The Blue Coat School’s entrance test

Liverpool has one selective state school, The Blue Coat School. Its test has two phases, both on a computer at the school: the first in July, at the end of Year 5, and the second, for about 600 applicants, in September of Year 6.

At a glance

The test: The Blue Coat School Liverpool Entrance Test
Set by: CEM
Subjects: English, maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning
Who sits it: 1,055 candidates sat the test for September 2025 entry (school FAQ)

The papers

Liverpool has one selective state school, The Blue Coat School (an academy listed as selective on GOV.UK's Get Information about Schools). Its test has two phases, both taken online on a computer at the school. Phase 1 (booked slots of about 75 to 90 minutes, which the school calls the Cambridge Primary Insight assessment) covers reading, spelling, general mathematics, mental arithmetic and developed ability; about 600 applicants go through to Phase 2, with no appeal. Phase 2 covers verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability.

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Dates, results and scores

When is the 11+ in Liverpool?

The 2027 test: not published yet. The 2026 test: Phase 1: Thursday 2, Friday 3 or Saturday 4 July 2026; Phase 2: Saturday 19 September 2026 (a Reserve Test for Phase 2 only with Trust Board permission)

How do you register for the 11+ in Liverpool?

For the 2027 test (2028 entry): not published yet. For the 2026 test (2027 entry): 3.30pm Thursday 26 March 2026 to 4.00pm Friday 24 April 2026, online through the school (Applicaa)

When do 11+ results come out in Liverpool?

For the 2026 test: Phase 1 results Wednesday 15 July 2026; Phase 2 results Friday 16 October 2026, given as Group A (should consider naming the school), Group B (not guaranteed a place; ranking position shared) or Group C (should not name the school); scores are not released. Offers on Monday 1 March 2027.

What score qualifies in Liverpool?

Ranked by score with an 'eligible score' that is not published: of the 180 places, up to 27 go to the highest-scoring applicants eligible for free school meals who reach the eligible score, and the rest to the other highest scorers who reach it. Looked after and previously looked after children and children with an EHCP who reach the eligible score have priority; a tie for the last place is settled by the age-weighted unrounded total score.

Not confirmed yet

Question format (multiple choice or typed answers) of the online tests is not stated by the school.
The eligible score (not released by the school).
Liverpool City Council's own pages were not read; that Blue Coat is Liverpool's only selective state school rests on GOV.UK's listing of Blue Coat as selective, not on a check of every Liverpool school.
September 2028 entry arrangements: the school says they are being finalised (Open Day Thursday 25 March 2027).

Check these on the official page: bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/page/?title=Year+7&pid=58

Good to know

Late testing and moving to the area

Only a Reserve Test for Phase 2, for applicants unable to attend for medical, religious or other reasons, granted by the Trust Board. After entry, a Year 7 vacancy in the autumn term goes to the next highest scorer on the entrance test.

Who runs admissions

The school's Trust Board is the admission authority and runs the test; offers are made by the child's home local authority (the school takes part in Liverpool City Council's co-ordinated arrangements), with the school named on the preference form by Saturday 31 October 2026.

Grammar schools in Liverpool

Each school sets its own admissions rules: check its admissions policy for places and priority areas.

School	Town	Takes
The Blue Coat School, Liverpool website	Liverpool	Mixed

Sources

Every fact here comes from the official pages below. Dates and scores change from year to year, so check them there before you rely on them.

Checked 2 November 2026.

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