Your shared admissions guide
Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE)
The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex runs a shared 11+ examination with English and mathematics papers. Its current member list includes grammar and partially selective schools.
Prepare with confidence.
Prepare for Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) with confidence. Use Plusling to strengthen core skills, learn from each explanation and see where to focus next, alongside the official assessment guidance.
Try five free questions. See the feedback for yourself.
Plan your approach
Year 7 entry
For September 2027 entry
CSSE candidates sit one English test and one mathematics test. The English paper no longer includes applied reasoning questions.
What the assessment covers
- English
- Mathematics
The CSSE member page names seven grammar schools in this index, including King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford.
Three other CSSE members are partially selective schools outside this grammar and independent index.
Each member school has its own admission policy; check the school before applying.
CSSE’s member list also includes partially selective schools outside this index.
The free CSSE papers are historical 2021–2023 exams; the consortium says applied reasoning was removed from English from the 2025-entry test, so older papers do not exactly model 2027.
Go to the source
Official information and familiarisation
Make every question count
Go beyond getting the answer right.
Give your child a place to have a go, understand a mistake and try again. Plusling’s explanations help you turn a difficult question into something to work on together.
- Original questions across four 11+ subjects
- Clear explanations to revisit together
- Short practice that fits around school and tutoring
From subjects to skills
Turn the assessment subjects into a practice plan.
Start with these core skills from the published subject list. Pair the official assessment material with regular Plusling practice.
English
A useful place to start
Read a short passage together. Ask your child to find evidence for an answer and explain unfamiliar words in context.
Build on it with Plusling
Build on that reading with Plusling’s English questions and explanations, then choose a topic to practise again.
Start the 5-question English quizMaths
A useful place to start
Ask your child to explain their method, estimate the answer and check the final calculation. Notice which step needs more practice.
Build on it with Plusling
Use Plusling’s original maths questions and worked explanations to make those next practice sessions count.
Start the 5-question maths quizPrint, practise, build confidence
Printable practice for this test
Original Plusling papers with space to work and separate answers and explanations.
Practice papers for schools in this test
English papers
Explore the papers
Maths papers
Explore the papersThese are Plusling skills practice, not official school or test papers.
Keep the practical steps clear
Your application starting points
Use the official links on this page to answer these questions for your child’s entry year.
Check the entry point and eligibility
Confirm the year group, age requirements and any conditions that apply to your child.
Put the right dates in your diary
Note any published registration, assessment, application and offer-response dates that apply to your child’s route. They may be separate steps.
Check the assessment guidance
If an assessment applies, look for official examples, question formats, timings and answer instructions to help plan your child’s preparation.
Check each school’s application steps
A shared assessment may still involve separate school applications, preferences, interviews or supplementary forms.
Know where to focus
Give their preparation a clear direction.
See the topics your child has practised, revisit questions that need another look and choose a focus for the next session. Plusling helps you put your time where it can be useful.
- Topic summaries and practice history
- Choose topics in Focus Practice
- Progress to discuss with the adults helping them
Explore your options
Schools in this route
These are the participating schools currently included in the Plusling Index. Read each school’s entry arrangements alongside the shared assessment information.
Explore the remaining 1 schools
Their next step starts here
Give their 11+ preparation a confident start.
Try Plusling together. Five free questions, useful feedback and a first look at a friendlier way to practise.
This is an independent Plusling guide. The admissions authority and participating schools publish the official arrangements.
Primary sources
- Schools - CSSE Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex
- CSSE examination resource index Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex
- CSSE historical practice papers (2021–2023) Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex
- CSSE information guide for September 2027 entry Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex