
Buckinghamshire 11 Plus
For Entry in 2021
Buckinghamshire School Allocation Profiles Page 2
Buckinghamshire 12+ and 13+ Tests Page 3
Buckinghamshire (Bucks) is one of the last remaining Counties where education is fully selective. There are 13 grammar schools and 21 upper schools in the County. Admission into Year 7 at all schools is managed centrally by Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC). There is also a Free School that opened in Winslow in September 2013, the Sir Thomas Fremantle Secondary School. The school’s admissions are also handled by BCC.
Buckinghamshire operates an “opt out” system for the 11+, whereby children at Bucks state primary schools are automatically entered for the test unless their parents actively withdraw them from taking it. Children at private schools within the county and those attending schools outside Buckinghamshire must actively apply to take the test.
Many private schools in the county and some large schools outside the county administer the Bucks 11 plus on behalf of Bucks CC. These are known as “Partner Schools”. The children receive the application form for the test and the CAF (school application form) via their school, the tests take place in the school and the results are provided via the school in exactly the same way as for children attending Bucks state schools.
Approximately 30% of children qualify for a grammar school place each year, and around a further 5% are deemed qualified after a successful Review or Appeal against non-qualification. School places are allocated by distance from school gates with defined catchment areas that receive priority.
Online registration for testing opens in early May each year and closes at the end of June. (See below for exact dates for the current round of admissions.)
If your child attends a primary school in Buckinghamshire; they will sit a Preparation Test at their school in order to become familiar with the Transfer Test; they are slightly shorter than the real test and take about 35 minutes each. Children attending other schools are invited to take the Preparation Test at one of the grammar schools.
To assess your chances of gaining a place at your preferred school you can view our summary of past Allocation Profiles (Distances).
Buckinghamshire is unusual in that it has retained the 12+ and 13+ tests for grammar school entry. Places are not reserved for candidates taking these tests, so availability depends on vacancies arising in each year group. The number of places available has declined significantly in recent years.
Important changes to Admissions 2019 onwards
For the September 2018 test (2019 admission) the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools will be reverting to using GL Assessment as the supplier for the test, following 5 years of testing by Durham CEM. Click here for more information.
All subjects continue to be tested in two separate papers.
One paper will contain English comprehension, verbal reasoning, technical English (eg spelling, punctuation and grammar) and the other paper will comprise maths, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning.
Help to boost your child’s exam performance and confidence in preparation for the exams. Book our GL Assessment format papers tailored to the Buckinghamshire schools. BOOK HERE
Bucks 11 Plus Admissions Information for September 2021 entry
Closing date for applications | 25th June 2020 at 3pm (open 5th May 2020 at 3pm – Registration is required for all children attending Partner Schools and out of county schools). Children attending Bucks state schools do not need to register. Parents can notify their child’s headteacher if they do not wish their child to take the test |
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31st October 2020 for the Common Application Form | |
11+ test dates | Postponed to 27-30 October 2020 (In county) 2-5 November 2020 (Out of County) (Original date was Thursday 10th September 2020 Practice Test: Tuesday 8th September 2020 – two practice test papers each lasting about 25-30 minutes containing questions that are similar to those they will encounter in the Secondary Transfer Test |
Test Types | The Secondary Transfer Test will continue to comprise two test papers. The first paper will include comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning questions. The second paper will include non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and maths questions. This will be the same each year, although the questions will be different. Children will answer questions on separate answer sheets. Each Secondary Transfer Test paper will take about 45 minutes. This means that it can be administered in under an hour including the introduction and examples. |
Examiners | GL Assessment |
Test Results | 16th October 2020 |
Pass Mark | The test does not have a pass mark. Instead there is a qualifying score for admission to grammar school. The qualifying score for Buckinghamshire grammar schools will continue to be a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above. The STTS is calculated by age-standardising the three section scores and then adding them using the following weightings: verbal – 50%; mathematical – 25%; non-verbal – 25%. The total is the STTS |
Standardised Score | Yes |
Allocations Day | March 2021 |
Links | Buckinghamshire Admissions Information Free Familiarisation Materials The Secondary Transfer Test FAQs |
Recommended Materials | Maths Practice Materials English Practice Materials Verbal Practice Materials Non-Verbal Practice Materials |
More information and advice can also be found in the Buckinghamshire section of the 11+ Forum
Bucks 11 Plus General School Information
Open evening information for all Bucks schools, including grammar schools, is published on the Buckinghamshire County Council website each year. Dates for grammar school open days and evenings for 2020 entry are shown below.
