Buckinghamshire 11 Plus (Secondary Transfer Test): Format, Dates and Preparation
By Simply Eleven Plus · Updated 25 October 2026 · 4 min read
Buckinghamshire is fully selective, and all 13 of its grammar schools use one 11 plus: the Secondary Transfer Test. Check with Buckinghamshire Council how and when to register your child.
Buckinghamshire 11 plus at a glance
| The Secondary Transfer Test | |
|---|---|
| Test | The Secondary Transfer Test, used by all 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools |
| Set by | GL Assessment |
| Papers | Two papers mixing Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal (including spatial) Reasoning, English and Maths |
| Register | Usually May to early June of Year 5 |
| Test date | September of Year 6, with a practice test a few days before |
| Results | Early-to-mid October |
What’s in the test
The test is written by GL Assessment and covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal and spatial reasoning, English and Maths across two papers. Children sit a short practice test a few days before the real one, so the format isn’t a surprise.
Registration is early
Registration usually opens in May and closes in early June of Year 5, earlier than many other areas. Missing it can mean your child can’t sit the test with everyone else.
Don’t forget the second form. Registering for the test does not apply for a school place. You must also name the grammar schools on your home council’s secondary school application (the Common Application Form) by its deadline, usually 31 October of Year 6. Offers are made on National Offer Day, 1 March.
How to prepare for the Buckinghamshire 11 plus
- Verbal Reasoning question types such as letter codes and synonyms and antonyms come up a lot.
- Spatial reasoning is a distinctive part of the test: practise rotations and reflections and cubes and nets.
- Keep Maths and English fluent too, since the papers mix all four areas.
Practise for free
Simply Eleven Plus has 11 plus practice for Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning with instant marking, free to start. Our free live 11 plus mock exams let your child sit a timed paper online under exam conditions. For a full timeline, see how to prepare for the 11 plus.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Bucks 11 plus called?
- The Secondary Transfer Test. All 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools use it.
- Who writes the Buckinghamshire 11 plus?
- GL Assessment. It covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal and spatial reasoning, English and Maths.
- When is registration for the Bucks 11 plus?
- Usually May to early June of Year 5. Check Buckinghamshire Council's website for the current dates.
Free 11+ live mock exams
Let your child sit a real-time, timed mock paper online, then go through the trickiest questions together. It’s free.