the QEGS Horncastle 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers
We have a number of practice tests that can help your child prepare for the QEGS Horncastle 11 Plus exam. We specifically recommend the following relevant resources:
The Lincolnshire Pre-11+ Practice Tests are designed for Year 4 and 5 students to introduce the exam format and boost their confidence. These tests are less challenging than the Lincolnshire 11+ Exam. They offer an accurate yet more straightforward representation of the actual exam, allowing students to familiarise themselves with exam specifics. This approach provides a solid foundation for students to progress to more challenging 11+ Practice Tests.
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the Lincolnshire 11+ Exam. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Practice Papers
To help your child master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Lincolnshire 11+ Exam, we recommend the following resources.
Practice Papers
10 Minutes Test
Video Masterclasses
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning (SR) abilities ahead of the Lincolnshire 11+ Exam.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
Video Masterclasses
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle 11+ past papers. The information provided about Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.
Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning
