The Secondary Transfer Test
also known as the 11+
In Buckinghamshire there are 13 grammar schools. For a child to be placed at one of these grammar schools, they must sit the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (also known as 11+).
Children who achieve a score of at least 121 in the test are considered qualified for a Buckinghamshire grammar school.
Students will sit their 11+ exam in September, at the beginning of Year 6. There are several exam boards across the country and all have slightly different testing strategies; Buckinghamshire uses GL Assessment test papers. The GL Assessments are all multiple-choice papers and roughly one hour long each.
11+ Exam Structure
The students sit two separate exams that test them on four different components:
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning
English comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary.
Maths
Verbal Reasoning
Is 11+ right for your child?
The exam is very challenging and I think most adults would struggle! It requires hard work and dedication from the students and the parents as you will need to take an active role in their learning and monitor and mark homework each week. The level of numeracy and vocabulary required is extremely high. Therefore, it is important that parents understand this and that the 11+ is not right for all students.
Before beginning the Year 5 course, all students on my waiting list will need to complete an introductory assessment that tests their English and Maths skills. This will allow me to see if the child will be able to cope with the course content in a group setting. This test takes place at the beginning of the spring term in Year 4.
Please remember that not all children are are suitable for the 11+ and the grammar system so I aim to be honest, open and provide you with the right advice for your child.
Finally, I understand that the 11+ system can be very daunting, especially if this is your first experience of it! Please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions and I will be happy to chat them over.
11+ Example Questions
GL Assessment are the leading provider of 11+ tests for admissions. Their practice papers reflect the layout children will find when they sit the real test. Featuring up-to-date question types as well as answers, and guidance for parents, the practice papers are great preparation to help build confidence before taking 11+ admissions tests.
Additional preparation materials can be found on the GL 11+ website:
https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/