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Introduction
The Portsmouth Grammar School is a co-educational independent school located in the historic part of Portsmouth. Founded in 1732, the school is widely regarded as the best in the area and is known for its consistent 100% GCSE pass rate.
As a forward looking school, Portsmouth Grammar continually invests in state-of-the-art facilities, which now include a brand new Sixth Form Centre, a Science Centre, a Music School, a modern dining and theatre complex, a fully refurbished library and all-weather hockey pitches. In this way, PGS has secured its national reputation as a school that provides high-quality co-curricular activities, particularly in music, drama, sport, CCF and outdoor pursuits.
Additionally, the school regularly organises trips abroad, to places such as France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, The United States, Russia, Norway, Hungary, Uganda and a number of other countries.
PGS stands firm on the notion that each child has immense academic potential and hence seeks to gain as much insight as possible into their their particular strengths and interests. True to the motto Honours are the rewards of virtue, pupils leave PGS to pursue excellence in higher education and beyond, encouraged to make a positive difference in the world.
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026
Address: High Street Portsmouth PO1 2LN
County: Hampshire
Admissions info: admissions@pgs.org.uk or (023) 9236 4269
School type: Independent co-ed day school
Open day: Each term
11+ Exam date: January of Year 6
11+ Exam type / Board: Online Quest assessment
Open Events for The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Entry
The school holds Open Afternoons throughout the year, including a talk from the Head, a pupil-led tour and a meeting with teaching staff. If you are interested in attending these events, or you’d prefer to arrange a visit to the Senior School at another time, please contact Admissions. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
The admissions process for Year 7 applicants includes an interview, during which your child is expected to bring an item of special interest to talk about. Following the interview, they will be invited to sit assessments (in January). A current school reference will also be requested.
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Scholarships and Bursaries
All candidates who sit the 11+ exam are automatically considered for scholarships and other academic awards. Means-tested bursaries are also available, subject to application in advance.
Scholarships are awarded as a recognition of exceptional academic ability and are not means-tested. They can also be awarded for excellence in Art, Drama and Music. Note that they require a separate application, to be submitted by the beginning of November preceding the year of entry. Scholarships generally cover up to 6% of school fees.
Assistance with fees is awarded on the basis of financial need and reflects the outstanding academic potential of the candidate, regardless of their ability to afford the school fees. If you wish to apply for means-tested financial assistance, you should complete an application form and submit it by the end of November preceding the year of entry. More details are available on this page.
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Portsmouth Grammar School entrance assessment consists of the following papers:
- Maths
- English
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Creative Comprehension
The maths section will not go beyond the Year 5 maths curriculum. Topics covered could be arithmetic, geometry, measurement, numbers and statistics. Questions will evaluate your child’s mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills, as well as their ability to work through multi-step questions.
The English section will assess your child’s ability to answer questions on a given passage, which could be fiction or non-fiction. They may also need to answer questions testing the standard of their spelling, punctuation and grammar.
The verbal reasoning section will look at how well your child can solve problems that use written information. They might, for example, have to identify a pair of synonyms from two groups of words.
The non-verbal reasoning section will determine your child’s ability to solve problems using visual information. They might, for example, have to study a shape and then decide which set of pictured blocks from the selection given could be used to build it.
The creative comprehension section will comprise a number of different sources, such as a table, a coded message, a diary entry and a map, all linked to one theme. Your child will need to answer questions that assess their ability to make sense of the sources, and, in some cases, to make connections between sources.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for The Portsmouth Grammar School 11+ entrance examination.
How to Prepare for The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam
One of the best ways to prepare for a competitive entrance exam is to use our practice tests. Getting to know the types of questions and the format of the actual exam will help boost your child’s confidence. Aside from becoming familiarised with the exam format, our practice tests will ensure that your child responds to the questions in an efficient and effective manner.
They also provide an excellent opportunity for your child to practise working under time pressure. Whilst doing the tests under timed conditions, children can get used to answering questions quickly, with a close attention to detail.
Our 11+ practice tests are thoroughly researched and up to date. They are designed to reflect the demands of a competitive entrance exam and are successfully used by hundreds of thousands of students every year.
They are available for immediate download, print and use after purchase. Our recommendations to help your child prepare for The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 plus entrance examination can be found below.
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Papers
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11+ Online Practice Tests
Our Portsmouth Grammar School 11+ Online Entrance Assessment Practice Tests are available on our other website, Pretest Plus, and provide realistic and highly accurate preparation for the actual exam. Each full mock test replicates the modules, timings and question types used in the real assessment, ensuring your child becomes familiar with the format and expectations. Covering Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Creative Comprehension, these tests are all pitched at the same difficulty level, allowing you to benchmark your child’s progress, track improvement and identify key areas for further practice.
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Practice Test 1
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Practice Test 2
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Practice Test 3
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Practice Test 4
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11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Practice Tests Bundle
The Portsmouth Grammar School 11+ Skill Practice
The following Skill Practice exercises focus on one module that will come up in The Portsmouth Grammar School 11+ Online Test, allowing you to target the specific exam sections that your child finds challenging.
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Mathematics
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Creative Comprehension Pack 1
11+ The Portsmouth Grammar School Creative Comprehension Pack 2
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in The Portsmouth Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about The Portsmouth Grammar School 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 The Portsmouth Grammar School.
Other entry points for The Portsmouth Grammar School:
Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning