Colchester Royal Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) CSSE Exam – Key Details 2024
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Established in 1206, Colchester Royal Grammar School provides education for boys aged 11 to 18 and welcomes girls in its co-educational Sixth Form. It’s located in Colchester, Essex, and has held academy status since 2012. The school earned the titles of National Teaching School and National Support School in 2013 and boasts exceptional music and drama facilities, as well as an extensive sports fixture list.
CRGS adheres to the national curriculum and aims to provide a challenging and supportive education where pupils can realise their full potential and become confident learners who can take on university, employment, and daily life responsibilities. By the end of their educational journey, students gain significant insights into the key areas of English, maths, sciences, modern languages, history, and art.
The school also offers a comprehensive extracurricular programme with many unique and diverse activities and clubs, such as the Japanese club, rugby, programming club, history society, flute group, etc.
Colchester Royal Grammar School offers top-quality education and fosters a supportive and inclusive atmosphere. Its highly competent staff is committed to elevating every student’s personal and professional aspirations, inspiring them to strive for excellence in every aspect of life. The school operates at a high standard and expects its pupils to do the same.
The school’s achievements have been consistent throughout the years and reflect its work ethic and ambition. Students regularly perform well on GCSE and A-Level exams and continue their education at prestigious universities.
Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024
Address: Lexden Road, Colchester CO3 3ND
Admissions info: office@crgs.co.uk
School type: Boys’ Grammar
Number of pupils: 930 (approx.)
Number of places in Year 7: 128 (approx.)
Open day date: June
11+ Exam date: September 2024
Pass mark: Aim for 80-85%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Exam type / Board: CSSE (Essex 11 Plus)
Colchester Royal Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Year 7 admission to Colchester Royal Grammar is primarily determined by student performance in the CSSE 11 Plus exam. Admission is open to all students in Essex and testing takes place in September of the year preceding entry, while your child is in Year 6.
Applications for Year 7 entry are open to boys who are under twelve years of age. The school does not normally admit overage applicants. In cases of oversubscription, a place is offered to a ‘looked after child’ or a previously looked after child, followed by the applicant who lives the closest to the school.
For more information on Colchester Royal Grammar School’s admissions process, please consult the admissions policy page, where you can access the most recent admissions policy document.
You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Colchester Royal Grammar School
Before applying for a Year 7 place at Colchester Royal Grammar School, parents and students are encouraged to visit the school during one of its open days, which usually take place in June. For details of the next event, please see the school’s website.
Parents applying to Colchester Royal Grammar School must register their child for the 11+ exam by completing a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available from the CSSE website. All parents who are residents of Essex also need to state their son’s preferred secondary schools on the Essex Common Application Form (CAF).
Is Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) part of a Consortium?
Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) belongs to the Essex 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process.
Does Colchester Royal Grammar School have a catchment area?
Yes, Colchester Royal Grammar School has a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school.
Colchester Royal Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
Colchester Royal Grammar School follows the same 11 Plus exam format as all CSSE member schools. There is only one selection test to ensure that students don’t need to take a separate exam for each school to which they have applied.
The Colchester Royal Grammar School 11+ exam consists of two tests:
- English – covering comprehension, applied reasoning and creative writing
- Mathematics – focusing on topics from the KS2 National Curriculum.
The test scores are age-standardised to ensure that older pupils don’t have an unfair advantage.
How to Prepare for the Colchester Royal Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam
We highly recommend using our practice tests to prepare for the selective admission process at CRGS. These tests cover all possible question types and can significantly increase your child’s confidence ahead of the actual exam.
By becoming familiar with the style and format of the 11+ entrance exam, you can identify any weaknesses that need additional work and discover your child’s strengths. This will allow you to create a personalised study plan that focuses on what needs to be studied and when.
By practicing under timed conditions, your child will be able to handle exam questions quickly, efficiently, and confidently, giving them a significant advantage over their peers. Using practice tests can also help reduce stress during the preparation process, as your child becomes accustomed to answering questions under time pressure.
Colchester Royal Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Historical data shows that most schools in the area do not admit applicants who have a standardised score less than 303 in the CSSE. Exam results from previous years suggest this correlates with a score of roughly 80-85%+ in our 11+ Essex practice tests.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Colchester Royal Grammar School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.
