Age standardisation in the 11+: what it means for your child
A child born in August is almost a year younger than a child born in September, but they sit the same test. Age standardisation makes this fair.
What is it?
Each child's raw mark (the number of questions right) is changed into a standardised score. The score compares your child with other children of the same age, not with the whole year group. So a younger child needs a slightly lower raw mark to get the same score as an older child.
What do the numbers mean?
Standardised scores usually have an average of 100. About two in three children score between 85 and 115. A score of 115 or more is well above average.
How the big tests use it
- Kent: Kent Test scores are standardised and adjusted for age so the youngest are not at a disadvantage. Each test is scored from 69 to 141. For 2026 entry the pass was a total of 332 or more, with no test below 108. The figure for 2027 entry is published in October 2026.
- Bexley: the result is a weighted, age-standardised total: Verbal Reasoning 50%, Maths 25% and Non-Verbal Reasoning 25%, with an average of 200.
- Sutton Grammar: SET marks are adjusted for a boy's age and income deprivation score.
What it means for you
- Do not worry if your child is young for the year. The scoring already allows for it.
- Compare practice results with care. A raw mark on a practice paper is not the same as a standardised score.
- It does not change the work needed: strong basics and timed practice still matter most.
Sources: Kent County Council, Kent Test results; London Borough of Bexley, about the selection test; Sutton Grammar School admissions policy 2027; GL Assessment, understanding standard age scores.