Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Exam

Introduction to the Buckinghamshire Transfer Test
(Bucks 11 Plus)

To apply for a place at a Buckinghamshire grammar school, your child will need to pass the Buckinghamshire Transfer Test (11 Plus exam). The Buckinghamshire test is provided by GL Assessment and the pass mark is 121. Children born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 will take the exam on Thursday 10th September 2026 to secure a place at a Buckinghamshire grammar school for September 2027.

Skip to FAQs about the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus exam >

  • He got a fantastic score of 162 for Buckinghamshire and 224 for SW Herts 🥳. Thanks to your team and tutoring. Please pass on our thanks to Sarah.

    Year 5 parent, Amersham (2024)

  • Just wanted to let you know she passed her 11+ Scoring 136.  Thank you for all your help and support during the time and a very big thank you to Sarah who has been an amazing teacher, she always looked forward to Saturday classes . You guys doing a good job.

    Year 5 parent, High Wycombe (2022)

  • I’m delighted to say she passed with a score of 132.

    Year 5 parent, Marlow (2022)

  • We are extremely pleased to tell you that she passed the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test with an amazing score of 143. Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to the team and especially Sarah for helping her through the process.

    Year 6 parent, Amersham (2021)

  • She passed both the Slough and Bucks 11 plus with flying colours and we are hopeful she will join her sister in Burnham Grammar. She was so apprehensive that her nerves would have impacted her on the day but thankfully she managed to do fantastically well and all her hard work paid off. Can you please pass on my thanks to Naz. She was wonderful and I am told the lessons were enjoyable!  The level of teaching has been truly amazing and my partner and I felt like it’s been more of an investment rather than anything else. I will hopefully have my youngest enrolled with you guys in the next year or so and will wholeheartedly recommend you to other parents.

    Year 5 parent, Slough (2022)

  • Dear Marie, she smashed her 11+ with 147 in Bucks and 125 in Berkshire. Thanks so much.

    Year 5 parent, Iver (2022)

  • She got 126 so we have already applied for Buckinghamshire Grammar schools. Thank you for teaching her.

    Year 6 parent, Chesham (2021)

  • I am very pleased to say she passed her 11+ with a good score of 134. Thank you very much for your support, we are delighted with the outcome :)

    Year 5 parent, Chesham (2022)

  • He passed and scored 130 which are really pleased with, next will be getting him into the school of his choice! Thank you for the great courses and tuition, they definitely played a part in his success!

    Year 5 parent, Marlow (2022)

  • She scored 136 in the GL and 116 in the CEM. That’s all 3 children that have passed both tests and I would like to thank you and the teachers for their excellent preparation.

    Year 6 parent, Beaconsfield (2021)

  • We thank you for the support you and your teachers offered to our daughter during the last two years. We are impressed with your professionalism. We are delighted to inform you that Christina did well in passing both Bucks and Berkshire exams. She got 148 in Bucks exam and 120 in Berkshire exam.

    Year 5 parent, Stoke Poges (2024)

  • Ayana did extremely well and passed both the Slough and Buckinghamshire exams ( with top scores ) She also attended the book club & thoroughly enjoyed it Thank you so much for the journey that started 3 years ago Highly recommend[From Google Review. The location of the parent/child has been excluded as their full name is featured on Google]

    Year 6 parent, Location Confidential (2022)

  • My son had a wonderful experience with Marie Redmond face-to-face tuition. I am absolutely pleased with his Bucks secondary transfer test score of 158. A special thanks to Irene, who is an exceptionally talented and kind teacher at getting tough areas understood and getting tasks done at high speed. It has greatly helped my son in his time management skills and confidence.I am truly grateful to MR team for how they have helped with feedback and reports to aware parents on how to support their child better at home. Marie and Craig are both always available to help and respond to any queries. I will definitely recommend it to all my friends. Thank you.[From Google Review. The location of the parent/child has been excluded as their name is featured on Google]

    Year 5 parent, Location Confidential (2024)

  • He got 125, so we are really happy that he passed it. Thank you for all your support with his preparation.

    Year 5 parent, Little Chalfont (2022)

  • He passed GL. We are very pleased with his progress over the year and feel that he has learned a lot from the process - content, focus, practice and exam-technique. I felt that he became more confident and started to mature a bit too.

    Year 6 parent, Ickenham (2021)

  • He passed his 11 plus he got a score of 124. We are very pleased he has come a long way. Thank you to both you and Anne the termly tests and reports helped me to know what areas he needed additional help on.

