The 12+ and 13+ transfer tests are exams some grammar schools use to admit children into later year groups, after Year 7 or Year 8. They exist because places sometimes open up once a school year is under way, and they give a second chance to children who did not qualify or apply at 11+. Not every school offers them, and the format and timing vary, so they are a useful option to know about rather than a guaranteed route.
- The 12+ and 13+ are entry tests for later year groups at some grammar schools.
- They offer a second route for children who missed out or did not sit the 11+.
- Places depend on spaces opening up, and not all schools offer them.
- The skills overlap with the 11+, so steady practice is the main preparation.
What the transfer tests are
Where the 11+ is sat in Year 6 for entry into Year 7, the 12+ and 13+ are sat later for entry into Year 8 or Year 9. They fill places that come free when a child leaves a grammar school.
They use a similar style of assessment to the 11+, testing the same underlying skills, so the territory will feel familiar to any family that has been through the 11+ already.
Who they're for
These tests suit a few situations. A child who narrowly missed out at 11+, one who did not sit it, or a family that moved into a grammar area later can all use them as a way in.
They are also one of the routes worth weighing up in our wider guide to what happens if your child does not pass, alongside appeals and independent schools.
Transfer places only exist when a seat opens up, so they can be limited and competitive. Treat the 12+ or 13+ as a welcome extra option rather than a guaranteed back door.
Places depend on availability
The big difference from the 11+ is supply. There is no fixed intake at 12+ or 13+, so a school can only admit if a current pupil moves on and frees a place.
That makes availability unpredictable from year to year. Some schools run a transfer test routinely; others only when needed, and some not at all.
How to prepare
The good news is that preparation looks much like 11+ preparation, because the skills overlap. Keeping up steady practice in maths, English and reasoning is the bulk of the work.
If your child is between the 11+ and a possible transfer test, a light daily habit keeps them sharp. A few minutes with Pip each day maintains the skills, and our guidance on steady preparation applies just as well here.
Check with your schools
Because everything varies, go straight to the schools you are interested in. Their admissions teams can tell you whether they run a transfer test, when, and in what format.
Confirm the details early so you are ready if a place comes up, and keep a secured school place in the meantime, just as you would when considering an independent school backup.