Is the 16+ easier than the 11+ exams?

[ramennoddles]

Just wondering if the 16+ entry is less competitive than the 11+?

It depends for which school. There's far fewer places available, but a child with or predicted 8 or more A stars will likely get a place at a Top 100 school. Some Grammar schools have queues on GCSE results day, as parents realise there's the opportunity to save £30K+

Do your due diligence and research the new 6th form academies such as London School of Excellence and other stand alone 6th forms, which often have better value added scores at A-Level than the top private schools.

Not sure in general but at dd’s super academic independent London day school there are lots of new joiners at year 12 who had taken the 11+ at the school and didn’t get places then. And a relative who took the 11+ outside London for a state grammar school place, didn’t get in, went to a comprehensive until GCSE, then got offered places at two super selective grammars for year 12. All anecdotal but definitely doable.