    Year 5 parent, High Wycombe (2022)

  • Hope you’re well.He has passed his exams with good marks. He’s got 143 at GL and 117 at Slough .We would like to say a huge thank- to all of you,and a special mention to his teacher Gulnaz for all the help and support  given to him.Good luck with all your future endeavours.

    Year 5 parent, High Wycombe (2022)

  • Hope you are well. Writing to let you know that she has cleared her Bucks 11+ transfer test. She got a score of 132. Please convey our thanks to Leanne for all the support and guidance.

    Year 5 parent, Chalfont St Giles (2022)

  • Hello Marie,We are happy to share with you that he scored 157 in Buckinghamshire and 115 in CEM. Please pass this message on to Sarah and Craig as well. Thank you so much for supporting him in his 11+ preparation. Thanks n Regards

    Year 5 parent, Amersham (2022)

  • Our son Ryan recently completed years 4 and 5 with Marie Redmond tuition and has just scored a good pass in the Secondary Transfer Test. We can’t thank Marie and the team (particularly Sarah) enough. What seemed an insurmountable task at the start of year 4 was broken down into a well structured and progressive process that never overwhelmed him and took him to the point where he walked into the exam on the day confident that he was well prepared. In particular the regular tests that Ryan had taken throughout years 4 and 5 and also the mocks he sat in the summer just before meant that he took exam day (and the build up to it) in his stride. Thanks again to Marie and the team.[From Google Review. The location of the parent/child has been excluded as their name is featured on Google]

    Year 6 parent, Location Confidential (2023)

  • I am happy to share that Shayan passed the Buckinghamshire test with a score of 123. Many thanks to you and the team. He thoroughly enjoyed his virtual lessons and these kept him engaged with the learning process throughout covid and lockdown.

    Year 6 parent, Iver (2021)

  • My daughter started year 5 and she enjoyed studying there for the whole year. Her teacher Sarah was very good at teaching 11+ strategies across all subjects. She passed Kendrick, Buckinghamshire and Wallinghton Girls. Thank you for the whole team.[From Google Review. The location of the parent/child has been excluded as their name is featured on Google]

    Year 6 parent, Location Confidential (2023)

  • We thank you for the support you and your teachers offered to our daughter during the last two years. We are impressed with your professionalism. We are delighted to inform you that she did well in passing both Bucks and Berkshire exams. She got 148 in Bucks exam and 120 in Berkshire exam

    Year 5 parent, Slough (2024)

  • The lessons are very well organised and the communication is clear. The teachers are very nice and approachable. My son enjoyed his lessons at MRT and was happy to pass both Slough and Bucks 11+ tests![From Google Review. The location of the parent/child has been excluded as their full name is featured on Google]

    Year 6 parent, Location Confidential (2022)

  • Thank you for your kind message. Please send our best wishes and regards to Leanne for helping her get through this year. We are so pleased and she is so happy.

    Year 5 parent, Ickenham (2022)

  • She passed and received a score of 125! Thank you for all your help with her studies, we really appreciate all your hard work

    Year 5 parent, High Wycombe (2022)

  • I am pleased to inform that he has scored 158 marks in Bucks Grammar school exam.

    Year 5 parent, Aylesbury (2024)

  • He scored 129 at Bucks and 113 at Slough 11+. He is very happy about his result and excited to apply for the same school as his brother (Royal Grammar school). Many thanks for your help and support in this learning journey,

    Year 5 parent, High Wycombe (2022)

  • Hi Marie, a very big thank you to you and your staff in preparing Rohan (Beaconsfield Sat 930am class) for his 11 Plus. He passed the Bucks test with a score of 131. The tuition course was well structured and organised with prompt replies to emails. A very positive first experience of going through the 11 Plus process. We will be in touch soon to prepare our two younger children.

    Year 5 parent, Ickenham (2018)

  • I am happy to inform you that he has qualified for Bucks Grammar Schools. His STTS is 137. Thank you ever so much for all your offer and useful information at the tuition for the past 2 years. Craig, thank you so much for your efficient emails and responses. It was very helpful. Please could you kindly tell our gratitude towards his teachers. He and I are very much looking forward to his new stage at grammar school next year!

    Year 5 parent, Beaconsfield (2024)

  • I very pleased to let you know that our daughter passed her 11+ test. Thank you very much for the support, the expertise and the professionalism that you and your team have demonstrated time and time again.

    Year 5 parent, Tylers Green (2022)

  • I just wanted to let you know that D has passed his 11+ exam for Buckinghamshire and as you can imagine, he is very happy. We will be applying for our local grammar school in Aylesbury. Thank you for all your support and I would also appreciate it if you could inform his teacher, Anne, about it as well.

