
Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
Table of Contents
Introduction
There are ten grammar schools in the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE). For 11 Plus and admissions information about each school, please visit the pages below:
- Colchester Royal Grammar School
- Colchester County High School for Girls
- King Edward VI Grammar School
- Shoeburyness High School
- Southend High School for Girls
- Southend High School for Boys
- St Bernard’s High School for Girls
- St. Thomas More High School
- Westcliff High School for Girls
- Westcliff High School for Boys
11 Plus Exam Information for Essex Consortium Grammar Schools
Registration Closing Date: July
Common Application Form (CAF) Closing Date: October
Exam Date: September
Exam Board Type: CSSE
Results Date: October
Allocations Date: March
Admissions Info: Essex Council, 0845 603 2200, admissions@essex.gov.uk
CSSE 11 Plus Admissions
Year 7 admission to all grammar schools in the CSSE are based on pupil performance in the 11 Plus exam.
Essex and Southend grammar school admissions are managed by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE). You can contact them directly at admin@csse.org.uk, or by telephone on 01245 348257.
The schools have one common selection test to ensure that students only sit one exam to cover all the schools on their preference form. All selective places are awarded on the basis of student ability, which is defined by their test score.
For more information on the admission criteria to CSSE schools, please see the CSSE information guide.
How to Register for the Consortium of Grammar Schools in Essex 11 Plus Exam
Before registering for a Year 7 place at a CSSE school, it’s advised that parents attend one of their preferred school’s Open Events. Each school has its own event where parents and students can visit the campus, meet staff and learn more about the admissions process.
To register for a Year 7 place at a CSSE school, parents need to complete a Common Application Form (CAF) before October. The form can be completed online via the Essex Council website.
Parents should also complete a Supplementary Information Form to register their child to take the selective test. The form can be completed online on the CSSE website. Alternatively, it can be obtained from any CSSE school.
Essex Consortium Grammar Schools 11 Plus Exam Format
All CSSE members use the same 11 Plus exam to ensure that students only need to take part in one test. The exam consists of two test papers that cover English and Maths.
The English test typically includes comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, creative writing, verbal reasoning and literacy questions. The Maths paper focuses on topics from the KS2 National Curriculum.
The test scores are age-standardised and offers of places are dependent on passing the selection tests. However, it should be noted that passing the selection tests is not a guarantee of being offered a place.
Test results are sent to parents by first class post in October.
Practice Exam Papers for the CSSE 11 Plus Exam
One of the most effective ways to prepare for the CSSE 11 Plus is to use 11 Plus practice tests. At Exam Papers Plus, we publish practice tests that can help students prepare for the CSSE. Our tests can help improve a student’s performance in the final exam and give them a confidence boost before test day. When used under timed exam conditions, our tests can also help improve students’ time management skills.
We have a number of practice tests specifically designed to help students prepare for the 11+ CSSE exam in Essex. You can learn more about them here.
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
Guides
English
The CSSE 11+ English paper can include both multiple-choice and open-answer comprehension questions, as well as a writing section and reasoning section.
For multiple-choice comprehension practice, we’d highly recommend:
Full Practice Tests
- 11+ English – Grammar Schools – (Pack 1)
- 11+ English – Grammar Schools – (Pack 2)
- 11+ English – Grammar Schools – (Pack 3)
- 11+ English – Grammar Schools – (Pack 4)
Skill specific practice
- 11+ English – Grammar Schools – Comprehension – (Pack 1)
- 11+ English – Grammar Schools – Inference Skills
Masterclasses
For open-answer comprehension and writing practice, we’d highly recommend these resources:
Comprehension
- 11+ English – Standard Format – (Pack 1)
- 11+ English – Standard Format – (Pack 2)
- 11+ English – Standard Format – (Pack 3)
- 11+ English – Standard Format – (Pack 4)
- 11+ English – Complete Comprehension Guide
- 11+ English – Reading Workbook
Writing
- 11+ English – Complete Writing Guide
- 11+ English – Writing Prompts
- 11+ English – Spelling – (Pack 1)
- 11+ English – Spelling – (Pack 2)
Verbal Reasoning
For the reasoning section, we’d highly recommend these practice tests:
Full Practice Tests
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning – Grammar Schools – (Pack 1)
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning – Grammar Schools – (Pack 2)
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning – Grammar Schools – (Pack 3)
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning – Grammar Schools – (Pack 4)
Skill Specific Practice
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Anagrams
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Analogies
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Codes
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Compound Words
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Embedded Words
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Form a Word
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Insert a Letter
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Letter Analogies
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Letter Calculations
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Letter Codes
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Letter Sequences
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Move a Letter
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Number Analogies
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Number Calculations
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Number Sequences
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Shuffled Sentences
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Synonyms
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Word Completion
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Word Match
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Word Opposites
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Word Pairs
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Word Puzzles
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning (Grammar Schools): Word Relationships
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.
We’d highly recommend:
Full Practice Tests
- 11+ Mathematics – Standard Format – (Pack 1)
- 11+ Mathematics – Standard Format – (Pack 2)
- 11+ Mathematics – Standard Format – (Pack 3)
- 11+ Mathematics – Standard Format – (Pack 4)
Skill specific practice
- 11+ Algebra – Standard Format
- 11+ Angles & Degrees – Standard Format
- 11+ BODMAS – Standard Format
- 11+ Estimation & Place Value – Standard Format
- 11+ Factors & Multiples – Standard Format
- 11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages – Standard Format
- 11+ Measurements – Standard Format
- 11+ Operations – Standard Format
- 11+ Perimeter, Area & Volume – Standard Format
- 11+ Position & Direction – Standard Format
- 11+ Probability – Standard Format
- 11+ Properties of Shapes – Standard Format
- 11+ Ratio & Proportion – Standard Format
- 11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry – Standard Format
- 11+ Sequences – Standard Format
- 11+ Special Numbers – Standard Format
- 11+ Statistics – Standard Format
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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 these selective schools in Essex are grammar schools, they actually use the independent school (standard) format for their exams, which is why they are included in the recommendations above.
The information provided about the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex 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.