--- type: "Article" title: "What to ask at a grammar school open day" description: "At a grammar school open day, ask which exam board they use, typical entry scores, whether there's an interview, the appeals process, and support offered." resource: https://pip11plus.com/what-to-ask-at-a-grammar-school-open-day tags: ["grammar schools", "pip"] timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:50:09Z image: https://pip11plus.com/info-hub-cards/open-day-pip.jpg --- ๐Ÿซ School Choice # What to ask at a grammar school open day ![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png) **By the Pip team** Updated June 2026 An open day is your best chance to see past the polish, so go with questions ready. The most useful ones are practical: which exam board the school uses, the typical standardised score of children who get in, whether there is a second-stage interview, how the appeals process works, and what support is on offer once your child is enrolled. The answers tell you how competitive entry really is and what daily life would feel like, far more than a guided tour alone. **TL;DR** - Ask which exam board the school uses and the typical entry score. - Check whether there is a second-stage interview and how appeals work. - Ask what pastoral and academic support is available once enrolled. - Use the answers to judge fit, not just to be impressed by the tour. ## Why questions matter at open days Open days are designed to show a school at its best, and that is fair enough. But to choose well you need the practical detail underneath the showcase. A few sharp questions turn a pleasant visit into useful research. They give you the facts you cannot get from a website, and a feel for how openly the school answers. _Take these five questions to any grammar open day: exam board, typical entry score, second-stage interview, appeals process, and support once enrolled._ ## Which exam board and entry scores First, confirm which exam board the school uses, because it shapes how your child should prepare. If you are unsure of the difference, our guide to [GL versus CEM](https://pip11plus.com/what-is-the-difference-between-gl-and-cem) is a quick primer. Then ask about the typical standardised score of children who are offered places. It helps to understand [what a standardised score means](https://pip11plus.com/what-is-a-standardised-score-in-the-11-plus) first, so the figure they give you is genuinely useful for setting a target. **Write your questions down beforehand** Open days are busy and it is easy to forget what you meant to ask. A short list on your phone, covering entry, process and support, makes sure you leave with the answers that matter. ## Interview, appeals and criteria Ask whether there is a second-stage interview or assessment beyond the 11+, since some schools have one and it changes how you prepare. Find out how the appeals process works and what the oversubscription criteria are, so you understand your real chances. This connects to the honest picture in our guide on whether you can [appeal an 11+ result](https://pip11plus.com/can-you-appeal-an-11-plus-result). ## Support once enrolled Entry is only the start. Ask what pastoral care, settling-in support and academic help the school offers, especially if your child has any particular needs. A school that talks thoughtfully about supporting children, not just selecting them, tells you a lot about the culture your child would join. ## Use the answers to choose Back home, line the answers up across the schools you visited. The practical detail makes it far easier to compare them honestly rather than on first impressions. Feed it all into the wider thinking in our guide to [choosing which schools to apply to](https://pip11plus.com/how-to-choose-which-grammar-schools-to-apply-to), and if you are still weighing selective against non-selective, our take on whether [grammar schools are better than comprehensives](https://pip11plus.com/are-grammar-schools-better-than-comprehensives) can help. Meanwhile, steady practice with [Pip](https://pip11plus.com/index#get) keeps your child ready for whichever school wins your shortlist. ![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png) Written by **The Pip team** The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers. ## Keep reading [How to choose which grammar schools to apply to](https://pip11plus.com/how-to-choose-which-grammar-schools-to-apply-to): School Choice What to weigh beyond league tables. 5 min read ยท School Choice [Are grammar schools better than comprehensives?](https://pip11plus.com/are-grammar-schools-better-than-comprehensives): School Choice Why fit matters more than the label. 4 min read ยท School Choice [What is a standardised score?](https://pip11plus.com/what-is-a-standardised-score-in-the-11-plus): Results & Scoring Why age matters and what the numbers mean. 5 min read ยท Results & Scoring ## From open day to exam-ready Pip turns 11+ practice into five calm minutes a day across maths, English and reasoning, building towards the entry scores your shortlist needs. [Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) [More 11+ guides](https://pip11plus.com/info-hub) Free forever ยท no sign-up