    Year 5 parent, Aylesbury (2022)

  • I am happy to share that he passed the Buckinghamshire test with a score of 123. Many thanks to you and the team. He thoroughly enjoyed his virtual lessons and these kept him engaged with the learning process throughout covid and lockdown.

    Year 6 parent, Iver (2021)

The Sir John Madejski Scholarship

FAQs About the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus

What does the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus include?
  • The Buckinghamshire (GL Assessment) exam consists of two papers, taken on the same day, each approximately 60 minutes in duration and testing three areas – verbal, mathematical and non-verbal reasoning skills.
  • The first paper tests verbal skills, including comprehension, English technical language and verbal reasoning.
  • The second paper tests non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and maths.
  • All questions on both papers are multiple choice and pupils indicate their answers on a separate answer sheet.
What does the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus look like?

A familiarisation booklet, produced by GL Assessment, contains information about the content of the tests, some advice about taking the tests and a few sample questions. You can see the most recent booklet here > You can also find example papers on the website of GL Assessment.

How do I register my child for the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Transfer Test?
  • You do not need to register your child if they attend a Buckinghamshire Local Authority primary school.
  • If your child goes to a Partner School (or an independent school in Buckinghamshire that is not classed as a ‘Partner School), or a school in another Local Authority area (such as Milton Keynes City Council), you will need to register on the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Testing Registration Form.
  • Registration for the 2026 exam, for children attending partner and out-of-county schools, will open at 10 am on Friday 1st May 2026 and close at 3 pm on Tuesday 2nd June 2026.
  • For more information about the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus, visit the Buckinghamshire Council website or The Buckingamshire Grammar Schools. You can also contact the Buckinghamshire Council Admissions team here.

What Is Required to Pass the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus?

Verbal skills, i.e. English and Verbal Reasoning (approx. 50% of the mark)

  • Comprehension
  • Verbal reasoning (the production of words, relationships between words, letters and numbers)
  • Vocabulary
  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Punctuation

Numerical Reasoning (approx. 25% of the mark)

  • Basic skills (addition, multiplication, division and subtraction)
  • Mental maths development
  • Problem solving techniques
  • Extracting information from graphs and tables
  • Averages
  • Foundation algebra concepts
  • Fractions, decimals and percentages
  • Ratio and proportion
  • Area and volume
  • 2d and 3d shapes

Non-verbal skills (25% of the mark)

  • Spatial awareness
  • Logical deduction skills
  • Mathematical concepts such as symmetry, rotation and reflection
  • Identifying relationships, similarities and differences between figures
  • Identifying sequences between shapes

About Our Buckinghamshire 11+ Tuition Courses

Marie Redmond Tuition Rucksack

At Marie Redmond Tuition, we believe that every child deserves expert tuition—taught by fully qualified, highly experienced primary teachers who specialise in the 11+ curriculum. The foundation of success isn’t just about a well-designed space—it’s about the depth of knowledge, the expertise, and the commitment of the educators guiding each child.

Whilst some tuition providers focus on aesthetics, we focus on results, excellence, and real teaching expertise. We never compromise, because we know parents wouldn’t want their child’s future in the hands of an unqualified teacher—sometimes a teenager still in school, hired simply for having five GCSEs and working for low pay. The 11+ is a pivotal milestone—one that requires carefully planned teaching, exceptional resources, and guidance from professionals who truly understand primary education.

Marie Redmond Tuition has always been obsessive about delivering the highest standard of tuition. We have seen many tuition providers come and go, including those with well-presented high street or shopping centre locations. But our longevity and success come from our relentless focus on quality, our exclusive Superbrain® resources, and our personalised support that gives every child the best chance to excel.

Small Classes

Our Buckinghamshire 11+ tuition classes are deliberately kept small — less than half the size of most independent school lessons, with a maximum of 10 students. A group of 10 provides the ideal balance: small enough for close monitoring and individual attention, yet large enough for healthy discussion, collaboration and a positive group dynamic.

We avoid groups of 11 or more because, although larger numbers may boost capacity, they inevitably reduce a teacher’s ability to monitor each child closely and provide the individual support we consider essential. We won’t compromise on teaching quality just to fit more children into a room. Discover the proven benefits of small class sizes.

