Lincolnshire is one of the few English counties still operating a system close to the historic 11+: a county-wide, reasoning-only selection test that opens the door to a large network of grammar schools. If you are a parent in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham, Stamford or the surrounding market towns, this guide explains exactly what the test looks like in 2026, which schools use it, how scores work, and how to prepare without paying for tutoring you do not need. Last verified: July 2026 — always confirm the current arrangements with the individual school and with Lincolnshire County Council, as consortium details can change year to year.
The current state in 2026
Lincolnshire's grammar test is delivered using GL Assessment materials. This matters because much of the older advice online still references CEM, the Durham University board whose paper 11+ tests were discontinued around 2023. Most former CEM regions have moved to GL or to bespoke arrangements, and Lincolnshire sits firmly in the GL camp. GL papers are multiple-choice, tightly timed at roughly a minute a question, sat with no calculator, and marked on a separate answer sheet. If a resource tells you Lincolnshire uses CEM-style blended sections, treat it as out of date.
Which schools use the test
A broad group of Lincolnshire grammar schools accept the county reasoning test, including Boston Grammar School, Boston High School, Bourne Grammar, King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar in Horncastle, Skegness Grammar and The King's School in Grantham. Some schools run their own additional arrangements or supplementary information forms, so you should always check each school's admissions page directly. You can cross-reference options in our grammar school directory before you commit to a preference list.
Test format
The Lincolnshire 11+ is built around reasoning rather than curriculum subjects. In practice, families should prepare for two GL reasoning papers sat in a single session:
- Verbal Reasoning — roughly 50 minutes, around 60 multiple-choice questions.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning — roughly 50 minutes, a similar volume of questions.
Notably, there is no separate English comprehension or maths paper in the core Lincolnshire test. The county relies on verbal and non-verbal reasoning alone. This surprises many parents, because most school resources and homework focus on English and maths, so the test can feel unfamiliar even to strong pupils. The reasoning content also falls partly outside the national curriculum, which is why targeted practice makes such a difference.
GL Verbal Reasoning: the question types to drill
GL verbal reasoning is built from a fixed menu of around 21 named question types, so once your child recognises the format, speed improves quickly. Common types include:
- Letter codes — if CAT is written as DBU (each letter moved on one), what is DOG? Answer: EPH.
- Hidden words — find a four-letter word hidden across two words, e.g. "the brown eagle" hides BREA... look for the join.
- Analogies — kitten is to cat as puppy is to dog.
- Closest meaning and opposites — pick the pair nearest in meaning, which rewards wide vocabulary.
- Odd one out, compound words, move-a-letter, letter sequences and number series.
Because so many of these hinge on vocabulary, wide reading is the single best long-term investment. Pair it with focused drilling from our free worksheet library, which includes hundreds of targeted verbal and non-verbal reasoning sheets grouped by exact question type.
GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: what to expect
Non-verbal reasoning tests spatial and logical thinking using shapes rather than words. Expect series (what comes next in a sequence of figures), matrices (complete the grid), analogies, odd-one-out, reflections, rotations, and folding or cube-net questions where a flat shape is folded into a 3D cube. These reward pattern recognition and careful checking under time pressure. Practising with a timer matters as much as accuracy — many able children lose marks simply by running out of time. Our timed mock papers replicate that clock pressure so test day feels routine.
Scores and qualifying
GL results are reported as standardised age scores (SAS), typically on a scale from about 69 to 141 where 100 is the national average. Crucially, scores are age-standardised: a summer-born child receives an uplift compared with an autumn-born child who scored the same raw marks, because the system adjusts for age in months. For example, two children answering 45 questions correctly could receive different standardised scores if one is several months younger. Lincolnshire schools set their own qualifying thresholds, and the more oversubscribed schools generally require higher combined scores. Passing the test is not the same as securing a place — catchment, distance and each school's admissions criteria still apply, so read every preferred school's policy carefully. Do not rely on a single fixed "pass mark" figure quoted online; confirm the current year's requirement with the school.
How preparation differs here
- Build vocabulary early — it feeds both verbal reasoning and future English.
- Learn to recognise all the GL question types by name, then drill each to automaticity.
- Practise against the clock; reasoning tests punish hesitation more than difficulty.
- Do not neglect maths and English at school just because they are not tested — they underpin comprehension and confidence.
- Register on time. The test is normally sat in the autumn of Year 6, with registration windows earlier that year, so check the key dates and your council's deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lincolnshire 11+ GL or CEM?
It uses GL Assessment materials. CEM's separate paper 11+ was discontinued around 2023, so ignore older guidance describing a CEM-style Lincolnshire test.
Does Lincolnshire test English and maths?
The core county test is verbal and non-verbal reasoning only. However, strong English vocabulary directly boosts verbal-reasoning scores, so reading widely still pays off.
How is the pass mark decided?
Results come as standardised age scores adjusted for your child's age in months. Individual schools set qualifying thresholds, and a qualifying score does not guarantee a place — catchment and admissions criteria still apply.