11+ SAS Scores Explained
A standardised age score (SAS) is how 11+ results are reported — a score on a common scale with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, adjusted for your child’s exact age. This guide explains what the number means, how it maps to a percentile, and what grammar schools typically require.
How the SAS scale works
Two things make a SAS different from a simple percentage. First, it is age-standardised: a child born in August is compared to other August-born children, not penalised against an older classmate born the previous September. Second, it is placed on a normal distribution, so 100 is always exactly average, and most children (about two-thirds) score between 85 and 115.
SAS to percentile table
Because the SAS sits on a fixed mean-100, SD-15 scale, each score maps to a percentile — the percentage of same-age children scoring at or below it.
| Standardised score (SAS) | Percentile | Band |
|---|---|---|
| 140+ | 99.6th+ | Very high |
| 130 | 98th | Very high |
| 125 | 95th | Well above average |
| 120 | 91st | Well above average |
| 115 | 84th | Above average |
| 110 | 75th | Above average |
| 100 | 50th | Average |
| 90 | 25th | Below average |
| 85 | 16th | Below average |
| 70 | 2nd | Low |
Percentiles are derived from the standard normal distribution (mean 100, SD 15) and are approximate.
What score does a grammar school need?
Most grammar schools set a qualifying SAS of roughly 111–121 (about the top 10–25% nationally). Super-selective schools can require 125 and above. The exact pass mark varies by school, region and year — it often moves with the number of applicants and places available, so there is no single national cut-off. Always check the specific school’s admissions criteria for your child’s year of entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standardised age score (SAS) in the 11+?
A standardised age score (SAS) converts a raw test mark onto a common scale with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, adjusted for the child's exact age in years and months. This "age standardisation" means a younger child is not disadvantaged against an older child in the same year group — everyone is compared fairly to children of the same age.
What SAS score do you need for grammar school?
Most grammar schools set a qualifying standardised score of around 111 to 121 (roughly the top 10–25% nationally), but the exact pass mark varies by school, region, and year, and often depends on how many children apply and the available places. Super-selective schools can require 125+. Always check the specific school's admissions criteria for the year of entry.
Is an 11+ SAS score of 121 good?
Yes. On the standard mean-100, SD-15 scale, a SAS of 121 is roughly the 91st percentile — your child scored higher than about 91% of children their age. That is above the qualifying mark for most grammar schools, though super-selective schools may expect more.
Why is my child's score over 140 (e.g. 221 or 335)?
A score in the 200s or 300s is not a standardised age score — it is usually a total or combined raw score across papers, or a different provider's scale. The standard SAS scale typically runs from about 69 to 141. Check whether the number is a per-subject SAS, a combined total, or a weighted score, as schools differ in how they report and combine results.
Do GL and CEM use the same SAS scale?
Both GL Assessment and CEM (and most UK cognitive tests) report age-standardised scores on the familiar mean-100, SD-15 scale, so a SAS of 115 means the same ability level on either. What differs is the content, timing, and how boards weight and combine subjects into a final qualifying score.
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