When your child enrols on our Buckinghamshire 11 Plus tuition course, we will:

  • Ask them to complete an assessment to understand their current level of ability
  • Recommend key areas for improvement based on the assessment results
  • Provide you with a personalised Tuition Plan – detailing your child’s specific targets

Course Structure

Our Buckinghamshire 11+ Term-time lessons last for 2 and a half hours and the course is divided into three terms, with around 11 lessons per term. If your child is unable to start at the beginning of a course, they are welcome to join later, subject to availability.

Teaching Methods

Marie Redmond, Director of EducationOur Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Tuition Courses are expertly designed by Marie Redmond MEd and delivered by an outstanding team of fully qualified local primary teachers. By combining proven strategies with engaging teaching methods tailored to meet the latest 11 Plus requirements, we ensure every child feels confident, prepared, and fully supported throughout their journey.

Unlike approaches that focus solely on teaching students how to answer questions, we ensure a balanced and comprehensive approach. Our courses not only cover the full syllabus, ensuring students fully understand all areas of the Buckinghamshire 11+ curriculum, but also thoroughly teach pupils the techniques required to tackle exam questions effectively. In addition, we go further-training them in essential exam techniques that empower them to excel under real exam conditions. By mastering both the content of the syllabus and the strategies for success, students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed not just to succeed in the exam but to manage the pressures and challenges it presents.

Guided by evidence-based insights, we recognise that children learn best when actively engaged, intrinsically motivated, and supported by positive emotions and social interaction. This philosophy is shaped by Marie’s Masters Degree in Education, specialising in child psychology and literacy development, and it influences every aspect of our work.

By blending traditional teaching methods with premium resources and incorporating educational games and activities, we create lessons that are both effective and enjoyable. Mental preparation is a cornerstone of our philosophy, helping to build confidence and resilience, fostering academic success, and creating a deeply fulfilling learning experience.

Superbrain® Skills Videos – Reinforce Learning Anytime, Anywhere

Marie Redmond's Superbrain Skills VideosOur Buckinghamshire 11+ Term-time students have access to video explanations of the key techniques taught in each lesson. These videos are designed to:

 Reinforce learning – Helping students revisit essential concepts covered in class.

 Provide step-by-step guidance – Breaking down techniques in a clear, structured way.

 Support independent review – Allowing students to study at their own pace, whenever they need.

Whether your child wants to refresh their understanding, master tricky techniques, or solidify their knowledge, these videos offer an invaluable resource to build confidence and success in their Buckinghamshire 11+ preparation.

Assessments and Progress Reports

In addition to weekly spelling tests, our Buckinghamshire 11+ term-time students undergo formal assessments twice per term—at half-term and at the end of the term—covering all topic areas. These assessments provide a valuable measure of progress over time, ensuring that we can track genuine improvements in attainment without being overly influenced by short-term fluctuations. Testing more frequently risks skewing results due to the occasional ‘off week,’ whereas our structured approach strikes the perfect balance between regular monitoring and meaningful insight.

Based on the initial assessment and your child's specific answers, we create a personalised tuition plan that sets individual targets for each subject area that is relevant to the Buckingamshire 11+ exam, including English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Every lesson is designed to develop these areas. We continuously monitor progress, allowing us to refine tuition plans to ensure they suit your child's needs and challenges.

Parents are always welcome to contact us at any stage during their child's Buckinghamshire 11+ tuition course for feedback on their development. They can speak with their child's teacher after lessons or contact Marie directly by phone or email for further insight. As a smaller, truly independent provider, parents don’t discuss their child’s progress with a franchisee or a non‑teacher — they receive guidance from qualified teachers who understand their child’s needs. Our size allows us to offer truly tailored support and maintain a close, supportive relationship with families.

Homework Designed for Mastery and Confidence

At Marie Redmond Tuition, we believe in providing homework that is both meaningful and manageable. Our thoughtfully designed tasks reinforce the skills taught during each 11 Plus tuition lesson, ensuring pupils are fully prepared for success. Homework is set to be completed for the next lesson, where it is reviewed, giving students the opportunity to deepen their understanding and address any challenges.

Aaryan, past student of Marie Redmond TuitionWith many years of experience and a history of successful outcomes, we’ve refined our approach to homework, striking a balance that encourages consistent progress without overwhelming students or families. Our longer lessons, compared to shorter ones offered by many other tutors, allow students to grasp key concepts in class-reducing reliance on excessive amounts of homework whilst ensuring it remains a valuable part of their learning.