School | Admissions | Gender | Places | Open Events |
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Aylesbury Grammar School Walton Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7RP 01296484545 office@ags.bucks.sch.uk |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Boys | 186 in Year 7 | Mon 13th July 2020 5:45pm-8pm |
Aylesbury High School Walton Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7SX 01296388222 office@ahs.bucks.sch.uk |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Girls | 180 in Year 7 | TBC |
Beaconsfield High School Wattleton Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 1RR 01494673043 |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Girls | 180 in Year 7 | TBC |
Burnham Grammar School Hogfair Lane, Burnham, Slough, Buckinghamshire, SL1 7HG 01628604812 info@burnhamgrammar.org.uk |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Mixed | 150 in Year 7 | TBC |
Chesham Grammar School White Hill, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1BA 01494782854 office@cheshamgrammar.org |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Mixed | 180 in Year 7 | TBC |
Dr. Challoners Grammar School Chesham Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HA 01494787500 admin@challoners.com |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Boys | 180 in Year 7 | TBC |
Dr. Challoners High School Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont Buckinghamshire HP7 9QB 01494 763 296 office@challonershigh.com |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Girls | 180 in Year 7 | Fri 24th April 2020 9:20am – 10:50am and Wed 1st July 2020 9:20am – 10:50am |
John Hampden Grammar School Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1SZ 01494529589 office@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk |
Admissions Policy 2021 | Boys | 180 in Year 7 | TBC |
The Royal Grammar School Amersham Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 6QT 01494524955 |
Admissions Policy (Day Places) 2020 Admissions Policy (Boarding Places) 2020 |
Boys | 182 day in Year 7 & 10 boarding | Mon 16 September 2019, 6pm – 8pm Tues 17 September 2019, 6pm – 8pm Tues 22 October 2019, 10.15am – 11.30am Thurs 24 October 2019, 10.15am – 11.30am |
Royal Latin School Chandos Road, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 1AX 01280813065 office@royallatin.org |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Mixed | 174 in Year 7 | Thurs 20th June 2019, 4.30pm – 8pm |
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School Oxford Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 8PE 01296424781 office@sirhenryfloyd.co.uk |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Mixed | 180 in Year 7 | Thurs 11th July 2019, 5.30am – 8.30pm Thurs 19th September 2019, 5.30pm – 8.30pm Thurs 26th September 2019, 9.30am – 11am Wed 16th October 2019, 9.30am – 11am Thurs 17th October 2019, 9.30am – 11am Wed 23th October 2019, 9.30am – 11am |
Sir William Borlase School West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR 01628816500 enquiries@swbgs.com |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Mixed | 120 in Year 7 | Wed 18th September 2019, 4.30pm – 8.30pm |
Wycombe High School Marlow Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1TB 01494523961 office@whs.bucks.sch.uk |
Admissions Policy 2020 | Girls | 192 in Year 7 | Thurs 4th July 2019, 4.30pm – 7.15pm Tues 15th October 2019, 10am – 12.30pm Thurs 17th October 2019, 10am – 12.30pm Fri 18th October 2019, 10am – 12.30pm |
N.B. Chesham Grammar School was known as Chesham High School until September 2010.
Upper Schools in Buckinghamshire
All Buckinghamshire Upper Schools are co-educational.
- The Amersham School, Amersham
- The Aylesbury Vale Academy, Aylesbury, (formerly Quarrendon Upper School)
- The Beaconsfield School, Beaconsfield
- Buckingham School, Buckingham
- Burnham E-ACT Academy, Burnham
- The Chalfonts Community College, Chalfont St. Peter
- Chiltern Hills Academy, Chesham
- Cottesloe School, Wing
- Cressex Community School, High Wycombe
- The Grange School, Aylesbury
- Great Marlow School, Marlow
- The Highcrest Academy, High Wycombe
- Holmer Green Senior School, Holmer Green
- John Colet School, Wendover
- The Mandeville School
- The Misbourne School, Great Missenden
- Princes Risborough School, Princes Risborough
- Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere
- St Michael’s Catholic School
- Waddesdon CofE School, Waddesdon
- The Bourne End Academy, Bourne End
N.B. The Aylesbury Vale Academy was previously known as the Quarrendon School. Chiltern Hills Academy was previously called Chesham Park Community College. The Highcrest Academy was previously known as Highcrest Community School. The Bourne End Academy also known as the Wye Valley School, Burnham E-ACT Academy was previously known as Burnham Upper School.
Buckinghamshire School Allocation Profiles Page 2
Buckinghamshire 12+ and 13+ Tests Page 3
Information on this page was believed to be correct at the time of writing, but we would not necessarily be aware of subsequent changes unless someone brings them to our attention.
Before acting on any information given here, please verify that it is up to date
Page updated on 5th June 2019