QE Barnet 11 Plus: How the Entrance Test Works, From a Former Pupil
By Jeevan, former pupil of Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet · Updated 25 October 2026 · 7 min read
I'm a former pupil of Queen Elizabeth's School (QE Boys) in Barnet, and I run free live 11+ mock exams for families going through the same process. This guide puts everything in one place: how the entrance test works, the key dates, what score you need, and how to prepare.
The QE Barnet entrance test at a glance
| What the school says | |
|---|---|
| School | Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet: a selective state grammar school for boys |
| Papers | Two multiple-choice papers: English and Mathematics |
| Rounds | One round only, in a single session (morning or afternoon) |
| When | September of Year 6, over two days. Each boy sits on one of them |
| Places | 180 in Year 7 (the Published Admission Number) |
| Qualifying score | A combined standardised score of 225 or more for consideration |
| How places are given | By test score. Distance from the school separates equal scores |
| Results | Emailed in early October |
The important point for preparation: there is no Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning paper. If QE is your main target, English and Maths are where your time should go.
Key dates
The most recent cycle (September 2027 entry)
- Test request form opened: 1 May 2026
- Deadline for the test request form: noon on 8 July 2026
- Entrance test: 16 and 17 September 2026 (one of the two days)
- Results: 1 October 2026 (provisional)
- National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
If your son is in Year 5 now (September 2028 entry)
The school publishes each year's dates in the spring. If it follows the same pattern, expect the test request form to open in early May 2027, close in July 2027, and the test to be in September 2027. Put a reminder in your calendar for late April to check the admissions page.
How the score works
Each paper is age-standardised, which adjusts for the fact that a boy born in August is almost a year younger than one born in September. The two standardised scores are added together. The school says a combined score of 225 or more meets the standard for consideration, and places are then offered in order of score, with distance from the school only used to separate boys on the same score.
In practice, many more boys pass 225 than there are places, so the score needed for an offer is usually higher than the qualifying score. Aim well above it rather than for it.
How to prepare for the QE test
English
- Comprehension: reading a passage carefully and choosing the best answer, including questions about meaning, inference and the writer's choice of words.
- Vocabulary: the meaning of words in context. Reading widely and keeping a notebook of new words is the single best long-term habit.
- Spelling, punctuation and grammar: spotting mistakes quickly and accurately.
Maths
- Fluent arithmetic: times tables, fractions, decimals and percentages without hesitation, because speed matters in a timed paper.
- Problem solving: multi-step word problems, ratio, algebra, shape and data. Many questions test whether a child can work out what is being asked.
Exam technique for multiple-choice papers
- Don't let one hard question eat your time. Make your best choice, mark it, and come back if there's time.
- Read every option before choosing. The first one that looks right isn't always the best.
- In Maths, estimate first. It often rules out two or three options straight away.
- Never leave a question blank: an educated guess can still score.
- Practise with the school's own sample papers so the format feels familiar on the day.
Practise under real conditions
Knowing the material is only half of it: the test is timed, so children also need practice working at speed. Sitting a full mock, live and against the clock, is the closest thing to the real test.
How Simply Eleven Plus can help
- Free live 11+ mock exams on Zoom, timed like the real thing, followed by a walkthrough of the trickiest questions.
- Topic-by-topic English and Maths practice with instant marking and explanations, free to start.
Frequently asked questions
- What subjects are in the QE Barnet 11+ test?
- Two multiple-choice papers, English and Mathematics, sat in a single session. There are no Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning papers.
- How many rounds does the QE Barnet entrance test have?
- One. The school says there is only one round of testing, in a single session, usually in September of Year 6.
- What score do you need for QE Barnet?
- The school says a combined standardised score of 225 or more meets the standard for consideration. Places are then given in score order, with distance from the school used to separate equal scores.
- When do you register for the QE Barnet test?
- The test request form usually opens in early May of Year 5 and closes in July. For September 2027 entry it opened on 1 May 2026 and closed at noon on 8 July 2026.
- Does QE Barnet publish past papers?
- No, but the school publishes sample papers on its website to show the style of the test.
Free 11+ live mock exams
Let your child sit a real-time, timed mock paper online, then go through the trickiest questions together. It’s free.