Too little homework can leave students underprepared, whilst too much can lead to homework resistance, stress, and disengagement. The vast majority of parents say that we provide just the right amount of homework-carefully calibrated to meet students’ needs and prepare them thoroughly for the 11 Plus exams. Each task is purposeful, ensuring pupils work hard and make consistent progress whilst minimising unnecessary stress. Our balanced approach ensures that homework remains a valuable, manageable, and productive part of each pupil’s learning journey.

Additionally, we encourage parents to support their children by exploring a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. This helps build the critical comprehension and vocabulary skills essential for 11 Plus success.

 

Marie Redmond Tuition 'Bag of Knowledge®'

Resource Pack for Marie Redmond Tuition 11 Plus Courses in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and London

During your child's first term-time course lesson, they will receive a Bag of Knowledge®, carefully curated to support their learning journey. This exclusive collection includes Marie Redmond's Superbrain® resources and a selection of books from leading publishers, ensuring they have everything they need to excel. As the course progresses, students are given additional books at the appropriate stages to support their learning throughout the year.

Each student receives their materials in a premium Marie Redmond Tuition® rucksack, designed to reflect the exceptional quality of our tuition and resources. Inside, they'll find an electronic thesaurus, a tin of Marie Redmond's Superbrain® vocabulary flashcards and a dry erase whiteboard.

Students also receive notebooks dedicated to spellings, vocabulary and maths, as well as a plain notebook for additional notes. Completing the set is a pencil case stocked with essential stationery including HB pencils, an eraser, sharpener and a dry erase pen.

Included in the Bag of Knowledge® is a high‑quality plastic‑free insulated water bottle, complete with a fun vocabulary feature on the back, because we believe learning should be both effective and enjoyable. Research on UK primary school pupils shows that even mild dehydration can affect concentration and cognitive performance, so we always encourage them to attend with a full water bottle.

Best of all, the cost of the Bag of Knowledge® and all resources for the course is fully covered within the Buckinghamshire monthly course fees.

 

Marie Redmond's Superbrain®

Marie Redmond's Superbrain® 11+ Flashcards packagingStudents attending our Year 5 11+ Easter and 11+ summer holiday courses receive a Superbrain® English and verbal reasoning holiday course book for each week they attend, further reinforcing their skills. Plus, all term-time students receive Marie Redmond's Superbrain® 11 Plus Flash Cards upon joining—an interactive resource designed to supercharge their vocabulary and accelerate exam preparation.

Explore our full Superbrain® collection and discover how these exclusive resources support students on their journey to 11+ success.

Marie Redmond's Superbrain® Year 5 Verbal Reasoning and Maths Books

The Marie Redmond Tuition® Book Club

Marie Redmond Tuition Book ClubSharing our enjoyment of books is a fantastic way to encourage reading and therefore develop vocabulary and comprehension at home. The Marie Redmond Tuition® Book Club is an excellent platform for discussions about books, opportunities for creativity and promoting reading for pleasure. Discover our book of the month.

Creative Thinking Course

11+ Creative Thinking Course logo for Reading School

The virtual Creative Thinking Course is particularly useful for boys preparing for the latest format of the Reading School 11+ exam but is open to all our term-time students.

Students attend one creative thinking lesson per week on Zoom, which lasts for 45 minutes. Students are taught to use innovation and problem solving. They will become adept at approaching situations in different ways, using diverse strategies.

Every lesson includes a fun thinking skills warm-up activity followed by the main focus of the lesson. Strategies like group discussions, questioning, mind mapping, and thinking 'outside the box' are employed to encourage creative learning approaches. Students learn various writing techniques and how to draft, review, and edit their work.

Homework is assigned weekly to consolidate the skills taught during the lesson. Homework is submitted via email, and the creative thinking teacher annotates the text and writes a short report. General points about the texts are reviewed at the start of the next lesson.

Course Details:

  • One lesson per week on Zoom, lasting 45 minutes
  • Fee, including books: £25 per lesson

For further information, including fees, term dates and FAQ's, please visit our Creative Thinking Course page.

11+ Mock Exams With Marie Redmond 11+ Intelligent Video Learning®

Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock ExamsGet exam ready with Marie Redmond Tuition® GL Assessment-style Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock Exams.

Students who sat our Buckinghamshire 11+ mock tests in 2025 said they were very similar to the actual test, which made them feel prepared and confident when sitting the exam.

 

Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Tuition Fees

We offer a straightforward monthly payment plan for our Buckinghamshire 11+ tuition courses, which you can see on our Buckinghamshire 11+ course fees page. Many parents take advantage of the government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme to save 20% on their fees.

Our Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Tuition Courses prepare pupils for all aspects of the GL Assessment exam

Discover our 11 Plus courses

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