Colchester Royal Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers
We have a number of practice tests specifically designed to help students prepare for the Colchester Royal Grammar School 11+ exam:
Full Practice Tests
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 1
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 2
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 3
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 4
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 5
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 6
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 7
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 8
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 9
11+ Essex (CSSE) Practice Test 10
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11+ Essex CSSE Tests 1-10 Bundle - Save 20%
✅ Alternatively, you can choose a bundle of five of our CSSE Practice Tests for the Essex 11+ Exam, and still save 15%. Select the relevant bundle below to learn more:
11+ Essex CSSE Tests 1-5 Bundle - Save 15%
11+ Essex CSSE Tests 6-10 Bundle - Save 15%
English
The CSSE 11+ English paper can include both multiple-choice and open-answer comprehension questions, as well as a writing section and a reasoning section.
Multiple-Choice Comprehension
For multiple-choice comprehension practice, we’d highly recommend:
Full Practice Tests
Skill specific practice
Standard Format Comprehension
For open-answer (standard format) comprehension and writing practice, we’d highly recommend these resources:
Comprehension
11+ Complete Comprehension Guide
Writing
Guides
11+ Essex (CSSE) Continuous Writing Guide
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Essex English Bundle - Save 30%
Applied Reasoning Section
For the reasoning section, we’d highly recommend these practice tests:
Full Practice Tests
11+ Essex (CSSE) Applied Reasoning
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Applied Reasoning section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Essex Applied Reasoning Bundle - Save 30%
Mathematics
The CSSE 11+ Maths paper covers the KS2 syllabus (including problem solving and arithmetic) as well as some non-verbal reasoning. The maths questions are not multiple-choice.
Mathematics (Standard Format)
We recommend using the following resources to help prepare for the maths exam:
Full Practice Tests
Skill specific practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Maths section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Essex Mathematics Bundle - Save 30%
Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.
Why do some of the recommendations above show me independent school papers?
The main difference between independent and grammar school papers is the question format. Independent schools usually assess with standard format questions, which means students need to write out full answers. Grammar schools usually use multiple-choice format questions.
Whilst Colchester Royal Grammar School is a grammar school, they actually use the independent school (standard) format for some of their exams, which is why they are included in the recommendations above.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Colchester Royal Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Colchester Royal Grammar School was 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 post.
Frequently Asked Questions About 11+ Entry to Colchester Royal Grammar School
Is Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) an academy?
Colchester Royal Grammar School became grant-maintained in the 1980s and converted into an academy in 2012.
When are the Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) Open Days held?
Colchester Royal Grammar School hosts Open Evening in June, welcoming prospective families on campus for an event packed with activities.
What are the admissions criteria for Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS)?
The school assesses prospective pupils using the standardised 11+ CSSE exam, also used by other schools in the Essex Consortium. The exam covers English and Mathematics.
How do I register my child for the Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) 11+ test?
Parents applying to Colchester Royal Grammar School must register their child for the 11+ exam by completing a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available from the CSSE website. Residents of Essex also need to state CRGS as their preferred secondary school on the Common Application Form (CAF).
Can I apply for 11+ entry to a CSSE school other than Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS)?
Yes, you can. All CSSE Schools that you wish to apply for must be named as preferences on the Local Authority Common Application Form.
What’s the format of the Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) 11+ Exam?
All 11+ applicants will be asked to sit the Essex CSSE exam which tests English comprehension, applied reasoning and creative writing, and mathematics topics from the KS2 National Curriculum.
Is there Non-Verbal Reasoning in the Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) 11+ Exam?
No, the CRGS 11+ entrance exam does not test Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Is there any way to prepare for the Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) CSSE 11+ entrance examination?
One of the best ways to prepare for a competitive entrance exam, such as the CSSE, is to use practice tests. They will provide your child with the opportunity to become familiar with the format and question types that they will encounter in the actual exam. Our practice tests are used successfully every year by hundreds of thousands of students targeting schools with a competitive entrance exam.
Which are the best preparation materials for the Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) CSSE 11+ entrance examination?
We recommend beginning with a few full practice tests, such as this one. These will act as diagnostics so you can quickly work out which areas your child needs to focus on. You can then select the relevant topic based material listed above to target weaker areas. Feel free to contact us here if you need advice on how to prepare or what to focus on for each section and stage of the exam.
Where can I find the best 11+ Colchester Royal Grammar School CSSE mock test?
Our 11+ CSSE practice tests replicate the format and style of the actual exam, effectively preparing students for success in this competitive assessment. Each practice test is designed to mimic the full examination experience, covering relevant Maths and English question types. Click here to learn more.
What is the pass mark for the Colchester Royal Grammar School CSSE 11+ Exam?
Historical data shows that most schools in the area do not admit applicants who have a standardised score less than 303 in the CSSE. Exam results from previous years suggest this correlates with a score of roughly 80-85%+ in our 11+ Essex practice tests.
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