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Introduction
The Buckinghamshire Grammar School Consortium was established with the purpose of coordinating the 11+ secondary school entrance examination process in Buckinghamshire. Its objective is to ensure a fair and consistent admissions process for all selective grammar schools in the county. Students who take the 11+ entrance exam have the opportunity to be considered for multiple schools within the consortium based on their performance.
The consortium is dedicated to improving the efficiency and fairness of the admissions process for its member schools. Through collaboration, the schools share resources, expertise and administrative responsibilities, resulting in a unified and well-organised selection procedure. This collective effort aims to provide students from diverse backgrounds with equal opportunities to access high-quality education across the participating grammar schools.
Complete List of Grammar Schools in Bucks
There are currently 13 grammar schools in the Buckinghamshire Grammar School Consortium:
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools
The Bucks 11+ exam is a common benchmark for admission decisions amongst the grammar schools in the consortium. With just one exam, students have the opportunity to be considered for admission to multiple schools within the consortium, increasing their chances of securing a place at a grammar school. Here are key details about the Bucks 11+ test:
Registration closing date: June (for those attending a private school, a partner school or a primary school outside of Bucks)
Supplementary Information Form (SIF) closing date: October
Exam date: September
Exam board type: GL Assessment
Pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: Buckinghamshire County Council, 01296 395000
Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Admission to Buckinghamshire grammar schools in Year 7 is determined by student performance in the 11 plus Secondary Transfer Test, which aims to select students based on academic ability. Admission into Year 7 at all grammar schools in the county is managed by Buckinghamshire County Council.
Each of the Buckinghamshire grammar schools hosts a range of open events, often in the summer term, providing prospective pupils and parents with the opportunity to take a tour of the campus, meet senior staff and speak to current pupils.
How to Register for the 11 Plus (11+) Exam at Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools
Pupils who currently attend a primary school in Buckinghamshire are automatically registered to take the county’s 11 Plus Secondary Transfer Test.
Those who don’t live in Buckinghamshire but wish to attend a school in the county from Year 7 must be registered for the exam using the Bucks online application portal.
If relevant to their child’s 11+ application, parents should also complete the Supplementary Information Form and send it to their preferred school.
Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The exam board for the 11+ test in Buckinghamshire is GL Assessment. The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test is split into two papers that test:
- Comprehension, technical English and Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning and Mathematics
Each test paper lasts for approximately 45 minutes and all questions are multiple-choice. The 11+ Secondary Transfer Test is weighted as follows:
- Verbal Ability – 50%
- Non-Verbal Ability – 25%
- Numerical Ability – 25%
All questions are answered on a separate answer sheet, with each correct answer gaining one raw mark.
The 11 Plus Secondary Transfer Test is taken by students in September of Year 6, with all children taking the test on the same day, whether they are within the Buckinghamshire catchment area or not. The tests are age standardised to ensure that no students have an advantage based on their age.
Achieving the Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) does not guarantee a place at the school. Each grammar school in Buckinghamshire sets its own additional admissions criteria.
Before taking the Secondary Transfer Test, students will have the opportunity to take a practice test, two days before the actual exam. The practice test aims to give students the experience of taking a test under exam conditions and to help familiarise them with the layout of the 11+ STT.
For more information on the Secondary Transfer Test, please see the Buckinghamshire County Council website.
Buckinghamshire 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
The Secondary Transfer Test (STT) scores are standardised, taking into account candidates’ ages and ensuring that no child is disadvantaged.
All candidates with a standardised score above 121 will qualify for a Bucks grammar school place.
Based on historical data, we have found that students who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ Bucks practice tests are on track to pass the STT.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Bucks 11+ exam.
Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Buckinghamshire 11 Plus (11+) STT Practice Exam Papers
For the Buckinghamshire 11+ exam, we would highly recommend the following practice resources:
Pre-11+ practice tests
The Buckinghamshire Pre-11+ Practice Tests are designed for Year 4 and 5 students to introduce the exam format and boost their confidence. These tests are less challenging than the Buckinghamshire 11+ Exam. They offer an accurate yet more straightforward representation of the actual exam, allowing students to familiarise themselves with exam specifics. This approach provides a solid foundation for students to progress to more challenging 11+ Practice Tests.
