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CSSE marks needed calculator

Know one paper's mark? See the lowest mark on the other paper that reaches 303, or any target, on CSSE's own published formula.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Updates as you type
  • Data checked 26 September 2026

Pick a school's past cut-off from the Essex cut-off tool, or start at 303.

The mark you already know

Out of 60

Use the CSSE papers for

CSSE 2026 entry · marks needed

Enter the known mark and a birth month

We work backwards through CSSE's published formula to the lowest whole maths mark that reaches the target.

2026 entry papers
Total for each maths mark

The chart shows the total for every maths mark once the inputs are in.

  • Total, oldest day of the month
  • Lowest mark that reaches the target

A practice target, not a promise. This uses a past year’s averages. Next year’s papers set new ones, and a score is not a place.

CSSE 2026-entry standardisation report

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How we estimate

Scope, source, method, uncertainty, dates and what the answer can and cannot tell you.

What it covers

The CSSE 11+ English and maths papers, each out of 60, with the conversion CSSE published for 2024, 2025 or 2026 entry. You give a target total, one paper's mark and the birth month; we give the lowest whole mark on the other paper that reaches the target.

Sources

Method

  1. CSSE's total is 1.5 x (200 + 15 x (English - average) / spread + 15 x (maths - average) / spread + days younger than 1 September x age allowance), with that year's published averages, spreads and allowances.
  2. We fix the known mark, then solve for the other paper and round up to the next whole mark. For 2025 entry, English 40 and a birthday of 15 May 2014 needs 41.83 in maths to reach 350, so 42 marks, which gives 350.32.
  3. We ask only for the birth month, so we solve for its first day (the oldest, who needs the most) and its last day. The mark for the first day works for any day in the month.
  4. If even 60 marks cannot reach the target we say so, and if 0 marks already reaches it we say that instead.

Uncertainty and limits

  • Each year's averages come from that year's papers and children, so next year's conversion will differ. For the same marks the three published years differ by several points; compare them with the year switch.
  • Every CSSE paper is marked in whole marks, so the answer is rounded up to a whole mark.
  • The formula matches CSSE's published score spreads for 2024 and 2025 entry. For 2026 entry the published lists could not be fully checked against each other.

Dates and versions

  • CSSE standardisation formula and published scores, 2024 to 2026 entry: data version 2026-09-26.1, checked 26 September 2026 (historical).
  • Page last changed 26 September 2026.

What the answer means

The answer is a practice target: the mark on the other paper that would have reached your target total on a past year's papers. It cannot promise the same mark will be enough next year, and reaching a total is not the same as being offered a place.

What one mark was worth in each year

One mark on a paper adds 22.5 divided by that paper’s spread to the total. Maths marks are usually more spread out, so each is worth less.

From CSSE's standardisation reports, checked 26 September 2026
Entry yearOne English markOne maths markAverage marks score
20262.96 points1.72 pointsEnglish 35.0, maths 27.3
20252.90 points1.91 pointsEnglish 34.4, maths 27.5
20242.91 points2.01 pointsEnglish 31.5, maths 28.3

Questions people ask

What is the CSSE pass mark?

CSSE does not offer a place to any child scoring under 303. That is a floor, not a pass: at most schools the last place went to a higher score, which the Essex cut-off tool shows by school, area and year.

Is a maths mark worth the same as an English mark?

No. Each mark is worth 22.5 divided by that paper's spread. For 2026 entry an English mark was worth 2.96 points and a maths mark 1.72, because maths marks were more spread out.

Why does the birth month change the answer?

CSSE adds an age allowance for every day a child is younger than 1 September. For 2026 entry it was 0.038 points a day, so a child born on 31 August got about 14 more points than one born on 1 September with the same marks.

What marks do I need for King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS)?

The last place at KEGS for 2025 entry went at 355 inside its priority area and 372 outside. Enter one of those as the target to see the marks it would have needed on a past year's papers.

Sources

CSSE standardisation formula and published scores, 2024 to 2026 entry: version 2026-09-26.1, First transcription from the 11+ research data, 26 September 2026.

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