2012 Offer of Places

Offers of 11+ places will be posted on Monday 27 February 2012 and replies are required no later than Wednesday 7 March (12 noon).  If the offer includes a bursary award, a reply is needed by Monday 5 March (12 noon).   Parents who receive two or more offers must accept only one.

Preparing for 11+ entry to MGS

There are two main strands to our entry process.

Assessment Day
A full day of activities including learning new topics, tests on those topics, and group work.

It is best if boys arrive with an open mind ready to respond to new ideas and challenges and any preparation is likely to be counter-productive.  In particular there is a creative writing element where we prefer boys to write a descriptive piece based on their own reading rather than regurgitating a pre-prepared story.

Entrance Exam
Past papers are available on this website under Publications.

We suggest the first set of papers is done as a joint enterprise with boy and parents.  This first set may appear daunting as we hope the style of questions is unique to MGS.  However, our experience suggests that the second set, which we recommend is done by your son first, will appear easier and much more interesting.  The third set should be done by you son on his own and in the set time; this should start to be a reasonable target and perhaps even fun!

The fourth and fifth set (2009-2010) can then be used as out-and-out practice focussing on time management and accuracy.
Note that answers are provided to help beleaguered parents!

A boy who reads, enjoys puzzles, and does these past papers is well placed for the examination.  It is our experience that a boy who needs intensive coaching over and above this is unlikely to be happy here, even if he is successful.

We have found that the results of our tests in English (different types of comprehension questions, and story-writing) and in Arithmetic (basic arithmetic techniques and problem-solving) are good indicators of a boy's ability to flourish at MGS.

For entry to the Senior School, your son should be aged between 11 and 12 on 1 September, although boys a year younger may take the examination, either because they have been advanced a year at primary school, or because they are particularly able.

Boys are rarely interviewed unless they are particularly young, or there is an aspect of their application we wish to clarify. Primary school Head Teachers are asked to submit confidential reports on all boys, but a boy's chances are not damaged if one is not provided.

Our past examination papers for those boys wishing to sit our Senior School examination are provided free of charge to download for practice purposes and these are available under the Publications Section of the website.

Next year's Entrance Examination will be be held in January 2013.  Please contact Kath Heathcote on 0161 224 7201 x 234 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you require further information.

Please Note:  The Manchester Grammar School is a member of the Greater Manchester Consortium of Schools and as such follows the agreed consortium timetable for 11+ applicants.

Feedback from the parent of a child who sat the Entrance Exam 2011: I would like to begin this letter by passing on my thanks to your Admissions Team for the manner in which they have handled our feedback; they have been extremely helpful and thoughtful in their approach, at all times putting the welfare of the children first.