Pre-11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 1
Pre-11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 2
Pre-11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 3
Pre-11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 4
Pre-11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 5
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Full-length practice tests
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the Buckinghamshire 11+ Exam. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 1
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 2
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 3
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 4
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 5
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 6
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 7
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 8
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 9
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 10
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 11
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 12
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 13
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 14
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 15
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 16
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 17
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 18
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 19
11+ Buckinghamshire Practice Test 20
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Subject and skill-specific practice resources
English
The following 11+ resources provide full preparation for the English section of the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test, maximising your child’s skills in this subject area:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Buckinghamshire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Bucks English Bundle
Mathematics
The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Maths section of the Buckinghamshire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
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Verbal Reasoning
In order for your child to master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test, we recommend the following resources:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the Buckinghamshire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Bucks VR Bundle
Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning abilities ahead of the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test:
NVR Full Practice Tests
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
NVR Masterclasses
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
SR Full Practice Tests
11+ Spatial Reasoning – Pack 1
SR Skill Specific Practice
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning section of the Bucks 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
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Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools: Results and Leavers’ Destinations
Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools – Progress 8 Scores
Progress 8 is a metric used to evaluate the progress made by students between the end of primary school (Key Stage 2) and the end of secondary school (Key Stage 4). It serves as a means of assessing the value that schools contribute to their students’ education, based on their academic advancement.
Progress 8 scores are calculated by comparing the actual accomplishments of students across eight core subjects (including English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages) with their expected achievements, which are derived from their prior attainment at the end of primary school. The score is determined by the average progress achieved by students across these subjects.
📊 Please refer to the charts below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Bucks:
Source: Gov.uk
A positive Progress 8 score indicates that students, on average, have made more progress than expected, while a negative score suggests that they have made less progress than expected. A score of zero means that students have progressed as expected.
Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools – Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at Buckinghamshire grammar schools.
Russell Group universities are esteemed educational institutions, widely acclaimed for their exceptional achievements. They showcase remarkable research output, housing esteemed scholars and groundbreaking discoveries. Their academic reputation is exemplary, drawing talented individuals from across the globe.
Among the esteemed members of the Russell Group are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both renowned for their illustrious history, academic excellence and rigorous educational programmes. With distinguished faculty and a commitment to excellence, these universities have maintained their prestigious reputation for centuries.
📊 The charts below show the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Bucks:
Source: Gov.uk
As the charts above show, a significant number of students from Bucks Grammar School Consortium are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About The 11 Plus (11+) Exam in Buckinghamshire
Does Buckinghamshire have grammar schools?
Yes, Buckinghamshire has 13 selective grammar schools, which use the same 11+ exam to assess Year 7 applicants. This exam is known as the Secondary Transfer Test (STT). Click here to access the articles we have for each of these schools, addressing their history and ethos, as well as all the details about their 11+ entry procedure.
When is the closing date for registrations at grammar schools in Buckinghamshire?
The deadline for registering for the Bucks STT is in June, but only students who don’t live in Buckinghamshire are required to register. Pupils who currently attend a primary school in Buckinghamshire are automatically registered to take the county’s 11 plus.
When is the date of the Secondary Transfer Test (STT) in Buckinghamshire?
The Bucks 11+ Secondary Transfer Test (STT) exam is held in September.
What is evaluated in the Buckinghamshire 11+ Secondary Transfer Test?
The Bucks Test consists of two multiple-choice papers lasting 45 minutes each. These assess:
– Paper 1: Comprehension, technical English and Verbal Reasoning
– Paper 2: Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning and Mathematics.
What is the pass mark in Buckinghamshire?
All candidates with a standardised score above 121 will qualify for a grammar school place in Bucks. Based on historical data, students who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ Bucks practice tests are on track to pass the STT.
Who is the 11+ exam provider for Buckinghamshire?
Grammar schools in Buckinghamshire use the GL Assessment exam provider.
The information provided about the Buckinghamshire grammar schools was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Buckinghamshire grammar schools.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning
